How to Choose a Golf Tee Length

The little golf tee might not be the most expensive piece of golf equipment you'll ever buy, but it's a necessary tool. If you don't have the right size tee, you might not be able to tee the ball at the optimal height for your swing. The size you choose is a combination of personal preference and knowing how high to tee the ball.

Selecting a Size

Golf tees commonly come in three different lengths measured in inches -- 2.75, 3.25 and 4 inches.

Use the smallest tees when you tee off with fairway wood, a hybrid club or iron. Some manufacturers offer even smaller tees at 1 1/2 and 2 1/8 inches specifically for teeing the ball just above the grass.

The 3.25-inch and 4-inch tees are ideal for drivers, especially those with large heads.

Tee height is somewhat personal preference, but generally you want to tee the ball high enough so at least half of the ball is above the club head when you address the ball with your woods. With irons and hybrids, the ball should be just slightly above the ground. If you don't want to carry around different size tees, choose the size you are comfortable with for your driver. For other clubs, push the tee farther into the ground.