What Are Golf Tees Used For?

A golf tee seems like a simple piece of equipment, but knowing exactly how to use it is one of the easiest ways to hit better, more consistent shots from the very first stroke on any given hole. Its purpose isn't just to hold the ball up, it's a strategic tool that directly influences the launch, spin, and distance of your tee shots. This guide will walk you through exactly what golf tees are used for, the rules surrounding them, how to choose the right one, and most importantly, how to master tee height for every club in your bag.

The Fundamental Purpose of a Golf Tee: A Perfect Lie, Every Time

At its core, a golf tee is used to elevate your golf ball off the ground for the first shot of a hole, which is played from an area called the "teeing area" or "teeing grounds.” Its one job is to give you a perfect, unobstructed opportunity to strike the ball cleanly. Think about a regular fairway - it’s filled with variables like long grass, short grass, divots, firm turf, and soft ground. These imperfections can affect how the club makes contact with the ball.

By placing the ball on a tee, you eliminate all of those ground-related variables. The ball sits up perfectly, free from any interference from the turf. This allows for a much cleaner strike, which is the foundation of a good golf shot. Especially with your driver, this elevation is essential. It lets you sweep the ball off the tee on an upward path, a move that is physically impossible when the ball is sitting on the ground. This freedom to strike the ball cleanly is the main reason a tee is so valuable and why its proper use is a fundamental skill.

When Can You Use a Golf Tee? Know The Rules

This is an unbelievably important point that every golfer needs to understand because using a tee at the wrong time is a penalty. The Rules of Golf are very specific about this.

You can ONLY use a tee for your first shot on each hole, and it must be played from within the designated "teeing area."

What is the teeing area? It's the starting box for each hole, defined by two tee markers. You can tee your ball up anywhere between those two markers, and up to two club-lengths behind the front line of the markers. You can't tee it up in front of the markers or more than two club-lengths behind them.

Here’s the part many beginners get wrong: after that first shot from the teeing area, you cannot use a tee for any other shot for the rest of that hole. If your ball lands on the fairway, in the rough, or even in a bunker, you must play it as it lies, without a tee. Trying to tee up your second shot from the fairway is a breach of the rules. The tee is an advantage given to you only at the start of a hole, learning to use that advantage properly is part of the game’s strategy.

Choosing the Right Tee for You

Walk into any golf shop and you'll see a surprisingly wide variety of tees. While a simple wooden peg will do the job, different styles offer different features that might suit your game. Here’s a quick look:

Wooden Tees

These are the classic, most common type of tee. They are inexpensive, biodegradable, and get the job done. The main drawback is that they break easily, especially against the force of a driver. For a majority of golfers, they are the go-to choice due to their simplicity and low cost.

Plastic Tees

As the name suggests, these are far more durable than wooden tees and can often last many rounds. Some players find they scratch the sole of their driver, and others just don't like the feel or sound at impact compared to classic wood. They are a good option if you’re tired of carrying a pocket full of broken tees.

Castle / Stepped / Graduated Tees

These plastic tees are a game-changer for consistency. They feature a small "cup" with a "shoulder" beneath it that prevents you from pushing the tee further into the ground. This means you can tee the ball at the exact same height every single time. They come in different lengths and colors that correlate to various heights, making them tremendous for dialing in the perfect driver tee height, but they are most valuable for hitting consistent iron shots on par 3s.

Brush Tees

These tees replace the typical cup with synthetic bristles. The claim to fame is that these bristles create significantly less friction at impact than a solid tee, helping you generate more clubhead speed and, in theory, more distance. The effect is slight, but some golfers swear by them.

Ultimately, the best tee for you comes down to what you want to get out of your game and personal preference. Are you focused on consistency? Grab some castle tees. Just want to play and not stress a thing? Wooden tees work great.

Mastering Tee Height: The Secret to Better Drives and Tee Shots

Choosing your tee is just step number one. Knowing how high to tee the ball for each club is where the real skill comes in. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. The ideal tee height changes depending on the club you’re hitting. Here’s how you get it right:

Tee Height for Your Driver

With a driver, the main goal is to hit the ball on the upswing. This creates a high launch with low spin - the magic combo for maximum distance. To do this, you need to tee the ball relatively high.

• The Rule of Thumb: When you set your driver on the ground next to the teed-up ball, roughly half of the golf ball should sit above the top edge (the crown) of your driver.
• Why this works: Hitting the ball on your swing's upward arc promotes a better launch, but your club needs enough clearance off the ground to do that. Teeing it high gives you the room to do so. Teeing it too low with your driver will often cause excessive backspin, which robs you of distance and very frequently causes a nasty slice.
• A Pro Tip: Experiment on the range to find what feels just right for you. Some players prefer it a shade lower or a little higher. Once you find your perfect height, use a permanent marker to draw a line on your tees so you can replicate it perfectly every single round. It's an easy way to build confidence and be consistent.

Tee Height for Your Fairway Woods & Hybrids

When you hit a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee (on a long par 3, or for position on a tight par 4), you want to sweep the ball, not hit up on it. Your tee height should reflect this.

• The Goal: Think of it as giving yourself a perfect fairway lie. You don’t need much height at all.
• The Rule of Thumb: Tee the ball so that only a small part of it is above the clubface or so the equator is even with the top edge - about a half inch is left above ground line. If you tee your woods too high, you risk popping the ball straight up in the air. Teeing it at the right height gives you confidence to sweep it cleanly off the peg.

Tee Height for Your Irons on Par 3s

This is where so many mid to high handicappers make a massive mistake. An iron swing is completely different from a driver swing. You need to strike the ball on a downward arc, making contact with the ground just afterwards - what folks call "ball-first contact." Your tee height should encourage this motion, rather than fight it.

• The Goal: Your aim isn't to make the shot easier by putting it on a high pedestal. Your aim is to replicate the feel of a perfect piece of fairway.
• The Rule of Thumb: Tee your irons as low as possible. The bottom of the ball should be just barely above the tops of the grass. In most cases, you only need to push the tee into the ground a couple of millimeters.
• The Mistake to Avoid: A common amateur fault is teeing the ball up as you would for a driver. This forces you to subconsciously scoop the ball, leading to thin shots or fat shots, which both result in a huge loss of distance and accuracy.

Do Golf Tees Actually Make a Difference?

Absolutely, yes. Using a golf tee properly, particularly paying attention to the right height, dramatically improves your performance. With a driver, teeing it at the correct height is a fundamental ingredient for distance. It allows you to create that high-launch, low-spin recipe that sends the ball flying. It's truly one of the simplest things you can learn that unlocks measurable yards off the tee. And for every other club that hits from the tee, the purpose is to make everything simple: it removes bad luck from the picture. You no longer have to worry about your ball sitting on a tough lie. It lets you swing with full commitment, knowing the ball's in the perfect spot - so you'll have greater confidence, and your strikes will improve.

Final Thoughts

Understanding not just what a golf tee is for, but the nuance of how to use it is a basic skill that really helps your consistency and long game. Taking time to find the right tee and practicing the proper tee height with each club gives you confidence every time you step onto the tee grounds. Of course, getting confident with your tee shots goes beyond just tee height, it’s also about having an easy strategy. That’s why we developed a tool that can help you. With a coach like Caddie AI, you can get instant advice about strategy for any tee shot - giving you advice on which club to hit or about where to aim for your best chance of success. Such guidance can make a significant difference in your game, helping you lay the foundation for better shots and improved performance on the golf course.