golf ball sitting high on tee

How High Should The Golf Ball Be On The Tee?

If you are a golfer, whether a beginner or a seasoned player, mastering the fundamentals is the key to playing a good game. This includes getting your tee at the perfect height to hit your golf ball from. If you really want to step up your game and get your tee off perfect, then you need to understand how high the golf ball should be on the tee. But how do you know that? How do you ensure that your golf ball height is just right to make your game better?

Golf is a game of consistency. While it is one of the hardest things to have, consistency is key to playing a good game of golf. This includes your tee off. Having the same height when you tee off is important for many reasons. It won’t always be the same height exactly, but working on hitting it from the same height can improve your golf game tremendously. However, this obviously depends on where you’re hitting from and what club you are using. 

So how high should the golf ball be on the tee? How do you calculate this and keep it consistent throughout your game? Continue reading to find out how.

How do you know how high to tee your ball up?

This question, unfortunately, can’t be summed up in one simple answer. There are several factors that play into how high the golf ball should be up on the tee. Let’s take a look at some different answers to this question so that you can determine how to measure your tee height.

If you are looking for consistency, then there is a way to make sure your tee height is the same every time. One way to measure how high your golf ball should be on the tee can be done in these three steps:

  1. Put your tee into the ground next to your golf ball.
  2. Push the tee into the ground so that the top of the tee is even with the top of the golf ball.
  3. Put the ball on the tee and go for it!

This is the best way to keep the height of your ball and your swing consistent. However, this isn’t always the best way to go about finding the best height for your tee. There are other ways to ensure that you get the correct height on your golf ball.

First of all, your tee height should be relative to the club you are using and the distance you need to drive the ball. As a general rule, the longer the club you use, the higher the ball should sit. There is a bit more to it than this, though. Let’s take a look at the different types of clubs and the height recommended for each. 

Tee Height With A Driver

This is typically the longest club in a set and used with the intention of sending the ball as far as possible. A general rule of thumb is to tee the ball equal to the top of the driver. To clarify, the bottom of the golf ball resting on the tee should be even with the top of the driver head. This is a great way to gain more distance on your shot. This may mean that you need to buy longer tees, because the average tee may not be long enough to accomplish this.

Tee Height With Wood And Hybrid Clubs

The driver is typically a wood club and known as the 1-wood. After that, as the numbers increase (2-wood, 3-wood, etc.) the clubs get shorter. As they get shorter, you will want to lower the height of the golf ball on the tee. When it comes to a 3-wood, you will want to leave about a half or even a third of the ball above the top of the club head.

When it comes to other wood or hybrid clubs, leaving about a third to a quarter of the ball above the top of the club head is standard. This means that about a half an inch of the tee is above the ground.

Tee Height With Irons And Wedges

If you are looking to tee off with an iron, which is typically when you are looking to avoid trouble areas (i.e. trees, bunkers, rough patches, penalty areas, etc.), then the tee will be further in the ground. Usually for long to mid irons such as 2-, 3-, 4.- and 5-irons the recommended height is about a quarter inch of the tee remaining above ground. As the irons get shorter, like with the 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-irons you will want to put the tee all the way into the ground.

It is also a possibility not to use a tee at all when you are using a shorter iron from the teeing ground. Many professional golfers don’t use a tee at this point, as it is played so close to the ground anyway. However, if you are just starting out and still learning the game, it can benefit you greatly to use a tee and practice this way. It will give you a cleaner shot and boost your confidence at that.

To Summarize

Essentially, the longer the club, the higher you will want to tee your ball. Consistency is tricky, but with practice, it will come. The height at which you tee your ball can make all the difference in the world with your swing and distance. If you are practicing your swing and looking to improve, then the above tips will help you tremendously.

For more tips and tricks, as well as accessories and apparel, check out Back 2 Basics. Helping you become a better golfer one step at a time, Back 2 Basics has all of your golf needs covered. Don’t hesitate to check out any and all merchandise, or take a look at our site for more tips and advice to become a great golfer. No matter if you are just starting out or are a well-practiced golfer, Back 2 Basics has what you need.


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