Tee shot from deck

[Ashes]

I've been getting some grief from certain WAnkers about my approach from the tee, so thought I'd put it up for wider discussion and find out if I am indeed a freak,mor they're just winding me up ahead of champs.

Basically, I only use a tee when I pull the driver out. The rest of the time I use either a 3 wood or irons and hit off the deck.

I started doing this earlier in the year when I learnt I should be hitting down on the ball to get compression and generate spin. Off the deck I get more control with the 3 wood (must be hitting down slightly as I occasional take a divot after contact) and a more penetrating flight and distance, plus accuracy with the irons (particularly 4 and 5i). I don't think I'm losing much if any distance with the 3 wood.

So why use a tee for a 3 wood or irons? What do better players get from this approach?

[Courty]

If that works best for you, then why change?

Give said WAnkers grief for not being good enough ball-strikers to hit it off the deck.

[Jarro]

I think the pros tee up for most tee shots (non driver) so they are assured of a perfectly flat lie.

[Courty]

I think the pros tee up for most tee shots (non driver) so they are assured of a perfectly flat lie.

Exactly what I do & why, broken tees are best for this.

[AusOdy]

tee up all the time just different height setup on different clubs

[Dotty]

I like your logic and it works, so stay with it.

There's a lot to be said about minimising the variables across a game of golf.

ps. Plus you still have the option of teeing up slightly (5mm off the soil) in future, if your ability to hit par 3s goes haywire.

[Ashes]

If that works best for you, then why change?

Give said WAnkers grief for not being good enough ball-strikers to hit it off the deck.

Not necessarily looking to change, just want to understand why i'm odd.

I think the pros tee up for most tee shots (non driver) so they are assured of a perfectly flat lie.

Don't you lose compression and back spin though? I find I start hooking and slicing if I tee it up; although hitting off the deck raises the risk of hitting it fat occasionally.

[Daves]

I think it was Jack Nicklaus that said "why not take the opportunity to have perfect lie".

[Shadesy]

Ashes

1. One we are giving it heaps because its not the norm and a bit weird (am I doing it right). But it also worked so putting a bit of pressure on you to think differently

2. I used to do the same on irons on par 3's but not I just tee it so the ball is just touching the ground. I also tee the 3 low as well. Basically refer to what Daves said above. I think he Nicklaus went on to say if he could tee it up all over the course he would as the tee is the only chance you get to give yourself the best lie.

3. Now I don't want to confuse you but with the 3, you should be "sweeping" up on the ball not "hitting down". Club head speed and loft will compress the ball for you. (Swing gurus please enter here). I am actually hitting 3 wood better as I have shallowed my AoA as I was hitting to steep into the ball.

The above points a reasons why not, your swing and results on Sunday is the reasons why. If its working leave it and take the shit... We all have a little nuances.

[Jarro]

Don't you lose compression and back spin though? I find I start hooking and slicing if I tee it up; although hitting off the deck raises the risk of hitting it fat occasionally.

Not if you tee it up so that it's just above ground level.

[PerryGroves]

Depending on the type of grass on the tee, good cover of couch for example, I don't use a tee, or will knock myself up a good lie. I don't cop any shit from the boys because another mate does the same thing with his two iron and hits it like a dart. Not sure on this sweeping/hitting down concept above, on shorter holes I like having the feeling I am swinging as I would from the fairway.

3 wood I would always tee up

[Daves]

This is a good article on the subject;

http://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-vi...-tee-par-three

I buy the shortest wooden tees I can find. Cheap and easy to use.

[LarryLong]

I don't think having the ball on the ground adds to the compression and backspin. I think the feeling of 'trapping' the ball against the ground is just that - a feeling that helps you feel like you're hitting down on the ball. Could be wrong though.

I can hit a driver off the deck quite well most of the time, but I prefer to tee up my irons and hybrids just a fraction above the grass. I figure that ensures that I'll get perfect contact on the ball without putting it high enough to miss the sweet spot. If I played a 3-wood I would do the same and happily cop it.

[idgolfguy]

Everyone is saying the same thing. Whatever works for you. Try to get the best lie possible.
One ittle clarification to Shadesy's feedback: Sweep through, not up.

[Moe Norman]

i used to do this for irons and hybrids, but never for 3 wood.

I then started using a tee for hybrid and now use a tee for irons as well.

I had a nasty habit of hooking it when using a tee, but I've learnt to control it a bit better now.

I do tee it extremely low though

[muldude]

I kick up some turf on the tee for the 3 wood and use a broken tee for irons. not sure why......just works. if the tee is a bit bare i use a broken tee for the 3 wood, no difference at all just habit.

keep doing what you're doing i reckon.

