Tee — Golf Drill

The simple golf tee isn't just for teeing up your driver—it's one of the most versatile training tools in your bag, capable of transforming your ball-striking across every club. Whether you're struggling with chunked irons, inconsistent fairway wood contact, or simply want to develop Tour-level compression, leading instructors like Athletic Motion Golf, Georgia Ball Golf, and Cordie Walker GolfWell have developed proven tee-based drills that deliver immediate results. From Georgia Ball Golf's pr

How to practise it

  1. Set up the tee markers for strike feedback Place a tee 1/4 inch high directly under your ball, then position a second tee 2 inches ahead on your target line. This creates clear strike sequence targets.
  2. Practice slow-motion strike sequence Make half-speed swings focusing on ball first, then forward tee second. Listen for the distinct click-click sound of proper sequence.
  3. Build to three-quarter speed with feedback Increase swing speed while maintaining ball-first contact. The forward tee should fly straight ahead when struck properly after impact.
  4. Remove forward tee and maintain low point Hit balls from the remaining tee, focusing on clipping it cleanly while brushing turf after. This eliminates fat contact patterns.
  5. Transfer to turf lies with visualization Hit from grass while imagining the forward tee 2 inches ahead. Focus on that same ball-first, turf-second sequence.

How high should I tee the ball for different clubs?

For fairway woods, tee the ball lower than with a driver to promote clean contact off the deck. With irons, use a very low tee or practice the tee drill where you focus on hitting the ball first, then taking a divot after impact to ensure proper contact sequence.

Why do I keep hitting behind the ball when it's on a tee?

According to Georgia Ball Golf, this happens because your low point is in the wrong position. You need to ensure you're hitting the ball first, then the ground second - practice the tee drill by focusing on making contact with the tee after the ball.

Should I use a tee for fairway wood shots on the fairway?

While you can't use a tee on the fairway, Athletic Motion Golf suggests that if you struggle with fairway woods off the deck, you should practice the proper technique first with a tee. This helps slower swing speed golfers and those over 50 build confidence before attempting shots off the turf.

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the tee drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. Michael Kanev Golf: Master Your Putter Face Control: Tiger Woods Best Putting Tip #GolfTips #PutterMastery (from 0:10). Place two tees in the ground slightly wider than the width of your putter head to create a gate, ensuring consistent center-face contact during your stroke.
  2. Cordie Walker GolfWell: This Simple Device Fixed My Open Club Face in 10 Minutes (from 17:49). Place a tee between your first and middle finger on your lead hand; at impact, rotate the hand so the tee points down to learn proper wrist flexion and supination.
  3. Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard: The tee drill for solid contact (from 0:43). A drill using a low-set tee without a golf ball to practice clipping the ground in the correct spot for ball-first contact.
  4. Alistair Davies Golf: When & How to Hinge Your Wrists Most Golfers Get This Wrong (from 2:24). Place a tee in the end of the club grip to provide a visual reference for the handle path and wrist angles during the swing.
  5. Giles Gill Golf: The Easiest Driver Swing In Golf! (Nobody Teaches This Move) (from 8:37). Practicing the 'thumb up, thumb down' lever movement to hit a tee out of the ground without a ball, focusing on unleashing wrist angles.
  6. Georgia Ball Golf: STOP Topping The Golf Ball - Easy Golf Lesson (from 5:19). Place a tee two ball-widths in front of the ball and focus on hitting the ball first and then striking the tee into the ground.
  7. Alistair Davies Golf: Do This T Drill To Hit The Best Shots Of YOUR LIFE. Inserting a tee into the back of your golf glove to create a gap between the forearm and the glove, providing physical feedback for wrist position.
  8. The Art of Simple Golf: You Will Never Hit Irons Long and Straight Unless You Stop Doing THIS! (from 1:28). Place a tee 2 inches in front of the ball on the target line and focus on striking the ball then the tee to encourage shaft lean and a downward strike.
  9. Alistair Davies Golf: 3 Genius Tips to Perfect Your Golf Takeaway (from 3:00). Tape a tee horizontally to the top of the shaft; during the takeaway, ensure the fat end of the tee points toward the ground to prevent rolling the face open.
  10. Swing Quest Golf: Why Most Golfers Cannot FLUSH Their Irons (from 5:52). Place a tee one inch in front of the golf ball and focus on striking the tee out of the ground after hitting the ball.
  11. SM Golf Coaching: The Biggest Myth in Golf (from 5:04). Place a tee in your mouth and imagine it is a laser; use it to trace the line of your head's rotation away from and then through toward the target.
  12. Scott Yurgz Golf: The #1 Wrist Hinge Mistake That Is Holding You Back (from 5:26). Placing a tee under the palm of the lead hand to maintain grip pressure and prevent the club from rolling into the fingers during the backswing.
  13. Georgia Ball Golf: The EASIEST Way To Hit Your Fairway Woods Consistently (from 5:01). Place a tee just in front of the ball and focus on hitting the ball and sweeping the tee away to encourage a low club head through impact.
  14. Georgia Ball Golf: Stop Hitting Behind The Golf Ball (the easy way) (from 7:59). Place a tee one clubhead width in front of the ball; the goal is to hit the ball and then the tee to ensure a forward low point.
  15. Georgia Ball Golf: Golf Iron Lesson For Longer & Straighter Shots (simple guide) (from 7:21). Place a tee in the ground a few inches in front of the ball; aim to strike the ball first and then hit the tee to ensure a downward strike.

Expert Tips