Use those tees! Golf Tips by Brad Clayton September 2007

Do you always tee your ball up in the teeing area? If you do not you are not utilizing a rule that is a great advantage. If teeing your ball up were not an advantage, you could do so anywhere. The only time you are allowed to tee up your ball is in the teeing area, so do so when the rules give the chance. Why is this an advantage?

Most people swing up on the ball {not desirable, but fact}; when the ball is teed up there is more room to get the leading edge of the golf club below the equator of the ball. This makes getting the ball in the air easier.

 Ideally, unless in a greenside bunker, you will strike the ball first and then a little turf, but unfortunately most people hang back through the ball and hit up on it. Teeing the ball up gives a little more room for error. So when given the chance, tee it up, it is an advantage!

How high should you tee your ball?

This day and age, the club manufacturers say you should hit your driver in the top 1/3 of the face. This is where the "hot spot" of the face is. They encourage you tee the ball up high to do so.

I must say that I disagree with this thought process even if it scientifically true that the ball should fly farther and spin less so.

I am of the opinion that if you miss a drive, miss it low. This means low on the club face and also in flight. A ball teed lower {approximately half or less of the ball should be above the top line of the driver face} and struck lower will tend to go straighter and roll further, so your misses will be more in control and also lose little distance if not struck perfectly.

A ball missed high on the face will tend to float and be more influenced by wind. Give me a low penetrating flight any day over a high floating ball. So, tee your balls lower and get more control.