Despite the fact we tee off eighteen times throughout a game, our tee shot is often the most overlooked.
Not regarding golf club selection though - this is the most important element of our opening strike.
But many golfers neglect to account for tee height when they tee off, or fail to adapt this height in line with whichever club they’re using (no, it’s not always the driver).
If you’ve never given any specific thought to how high you should have your tee, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
And if you’re looking for some new golf clubs to serve you well off the tee, we’ve got everything you need and more here at Clarkes Golf. Take a look at our selection of top-quality golf drivers, fairway woods, golf irons and more.
The different clubs you might use at the tee - and the recommended tee heights
1. Golf driver
The most common choice at most tees on the golf course, the driver is often the weapon of choice when you need to catch the ball with as much force as possible, reaching distances of over 200 yards.
However, it’s also arguably the club where tee height should be considered the most.
It may seem like the clear option, but positioning your golf ball on the tee dead-level with your driver's face won’t give you the results you want. Even if your driver has a pretty large head size.
For one, drivers feature a far lower loft than many other clubs in our bag, such as our wedges, meaning they need a helping hand to launch the ball high into the air to avoid low flyers. Even the best golf driver would struggle in this scenario.
Because of this, golfers almost always opt to position their golf ball on the tee with the top rim of the clubface level with the equator of the ball - so half of the ball should be peeking above the clubhead. This gives the ball enough upward trajectory.
Depending on the size of the driver you use, your tee could be anywhere between four and seven centimetres in height; but as long as your driver can sit comfortably on the deck with a good portion of the ball sitting above that, you’re good to go.
Just be sure not to position it too high, otherwise it’ll just shoot straight into the air!
2. Fairway woods & hybrids
If you’re playing a dogleg Par 4, or a particularly long Par 3, a driver might be too powerful. In which case, you should reach for the closest alternative; a fairway wood or hybrid.
They may be similar in build to driver's heads, but the heads of fairway woods and hybrids are far more compact and offer higher lofts, as they’re designed to lift the ball off the fairway without the need for a tee - that doesn’t mean you can’t use one though!
When teeing up a fairway wood or hybrid shot, you’ll want the ball to be positioned above the ground enough for it to gain some extra height, while also being low enough for the clubhead to brush the grass on impact. Depending on your club selection, this could be anywhere between one and three centimetres.
3. Irons
Long irons are notoriously difficult to hit, which is why many players avoid using them altogether.
But they’re often a good choice off the tee, given the distances they reach - ideal for long Par 3s or even to set up an easy second shot on a short Par 4.
In fact, due to how hard they can be to catch cleanly off the deck, the use of a tee can come as a handy helper when using long irons.
When placing your tee, you only need a small amount of space between the ground and the ball, offering just enough gap to scoop beneath the ball, while still taking a divot in most cases.
You could get away with barely a centimetre, but don’t be afraid to go a little higher if you want to encourage a higher ball flight.
Invest in a new golf driver to tee off with force at Clarkes Golf
If you’re on the lookout for golf drivers for sale, UK customers can enjoy the best golf drivers at fantastic prices from Clarkes Golf.
As an approved stockist of some of the biggest brands in the sport today - including TaylorMade, Wilson Staff, Titleist and more - we’re your ideal choice to find the right driver that’ll be a match made in heaven.
Whether you prefer a new driver with an extra stiff shaft, or something more flexible, we're here to help find the perfect driver for you.
Explore our huge range of golf drivers at the links above, or get in touch with the Clarkes Team if you need a helping hand with your order.
And don’t forget our price promise guarantee; if you find one of our drivers listed for cheaper elsewhere, simply let us know and we’d be happy to match the price!