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Tom's Featured Tip: Tee Height and Distance
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Tee Height and Distance
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
As many of you may know, the USGA believes that there is a "distance" problem on tour. That too many pro's are hitting the ball too far.
I think it's a bunch of baloney!
I love watching the top pros blasting the ball out of the stratosphere, and I think that the USGA should back off of considering limiting driver head size, shaft length, and ball construction to limit distance.
But here's a thought - could tee height constraints be a solution to their percevied "distance" problem?
I just read an interesting article on this subject, which I'll show you below, which proves that a lower tee height will limit the distance that a driver shot can fly.
If that is true, then the opposite must also be true - that a taller tee height will increase the distance that a driver shot will fly, right?
Not so fast.
There's actually a little more to it than that. To get more distance (carry) off a ball that is teed high, you still need to catch it squarely and on the ascending part of your swing arc. If you do that, your drive will carry farther than a ball that's teed up lower, and the axiom of "Tee It High and Let It Fly" will apply.
As I've mentioned before in this newsletter, when I switched to a longer shaft, teed the ball higher, and worked at catching it on the upswing portion of my swing arc, I picked up over 15 yards of carry. I also worked on my swing speed, which was an important component as well.
Here's what the testing as MyGolfSpy disclosed.
1. Distance
Their data suggests a 1.5-inch playing tee creates 14.19 more yards of carry distance on average than a .5-inch playing tee. That is a massive difference. Furthermore, the same data reveals that total distance of the 1.5-inch was 14.66 yards longer on average.
Bottom line, a tee that's 1-inch shorter produces significantly less distance.
Here's why.
2. Launch Angle
Tee height affects launch angle because, simply put, it influences where you hit the ball on the club face. With a higher tee, you're more likely to hit it higher on the club face and vice versa.
Shots hit using the .5-inch tee launched appreciably lower (3.54 degrees on average). The largest contributing factor to the lower launch angle was low face impact. With the .5-inch tee, impact location was more than 4mm lower on the face than with the 1.5-inch tee.
3. Backspin
Low face contact is a recipe for increased backspin, which is a distance killer.
In the testing, backspin was 326 rpm higher on average with the .5-inch tee.
In addition to the lower impact location, with the shorter tee the testers delivered the club with a slightly more open face which further increases spin and compounds the distance loss.
4. Angle of Attack
"Angle of Attack" is the descending or ascending path of the clubhead measured in degrees. A more upward attack angle typically produces higher launch, less spin and ultimately more distance.
Backspin is a distance killer, and a flat or downward attack angle adds to the problem. When you hit down on the ball and add unwanted spin, distance suffers.
So how does this factor into tee height?
With the taller tee, the testers' average angle of attack was 1.68 degrees more upward. At a ball speed of 150 mph, the change in launch conditions attributable to that difference will result in nearly four yards of additional carry and five yards of total distance.
5. Strokes Gained/Accuracy
They found the 1.5-inch tee produced higher strokes-gained values, fairways-hit percentage and better forgiveness. What does this have to do with distance?
As we have seen, the .5-inch tee was significantly shorter across the board. Multiple distance metrics were affected by the tee height difference as were other key metrics. The .5-inch tee was also worse in strokes gained, fairways hit and forgiveness.
Tee Height Impact On Distance - Conclusion
The results suggest that golfers using shorter tees could be leaving upwards of 15-yards on the table.
My advice - "Tee It High and Let It Fly". It worked for me.
Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,
Tom
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Sponsors and Affiliates
Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself. Thanks, Tom
Click here to buy your Divot Board to drastically improve your ball-striking. Combine your Divot Board practice and putting practice with the included putting lesson drills, and watch your scoring improve!.
Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
Click here to buy now for outstanding Ball-Striking practice feedback
BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($50 value) which cover: The Elevated Aimline Drill, The Squareness Awareness Drill, The Aimline Accuracy Drill, The Stock Putting Stroke Drill, The Barrier Drill, The Short Putt Channel Drill, and more.
Click here SuperSpeedGolf.com to buy this swing speed training aid and increase your distance off the tee.
I picked up significant distance off the tee after working with this training aid, and now it's a permanent part of my winter and spring training. SuperSpeedGolf.com Try 'em, you'll love 'em. SuperSpeedGolf.com Buy now and get to work on increasing your swing speed now.
Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today! Mention my name and you'll get special attention.
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All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
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Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
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