Finding the Perfect Tee Height

Every single aspect of golf is important. Ball position, alignment, and grip are hands down the most important aspects of how to address the ball and play golf well, but there are so many other factors. One often overlooked element is how you tee up the ball. While it may seem like a small factor, it can significantly impact your swing, distance, and accuracy. So let’s explore the importance of tee height in golf, discuss the factors to consider when determining the ideal tee height, and provide practical tips to help you find the sweet spot that unleashes the power in your swing.

• Tee height plays a role in the trajectory, distance, and control of your shots. The height at which you tee up the ball can affect the angle of attack, launch angle, and spin rate. Everyone’s swing is different, and experimenting with different tee heights will be important for you, but for now, let's delve into each of these factors:

• Angle of Attack: Teeing the ball too low can cause a shallow angle of attack, resulting in topped shots and a loss of distance. Conversely, teeing it too high can lead to a steep angle of attack, resulting in sky-high shots with limited control. Finding the right balance is crucial for consistent ball striking. If you’re trying to play a low fade, you may want to tee it low and hit down on the ball. If you’re trying to hit a high draw, tee it high and let it fly. If you find yourself topping the ball often, try teeing it up a little higher. Teeing it higher will help, but if you’re topping the ball, you most likely have a ball position, or alignment issue. 
• Launch Angle: Tee height directly influences the launch angle of your shots. A lower tee height promotes a lower launch, ideal for windy conditions or when you want to keep the ball flight lower. Conversely, a higher tee height allows for a higher launch, beneficial when seeking maximum distance or carrying hazards. In other words, if you want to hit it high, tee it high. If you need to keep it low, like on a windy day, tee it low. 
• Spin Rate: Tee height can also impact the spin rate of your shots. This isn’t something that beginners need to worry about, but it is certainly something to consider. Lower tee heights tend to reduce backspin, resulting in a lower ball flight with more roll. Higher tee heights promote increased backspin, leading to a higher ball flight and enhanced stopping power on the green. 

• Club Selection: Typically, the only club you want to tee up high is the driver. If your driver is resting on the ground behind a teed ball, about half of the ball should be visible above the driver to your eye while you’re addressing the ball. The driver is really the only club that is hitting UP on the ball, so you want to tee up the ball a little higher than the height of your driver. Fairway woods, hybrids, and irons should have the ball teed up low. Just slightly higher than the ground. The golfer is meant to hit down on the ball with every club except the driver and putter, so tee it low with the others.
• Swing Type: Your swing style and angle of attack influence the ideal tee height. Golfers with a shallower swing tend to benefit from a slightly higher tee height, while those with a steeper swing might prefer a slightly lower tee height. Experimenting with different heights is the key. Try some teed up low, medium, and high with the driver. This is also a great way to learn how to hit the driver low and high on demand.
• Course Conditions: Consider the course conditions and the shots you need to execute. Windy conditions may call for a lower tee height to keep the ball flight lower and reduce the effects of the wind. On the other hand, if the course is soft, tee it up high to maximize carry.

• Practical Tips for Finding the Sweet Spot: Finding the perfect tee height is a process of experimentation and fine-tuning. Here are some practical tips to help you discover the sweet spot that optimizes your swing:

• Start with Neutral: Begin with a neutral tee height, where the top half of the ball is above the top of the clubface at address. This provides a good baseline to assess your launch angle and ball flight.
• Assess Ball Flight: Pay attention to the initial launch and trajectory of your shots. If the ball consistently flies too low or too high, adjust the tee height accordingly to achieve the desired ball flight.
• Observe Impact: Analyze the impact on the clubface after hitting the ball. Ideally, you want to see the impact mark slightly above the center of the face for drivers and fairway