What Are Golf Tees Made Of?

Ever wondered what that little peg propping up your golf ball is actually made of, and if it even matters? That simple piece of equipment, often an afterthought grabbed from a jar at the pro shop, comes in a surprising variety of materials. This article will break down what golf tees are made of, from traditional wood to high-tech plastics, giving you the pros and cons of each so you can find the perfect one for your game.

The Classic Choice: Wooden Golf Tees

When you picture a golf tee, you’re probably thinking of the classic wooden peg. For decades, this has been the standard, and for good reason. They are simple, functional, and deeply rooted in the traditions of the game. Most players start with wood tees, and many pros still use them religiously.

What Kind of Wood Are They Made From?

The vast majority of standard wooden golf tees are made from white birch. It's a strong, relatively inexpensive hardwood that provides a clean, satisfying break upon impact. You'll also find tees made from cedar or other hardwoods, but birch is the industry king. In recent years, bamboo has emerged as a major player, but we'll get to that in its own section, as it's a bit different.

Pros of Using Wooden Tees

• They’re Inexpensive: You can buy wooden tees in bulk for a very low price. Losing or breaking them isn’t a big deal because there are always a hundred more in your bag.
• They’re Biodegradable: A broken wooden tee left on the course will eventually break down and return to the earth. This makes them a more environmentally friendly option than some alternatives, although the paints and finishes used can sometimes slow this process.
• The "Feel": Many golfers simply prefer the feedback of a wooden tee. There’s a clean "snap" when you make a good swing with a driver, which can be a satisfying confirmation of a solid strike.

Cons of Using Wooden Tees

• They Break. A Lot. This is the most obvious drawback. It's common to go through several wood tees in a single round, especially with a driver. This can be a minor annoyance and leads to broken tee litter on the tee box (which you should always pick up!).
• Inconsistent Tee Height: Unless you buy tees with printed height markers, setting your ball to the exact same height on every shot can be a guessing game. As a coach, I can tell you that a consistent tee height is one of the easiest ways to improve consistency with your driver.

A Quick Coaching Tip on Breaking Tees

Don't be afraid of breaking a tee! Especially with your driver, a broken tee is often a good sign. An optimal driver swing has a slightly upward angle of attack, meaning the club head makes contact with the ball first and then continues upward, striking the tee on the follow-through. If you break the tee and send it flying forward, it’s a good indication you’ve achieved that positive angle of attack. If the tee remains stuck in the ground perfectly intact after your tee shot, it might mean your angle of attack was too steep or downward, which is less than ideal for maximizing distance.

The Durable Challenger: Plastic & Rubber Tees

In response to the fragility of wood, plastic tees entered the market as the durable, long-lasting alternative. They promise to last dozens of rounds without breaking, snapping, or wearing down, offering a "buy it once" appeal compared to the disposability of wood.

Types of Plastic and Specialty Tees

Plastic tees aren’t just cheap plastic pegs. The category has evolved to include various high-performance designs, each claiming to give you an edge.

• Zero-Friction Tees: These are probably the most well-known. They feature a three- or five-prong crown that holds the ball on minimal contact points. The marketing claim is that reducing friction between the ball and the tee leads to less sidespin and backspin, producing longer, straighter shots.
• Brush Tees: Instead of a solid cup, these tees use a cluster of synthetic bristles to hold the ball. Much like the zero-friction design, the goal is to minimize resistance at impact.
• Martini Tees: Instantly recognizable by their oversized, martini glass-shaped cup, these tees are incredibly popular. Their primary benefit is stability, the large cup makes it very easy to place and balance the ball, which is a huge help for golfers with unsteady hands or those just wanting to speed up the process.
• Standard Plastic Tees: These are essentially durable, reusable versions of their wooden counterparts. Many feature a "stopper" or a ridge around the shaft, which ensures you push the tee into the ground to the same depth every single time.

Pros of Using Plastic Tees

• Extreme Durability: This is their biggest selling point. A single plastic tee can last dozens of rounds, making them economical in the long run. You’re far more likely to lose a plastic tee than to break one.
• Height Consistency: Most plastic tees incorporate height systems, whether it’s painted lines or a physical ridge. This makes it incredibly easy to tee your ball at the exact optimal height every single time, which is a massive advantage for building a consistent setup and swing.
• Confidence-Boosting Designs: While the scientific data on "friction reduction" is open for debate (the swing itself is a much bigger factor), the psychological boost can be real. And for many, the ease of use with something like a Martini tee simply makes the game more enjoyable.

