Driver Tee Height: 3 Setup Changes for Better Drives
Updated: Sep 4
Driver Tee Height: 3 Setup Changes for Better Drives
Getting your driver tee height right can make a huge difference to your strike, launch and distance.
But tee height is only part of the equation.
Where you position the driver at address can also influence where you strike the face and how you deliver the club through impact.
Here are three simple driver setup changes I use in my own game and with golfers I coach.
How High Should You Tee a Driver?
Consistency is the first thing I want.
If you're using a wooden tee, find a mark on the tee that allows you to push it into the ground to the same height every time.
With the driver sitting behind the ball, I generally like to see a small amount of the golf ball above the top of the clubface.
You don't necessarily need to tee the golf ball extremely high.
The important thing is finding a height that gives you a consistent strike and then being able to recreate it every time you play.
Should You Hover Your Driver?
Personally, I prefer to start with the driver resting on the ground.
If you hover the driver too high, the clubhead can begin above the centre of the golf ball. From there, you may feel as though you need to work down towards it.
Instead, I like having a clear reference for where the bottom of my swing is.
I also address my driver approximately 4 to 6 inches behind the golf ball.
This gives me the feeling of the driver reaching its low point before travelling upwards through the ball.
For golfers trying to create a better driver launch and a more upward angle of attack, this can be a really useful feeling.
Where Should You Address the Ball on the Driver Face?
Here's the part of my driver setup that surprises most golfers.
I don't always address the golf ball directly out of the centre of the clubface.
I like to set up with the ball slightly towards the toe of the driver.
Why?
During the golf swing, the clubhead can move further away from you through impact. If you continually strike your driver from the heel, setting up slightly towards the toe can be a useful way of changing your strike location.
Heel strikes can cost you distance and can also influence the curvature of your golf ball.
So if you continually find marks towards the heel of your driver, experiment with addressing the ball slightly towards the toe and see where you actually strike it.
Try These 3 Driver Setup Changes
Next time you're at the driving range, check these three things.
1. Tee height
Have a small amount of the golf ball above the top of the driver and make your tee height repeatable.
2. Clubhead position
Try addressing the driver around 4 to 6 inches behind the golf ball and feel yourself swinging upwards through it.
3. Strike position
If you're regularly striking the heel, experiment with addressing the ball slightly towards the toe of the driver.
When I tested these ideas, one drive carried out to 274 yards. Addressing the next one more towards the toe produced a centred strike and reached 287 yards.
That doesn't mean addressing the toe automatically gives every golfer another 13 yards.
The important thing is what happened to the strike.
The Key to a Better Driver Setup
Before changing your golf swing, check your setup.
Get your driver tee height consistent, understand where you're positioning the clubhead and pay attention to where you're actually striking the face.
Small setup changes can sometimes improve your driving without needing another complicated swing thought.
Test these three at the range and let your strike and ball flight tell you what works.
Be sure to check out Jon Rahms set up with driver, that depending on your swing type, is extremely benefical to some amateurs, I sometimes call it a cheat code.
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