[razaar]

Using a tee should take the fat shot out of play. If the leading edge catches the ground before or during contact the big ball will affect the shot. The tee provide a margin of safety for a clean strike. The tee shouldn't make any difference to hitting down on the ball. The real difference is what the hands and clubhead do through the ball. If the hands stay ahead of the clubhead when the ball leaves the clubface it's all good. If the clubhead gains on the hands before the ball leaves the clubface not so good. That's why a forward movement of the hands together with a counter clockwise rotation of the left wrist past impact keeps the clubhead from opening and lifting prematurely. Tom Watson and Jim Furyk are examples of player who hit down on the ball and don't take a divot. A closed clubface at impact with the clubhead staying level well past impact along the plane line results in longer flight on a lower trajectory and more control.

[BayBum]

Nicklaus also said there is less friction off a tee as there is off grass.

Do what you like mate, just get the ball in the hole with as fewer strokes as possible !

[Ashes]

Thanks for all the responses and the link guys.

Ashes

1. One we are giving it heaps because its not the norm and a bit weird (am I doing it right). But it also worked so putting a bit of pressure on you to think differently

2. I used to do the same on irons on par 3's but not I just tee it so the ball is just touching the ground. I also tee the 3 low as well. Basically refer to what Daves said above. I think he Nicklaus went on to say if he could tee it up all over the course he would as the tee is the only chance you get to give yourself the best lie.

3. Now I don't want to confuse you but with the 3, you should be "sweeping" up on the ball not "hitting down". Club head speed and loft will compress the ball for you. (Swing gurus please enter here). I am actually hitting 3 wood better as I have shallowed my AoA as I was hitting to steep into the ball.

The above points a reasons why not, your swing and results on Sunday is the reasons why. If its working leave it and take the shit... We all have a little nuances.

1. I don't have a problem with the banter at all Shadesy, and actually enjoy it (miss it from the cricket days) I reckon it helps me knuckle down and concentrate!

3. You guys can probably tell better than me, but I think I'm sweeping with the driver and 3 wood, but just with a slightly descending blow (the only reason I think I'm descending on it is the small divot I sometimes take). My swing plane is already pretty steep apparently, but I do make a conscious effort to flatten out and sweep the woods. Although doesn't Tiger Woods hit down on his 3 wood??

I don't think having the ball on the ground adds to the compression and backspin. I think the feeling of 'trapping' the ball against the ground is just that - a feeling that helps you feel like you're hitting down on the ball. Could be wrong though.

I'd say it is a mental thing for me. The feeling of trapping the ball is a new thing for me and I'm liking it. I think I must subcosnciously change something with my swing when I tee it up.

I had a nasty habit of hooking it when using a tee, but I've learnt to control it a bit better now.

This is my problem at the moment. Hitting off the deck seems to give me more control for some reason (probably a mental thing).

[Johnny Canuck]

Do you hit a lot of fairways with this method?

[Yossarian]

Thanks for all the responses and the link guys.



1. I don't ....

3. You ...

Did you always think you were on 100 when in reality it was only 50 odd?

[jmitchell]

Honestly do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you go and stand by a par 3 tee during a tour event you will see perhaps 25% of players don't use a tee, some just kick up a little tuft and place the ball on there. I don't buy the whole perfect lie with a tee business, maybe if you are playing a course with tee blocks in poor condition you could make an argument for using one but in my opinion if the tee is closely mown and has a good grass cover then the only advantage to using a tee is mental (which is fine if it works for you).

The 3 wood is a bit different, I don't use a tee for any of my irons but I tee it up just slightly for my 3 wood, maybe a quarter of an inch but certainly no more. I doubt there would be anyone on tour that has a positive AoA for their 3 wood on a consistent basis, to hit a good fairway wood shot you still need to have a slightly negative AoA, don't be scared to take a divot either, plenty of top 100 players do (Tiger being the most obvious). Remember it's a control club, if you were looking only at maximum distance you might tee it up high but if you are trying to smash a 3 wood you have the wrong club in your hands in the first place. There are more than a few good players who don't tee up their fairway woods, some even hit driver off the deck (Laura Davies for example).

[Hatchman]

If hitting it off the deck works, do what works. No room on the card for description & essays.

I'm a bit of a nutter in that 6 iron to wedges I will hit it off the deck and 5 iron and above off a tee be it teed very low.

[Ashes]

Do you hit a lot of fairways with this method?

Yep, which is why I'm loathe to change at the moment (and that seems to be the common advice I'm getting).

I guess I was trying to understand why I'm not normal

[idgolfguy]

I guess I was trying to understand why I'm not normal

Wrong thread for a philosophical discussion.