Best Golf Tees
Every single golfer out there needs golf tees. It is the one piece of equipment, obviously aside from the putter and golf ball, that gets used on every single hole. Well most of us do anyway, only the most confident of ball-strikers sticks a ball down on the ground for a tee shot. But we know what you are thinking, how important can a golf tee really be?
Well, we think they are one of the best golf accessories to get right because maximising every piece of equipment you use, to make sure it helps you, is vital. For example, we all know players who tee the ball up too high, or too low, and then they wonder why they have skied their shot or thinned it into oblivion. Now there are a number of different types of tees out there so it's recommended that you choose one that is right for you.
Do you want a standard adjustable height tee or do you want a castle or step tee that gives you the same height every time? That's for you to decide. In recent years we've seen sustainability in the tee market with a number of companies offering up bamboo tees, so you can save the environment every time you peg it up. Also, you can now get really cool and colorful designs that offer something a little bit different rather than the classic plastic or wooden design. So what are some of the best golf tees out there? Well, we have put a list together below to help you find the right model for you.
Best Golf Tees
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+ Hardwood offers strength
+ Look great
- Custom color choice would be awesome
If you want a golf tee that stands out, so you will always know which tees are yours, then these Zivisk tees are the ones for you. They are available in a variety of colors from a natural wooden finish, to black, to green.
The stripes are not just cosmetic though, as they give a clear indication of where you should tee the ball up with different clubs. The particular tee above is a natural hardwood construction so it is very strong but the brand also makes rubber and plastic designs too. The Zivisk tees feature two white rings around its shaft which allows players to place their tees into the ground at consistent lengths, ensuring you hit each golf shot the same.
+ Well-respected brand for high-quality
+ Lots in a pack
- Can be difficult to get a consistent height
We have been fans of Pride Professional for a while now because the brand makes high-quality golf tees in a variety of heights, finishes, and colors. The yellow Pro Length Pride Professional tees are some of the most popular out there. It says for drivers under 360cc but these are the perfect height for modern-day 460cc heads.
These tees are wooden so can be adjusted to any height you choose. Stock up with this pack of 175. The yellow section helps with consistent tee heights too. They are very strong and we used one tee for a whole 18 holes. It's no wonder they are the most used tee on the PGA tour.
+ Sustainable sourced and packaged
+ Impressive durability
+ Variety of sizes and designs
- No markings for consistency
Ocean Tee are striving to promote sustainability within golf, producing golf tees and clothing that are predominantly made from sustainable materials. Their tees are available in packs of long, short and mixed, and are made from extremely durable bamboo which is two-times stronger than normal bamboo.
They certainly feel more robust than a standard wooden tee, good luck to anyone trying to snap them with their fingers and they generally seem to last longer than we expected. Where we'd get through around 4-5 tees a round, we used about 2-3 of the Oceatee version. If you're conscious of your carbon footprint then this is the perfect golf tee for you!
+ Tees are marked at optimum tee heights
+ Hardened wood increases durability
+ Great value
- Only one color available
Consistently setting your tees at the right height is a problem that many golfers suffer from. If you position your tee at the wrong height, you may fail to hit the sweet spot on your clubface and sacrifice a lot of distance from the tee box.
But if you want to play your best golf, it is important to have the ball up at the right height every time you play a shot. That's where the Carver Golf tees come in. Carver have added markings to each of their wooden tees that allow players to position the ball at the correct height each time they address a shot. The brand are relatively new to the golfing world but have a fantastic range of golf balls available you can tee up on these wooden sticks, with both offering excellent durability and value on the golf course.
+ Sustainable design
+ Unique look
- Green lines appear to just be cosmetic
Designed to be more environmentally friendly, these tees are engineered from specific species of bamboo to ensure a stronger, longer-lasting and more capable golf tee. Bamboo grows at an accelerated rate, which makes it a great alternative material for golf tees compared to plastic or wood.
As we see with some of the best OceanTees, these bamboo options are also stronger than wood, and yet when they do break, the bamboo tees are biodegradable, so you won’t cause any lasting ecological damage. They can’t help you with your unintentional hook shot, but they can improve your stance on the environment, helping to put less plastic back into the planet and your local golf course.
+ Environmentally friendly
+ Donates to charity
- Not that many in a pack
Ocean Tee is another company that has gone down the sustainable bamboo golf tee route. What differentiates the brand though is that it offers up sustainable tees that donate 25% of profits to marine protection.
In this day and age of single-use plastics, we absolutely love the idea of environmentally-friendly tees. You get the best of both worlds with this mixed pack, featuring 54mm and 70mm tees.
Also if you are a fan of Ocean Tee, the brand also makes golf apparel too so be sure to check out our best golf tops, and best golf polo shirts guides which both have Ocean Tee products in. Helping to save the planet, while helping you to hit better golf shots, these tees are perfect for any golfer looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
+ Created for distance
+ Hard to lose
- Only designed for woods
We all know the best golf drivers are designed to help us hit it further, but what about tees? Well, this is where this model comes in. Designed to help you hit the ball further, these tees are said to improve distance in both “Robotic” and “Field” tests.
The tee is designed with a rigid polymer stake and a dynamic elastomer crown. The body and individual fingers of the crown flex with the force of the drive to reduce resistance at impact. The ball launches off the tee with less friction and lower ball spin resulting in longer, straighter drives, helping you to find the fairway and ultimately lower your scores.