Cons of Using Plastic Tees

• Environmental Fooooootprint: This is the major downside. Plastic tees are not biodegradable. A lost tee will sit on or in the turf for centuries. If you use them, you must be diligent about not leaving them behind.
• Course Maintenance Issues: They are hard on course maintenance equipment. A stray plastic tee can do serious damage to a reel mower blade on a tee box, a costly repair for the golf course.
• Feel and Sound: Some golfers just don’t like the dull "thud" or sound of a plastic tee at impact. It lacks the crisp feedback of wood.

The Sustainable Powerhouse: Bamboo Tees

Sitting comfortably between the biodegradability of wood and the enhanced durability of plastic is the bamboo tee. It a relatively recent innovation but has quickly become a favorite for its fantastic blend of performance and eco-friendliness.

Why Bamboo is Different

Technically, bamboo is a type of grass, not a tree. It grows incredibly fast and sequesters a large amount of carbon dioxide, making it a highly renewable and sustainable resource compared to the slow-growing U.S. hardwoods used for traditional tees. But beyond its green credentials, it’s also an excellent material for performance.

Pros of Using Bamboo Tees

• Eco-Friendly Champion: Being a rapidly renewable resource and fully biodegradable, they are the hands-down winner for the environmentally conscious golfer.
• Surprisingly Strong: Bamboo fibers are remarkably strong. A bamboo tee is noticeably more durable than a standard birch tee, meaning you'll break far fewer of them during a round. One bamboo tee can often last an entire 18-hole round.
• Great "Feel": They offer a feel at impact that is very similar to wood - a satisfying, clean strike without the dullness of plastic.

Cons of Using Bamboo Tees

• They Still Break: While stronger than wood, they are not immortal like plastic. You will eventually break them. If you're looking for a tee that will last you an entire season, plastic is still the more durable option.
• Price Can Vary: They are generally a bit more expensive than bulk wood tees but are still very affordable, especially when you consider you'll use fewer of them per round.

The Coach's Corner: So, Which Tee Should I Use?

I get this question all the time. Here’s the simple breakdown. The material of the tee itself will have an almost zero effect on how the ball flies. A "frictionless" tee isn't going to fix your slice. But that doesn’t mean your choice is unimportant. The real advantage of a good tee is its ability to help you create consistency.

Here’s my advice based on what you might be looking for:

If You Are a Beginner…

Get a tee with a height-control system. My top recommendation would be a plastic tee with a stopper ridge (like a Pride Performance PTS tee) or a Martini tee. Why? Because it removes a variable. Learning golf is hard enough without having to guess if you’ve teed the ball too high or too low. A consistent tee height will help you develop a consistent setup and swing with your driver, leading to better contact far more quickly.

If You Are Environmentally Conscious…

The choice is easy: bamboo. They give you the strength to last a while and the natural-material feel, but without the environmental 'ick' factor of plastic or the lower durability of wood. They are the best of all worlds.

If You Are a Traditionalist or "Feel" Player…

Stick with classic wood. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. They are affordable, get the job done, and provide that classic sound and feel that many golfers love. Just be sure to pick up your broken pieces!

Ultimately, the most important job of a tee is to place the ball in the perfect position for you to hit it. Find one that helps you do that consistently and easily, and you've found the right tee for your game.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the golf tee is more than just a simple peg. From classic biodegradable wood and stronger, sustainable bamboo to ultra-durable plastic with performance-enhancing designs, the material you choose comes down to what you value most - be it feel, consistency, durability, or environmental impact.

Choosing the right tee is a small decision, but it's one of many small, smart choices that lead to better golf. When you move beyond equipment choices and stand on the tee trying to figure out the right club or target, those decisions become even more impactful. That’s why we developed Caddie AI. Our AI golf coach gives you instant, on-demand strategic advice right on the course, helping you navigate tricky holes and make smarter shot decisions so you can play with more confidence and focus on your swing.