Golfer Newbies

You might think a tee is a tee is a tee. And if you do, you are wrong. The number and variety of tees available is almost as mind-boggling as the number of golf balls. There are two things you should know about tees.

Types of Tees: You can categorize tees into three major groups – wooden tees, plastic tees, and specialty tees.

1. Wooden tees: Most wooden tees are the traditional ones we have all seen – and, when I was young, the only kind available. They come in a few different sizes (more about sizes below). Some have markings or additional wooden bands around the tee to help you know how far to push the tee into the ground.
2. Plastic tees: There are a variety of plastic tees available. Some are shaped and sized exactly like the traditional wooden tee. Others, such as the so-called “zero-friction tee,” are shaped like a traditional tee but instead of a little cup-shaped top have three or four points that the ball sits on so that the ball has less contact with the tee and therefore, theoretically, less friction. Plastic tees don’t break as easily as wooden tees, so they last longer, but they are more expensive.
3. There are a few other tee designs purported to help your game in different ways. There are brush tees, anti-slice tees, and stinger tees. Whether these really help I don’t know. I’ll probably try them, but I suspect that, like golf balls, I’m not good enough to notice any difference.

Lengths of Tees: There are four basic sizes of tees: 2-1/8″, 2-3/4″, 3-1/4″, and 4″. Generally, people use the shorter tees for irons, hybrid clubs, and low-profile woods. Longer tees are used for drivers. The bigger the driver, the longer the tee used. You decide which one to use based on the position of the center of the ball. The center of the ball should be at the top of the club-face when the club is resting on the ground. This should give you the maximum distance.

Tees also come in many different colors, and you can also get them personalized if you want. Just remember that tees are only used on the tee-off area of a hole. You can’t use them on the fairway or in the rough.

See larger image Unbreakable Golf Tees - 2.7/8" (Misc.) List Price: $7.99 USD

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