+ Virtually unbreakable
+ Well-trusted brand
- Few in the pack
Wooden tees are great but sometimes a good plastic set of tees will last you round after round. These tees from Callaway are a clear example of that as they claim to be virtually unbreakable, and from our testing, this does indeed seem to be the case. Over nearly 10 rounds our reviewer did not break one tee and he felt the solid look and feel bolstered his confidence as well.
The sharpened tip makes them easy to put into the ground and this sharpness also makes them into handy little groove cleaners when needed as well. We like the variety in color on offer as well. Overall over the course of a round, you might only need to carry two of these tees now and our tester has said he will look to use them as long as possible now.
+ Massive pack
+ Classic look
- A bit boring
The No. 1 manufacturer of golf tees since 1950, Pride Golf Tee has a deserving reputation for quality and performance as shown by the fact they are the most used tee brand on the PGA Tour. Made from 100% solid hardwood, every tee is engineered for maximum performance and durability while being fully bio-degradable.
So the brand is good, so it makes sense to get as many tees as possible right? Especially if you know you are going to play a lot in the coming weeks and months. This pack of 500 has got you covered meaning that you'll never be short of a tee on the golf course and if you break one then you'll be well prepared to pick another out of your golf bag. We recommend picking up a few bags in varying sizes.
+ Pack will last a long time
+ Perfect for wood and iron shots
- Won’t work with the driver
Another very popular tee is the red Pride Professional model, perfect for teeing up fairway woods, hybrids and irons. 120 of these is enough to last you a very long time. One of the most common problems with playing irons off the tee is that the tee usually breaks but these Pride Professional tees are stronger because of the hardwood construction.
Additionally because of the small length they are extremely easy to get into the ground and to your desired height rather than the struggle that comes with trying to get a full-length tee in the ground. These tees are great value, and if getting your money's worth is important to you make sure you also have a read of our guide on the best value golf balls too.
+ Strong and durable
+ Very colorful
- May not work as well in very windy conditions
If your conception of a plastic tee is something that folds terribly when putting it into a mat or some firm turf then these will change all that. The beauty of the Zarma tees are that they go very easily into any turf and are almost indestructible. In three rounds of golf only one tee has been broken so a pack of 30 should last you quite a while.
They promise us greater distance off the tee which is some statement but there is a noticeable shallow cup and the six-prong head makes it easy to place the ball on the tee and for it to stay there. The tee has been reinforced which explains its durability and rigidness.
How we test golf equipment
We test golf tees in the same manner as every other piece of golf equipment, thoroughly. This involves using golf tees out on the golf course, over a number of rounds and in different conditions, whether that be in terms of weather, or the different ground conditions a tee has to deal with.
It is by using golf tees that we can have an understanding of durability, ease of use, value and other factors. Every member of the Golf Monthly team plays golf regularly and can put tees to the test on a regular basis as well, and one final point to mention is no manufacturer can buy a good review because our team of testers tells it how it is.
How to choose the best golf tees
When picking the right golf tees for your game, there are several factors you need to think about. As modern golf tees feature a lot of technology, that decision can be very difficult to make, but we've set out a list of key considerations below that you should think about when purchasing your next set of tees.
Course/Club/Shots
First what kind of tee shots do you normally face at your golf course, and what club do you normally use off the tee? For example, if you have a lot of tee shots where the driver is required, or you hit the driver a lot, then we recommend using a longer tee so you can tee the ball up higher. This allows you to hit up on the ball and hit it further. A castle tee is particularly helpful here because you get a consistent tee height every time as well.
Whereas if your course has a lot of short par-3s for example, chances are you will be hitting more irons for your tee shots. That requires a shorter tee so they aren't as difficult to get into the ground, and they won't snap very easily. Being aware of all of this will therefore inform your buying decision when it comes to golf tees.
Strength/Durability
Additionally, you should think about how strong you want your tees to be. If you are the kind of player who breaks tees often, probably because of a downward attack angle, then you may want to consider a stronger tee like some of the bamboo or plastic offerings above.
Sustainability
Speaking of bamboo, there are a lot of brands that offer sustainably strong tees so they could be something to consider so you can get more for your money, and do your bit for the environment.
Color/Design
One last thing to think about is if you want a golf tee that looks a bit different and may have a cool design. You may also want a colorful option so they are easy to find once you've hit your shot too.
Feel
Some tees will give a different fee to others when you strike through on the golf ball and for that reason it is good to test a variety of tees out before you buy them, to get to grips with what kind of tee suits your swing the best. Wood and plastic both have different feels so try them both and see!
For more advice on the best golf accessories on the market take a look at our guides on the best golf ball markers, the best golf brush and the best golf towels, all essential items you need to have in your bag along with your golf tees.
FAQs
What tees do golf pros use?
It is fair to say that golf pros use different brands of golf tee whilst out on Tour so we cannot be specific in that regard. What we are more confident in saying is that most Tour pros tend to use wooden tees because they are durable and reliable so they can be used easily. We also find these tees to often be painted white because this is a color which will not distract the player.
Are plastic golf tees better than wood?
This depends on what you define as better and in what way. For example a plastic tee is better than a wooden tee if we are talking about longevity because they are stronger and less likely to break. Whereas if we are talking about the environment, then a wooden, or even bamboo tee would be better to use. As such this answer would depend on how you are looking at the question.
How many tees should you carry in your golf bag?
It's advisable to carry a lot of tees in your golf bag. Running out of tees during a round can be a difficult situation and can mean having to borrow from your playing partners. It is always best to be prepared by bringing tees of all different shapes and sizes with you on the course, to ensure you can play your best golf from the tee with every club in your bag.
If you want more buying advice, why not take a look at our guides on the best golf net, or best golf mat as well.
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