What size golf tee should I use?

Most golfers use 2 3/4 inch or 3 1/4 inch tees for the driver. Longer tees make it easier to position half the ball above the top of the driver face. Shorter tees, in the 1 1/2 to 2 1/8 inch range, work well for fairway woods, hybrids, and irons.

Should I use wooden tees or plastic tees?

Wooden tees are inexpensive and biodegradable, but they can break more easily. Plastic tees tend to last longer and sometimes reduce friction, but they can be harder on mowers and may not break as easily when you hit them. Performance differences are small—choose what you prefer in terms of feel, durability, and price.

Are step tees or castle tees legal in golf?

Step or castle tees that help you tee the ball at the same height every time are generally legal as long as they are no more than 4 inches long and do not indicate the line of play. Always check local rules or competition rules if you are playing in a tournament.

Does tee color matter?

Color does not affect performance, but it can make tees easier to see and reuse. Bright colors or neon tees are easier to find after you hit, which can save time and money if you like to reuse tees.

Gear & Reviews · Accessories

Which golf tees should I use? (and how high to tee the ball)

Golf tees are about as basic as gear gets—but they have a bigger impact on your shots than most people think. The right tee height and a consistent style of tee can help you launch your driver better, make fairway woods less scary, and stop snapping tees every swing.

On this page we’ll cover tee length, material, and height for drivers, woods, and irons, and show highly rated golf tees from Amazon so you can stock up on options that actually make sense for your game.

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Golf tee basics: length, material & head shape

Tees look simple, but three main things matter when you’re choosing which ones to use:

Length

Short (1 1/2" – 2 1/8"): Great for irons, hybrids, and fairway woods off the tee.
Standard (2 3/4"): Most common size—works for both drivers and fairway woods.
Long (3 1/4" – 4"): Ideal for modern, large-headed drivers if you like the ball teed high.

Material

Wood: Cheap, traditional, biodegradable; breaks more often, which some golfers like (less turf damage).
Plastic: Durable, often lower friction; can last many rounds but not as eco-friendly if you leave them behind.
Composite: Mix of materials; often marketed as “performance” tees with reduced friction heads.

Head style

Standard cup: Simple, works with any club.
Shallow/low-friction cup: Less contact with the ball; some claim tiny distance gains.
Step/“castle” tees: Built-in step sets the same height every time.

How high should you tee the ball?

The right tee height depends on the club you’re hitting and the shape of shot you want. Here’s a simple starting point you can tweak based on your swing:

Club	Suggested tee length	Ball height at address	Why it works
Driver	2 3/4" or 3 1/4"	About half the ball above the top of the driver face	Encourages an upward strike for higher launch and lower spin.
3-wood / 5-wood	2 1/8" – 2 3/4"	Ball’s equator roughly level with top of the clubface	Promotes a slightly sweeping strike without sky-balls.
Hybrid	1 1/2" – 2 1/8"	Ball just slightly above the turf	Feels similar to a fairway lie but offers a touch of forgiveness.
Irons	1 1/2" – 2 1/8"	Ball barely above the grass, almost like a perfect lie	Makes it easier to hit down and through the ball for crisp contact.

Use these as guidelines, then adjust based on your tendencies. If you’re always skying driver, tee it a touch lower. If you’re always hitting it low, you may need the ball a bit higher.

Golf tees from Amazon (only tees, no filler)

From our Amazon feed we pulled products that are clearly golf tees—no brushes, tools, or random accessories. We sorted them by customer rating and limited it to the top 10 tee options, with three easy choices highlighted first.

Three simple tee options to start with

These highly rated tees make it easy to cover most situations: one standard wood tee option, one durable plastic or low-friction tee, and one step-tee style (depending on what shows up in the feed).

Tee product	Rating	Price*	Link
PrideSports PTS Wood Golf Tees \| 75 Count, 3-1/4 Inch \| #1 Wood Tee on Tour \| Best for Drivers & Woods	4.7 ★ (39104)	$5.51	View on Amazon
PrideSports PTS Wood Golf Tees \| 100 Count, 2-3/4 Inch \| #1 Wood Tee on Tour \| Best for Drivers & Woods	4.7 ★ (39104)	$3.84	View on Amazon
PrideSports PTS Wood Golf Tees \| 135 Count, 3-1/4 Inch \| #1 Wood Tee on Tour \| Best for Drivers & Woods	4.7 ★ (39104)	$17.43	View on Amazon

*Approximate prices from the feed. Always double-check current prices, pack sizes, and tee lengths on Amazon.

Top 10 golf tee options (by rating)