Driving · Tip
Get Your Driver Tee Height Right
Part of our driving programs for slice, not enough distance, topped or thin. Build a program with it
Tee height is a quick fix that changes your strike. A higher tee helps you hit up and catch the ball higher on the face. That's good for distance. A tee that's too low invites a steep, downward hit. That can cause pop-ups and slices. Start with about half the ball above the top of the clubhead. Then test. Mark the face so you can see where you're hitting it. Adjust the tee a little at a time.
Step by step
- Tee so half the ball is above the club.
- Mark the face with powder or a marker.
- Hit five balls and check the marks.
- Raise the tee for low strikes, lower it for high ones.
- Keep the height that centers your contact.
Why it works
The driver hits best when the clubhead is moving level or slightly upward at impact. A tee set higher lets you do that, so the ball meets the face near its center or just above it, which gives more launch and less spin. A low tee pushes you to hit down on the ball, which adds spin, lowers launch, and can open the face path enough to produce a slice.
Common mistakes
- Setting the tee so low that the ball sits near the top of the clubhead or below it.Push the tee in so about half the ball sits above the top edge of the driver when you set the club behind it.
- Judging tee height by feel after one swing instead of checking where the ball meets the face.Mark the face with powder or a marker and read the contact spot over five balls before you change anything.
- Changing the tee by a large amount after a single poor strike.Move the tee a little at a time and only after you see a pattern in the marks.
How you'll know it's working
- The marks sit near the center of the face, not low toward the sole or high near the crown.
- Pop-ups stop and the ball launches on a steady, medium-high flight.
- The ball starts closer to your target line and the slice curve is smaller.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Hit from a flat, level tee box with a new tee at the same depth each time, and keep the swing smooth and at half effort while you read the marks.
Harder: Hit with full effort under a routine, using one ball per swing and no practice swings, and see if you can keep the contact marks centered across ten drives.
Common questions
How high should I tee the ball with a driver?
Start with about half the ball above the top of the clubhead. Then test with face marks and adjust a little at a time.
Can tee height cause a slice?
Yes. A tee that is too low invites a steep, downward strike, which can add spin and lead to a slice. Raising it can help you hit up on the ball and reduce that.
