can't use irons off the tee

tiptap

Hi,
Maybe a silly question but it's bugging me.
If I'm on a par 3, I can't use a tee, I always hit it off the deck.
Which I don't mind really, but just curious as to why I can't hit it with a tee.
I've tried putting the tee really low down and then also a couple of cm's up but I either slice it or just take half the earth with me.
What's the advantage of using a tee, when you can place it comfortably on the grass ?

markymac

I suppose it's to get a cleaner strike. SO generally you may hit it slightly further. However if you can hit the ball well off the deck, I would stick with it, as it's the same as hitting from the fairway and helps your game in that department.

Par72

Funny, there was a thread last year from someone who was having trouble hitting irons off the tee, but they were getting too much height.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055108254&highlight=iron
If you are hitting the ground with an iron on the tee it seems it might be psychological. Maybe you just have a thing about hitting irons off a tee. There's no rule that says you have to use a tee by the way so no harm hitting them off the ground if that is what you prefer.

I prefer to put it on a tee as I feel I get a cleaner strike than I might if I hit it off the deck.

Trampas

I tee it really low. I usually pick up a broken tee and have it low in the ground barely above ground level. Only time I tee it time is with driver. 3 wood really low as I feel it helps if I need to hit 3 wood off the fairway.

I remember Harrington talking about this that everyone should use a tee even if it buried into the ground, means you will get a cleaner strike that off teh ground.

GreeBo

For all my irons I tee it up about 1cm, for low irons I play the ball middle to forward, high irons are further back so Im actually hitting the ball on the down swing.
Has helped my ball striking a lot with the shorter irons.

FYI a lot of clubs insist that you use a tee from the tee.

tiptap

GreeBo wrote: »

FYI a lot of clubs insist that you use a tee from the tee.

wow, this is something very new, haven't heard of it before !

Par72

tiptap wrote: »

wow, this is something very new, haven't heard of it before !

Nor I, and I've played in a lot of different places.

copacetic

GreeBo wrote: »

For all my irons I tee it up about 1cm, for low irons I play the ball middle to forward, high irons are further back so Im actually hitting the ball on the down swing.
Has helped my ball striking a lot with the shorter irons.

FYI a lot of clubs insist that you use a tee from the tee.

Have never heard of this and have played a lot of golf in my time?
Whereabouts insist on using a tee?
A decent player will take pretty much the same divot tee or no tee.

Sandwich

Just a guess for what its worth but you may have in your mind the idea that you should hit the ball on the up when its on a tee. On the fairway you know you cant do that so you hit down on the ball (as you should) and hit a good shot.
Teeing it up does help - you are guaranteed a perfect lie with no grass between club and ball. Tee it up - but hit down on it nonetheless.

On compulsory teeing. Have also come accross it but cant remember where (Enniscrone?).

markymac

GreeBo wrote: »

FYI a lot of clubs insist that you use a tee from the tee.

News to me?

Never ever heard of that.

The Rooster

Just to back up GreeBo, I've also seen it a few times where there have been notices that tees must be used.

madds

copacetic wrote: »

Have never heard of this and have played a lot of golf in my time?
Whereabouts insist on using a tee?
A decent player will take pretty much the same divot tee or no tee.

Lucan for one. There are many non-decent players out there, e.g. newbies in societies as well as club members.

GreeBo

Nah its not a new thing, my club (Grange) has had this for ever, also Im pretty sure the other local clubs are the same (Castle, Edmondstown, Milltown, Elm Park, etc)

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

Nah its not a new thing, my club (Grange) has had this for ever, also Im pretty sure the other local clubs are the same (Castle, Edmondstown, Milltown, Elm Park, etc)

How is it enforced? I have seen "please tee up" signs, but I have never seen a local rule, documented or enforced. Depending on how I'm playing I will either tee up or not, and not just on Par 3's.

GreeBo

Its not enforced, its not a rule of the game its a club "rule" similar to "Please replace your divots" or "Please repair your pitch marks"

If people ignore the signs then what can you do?

Why would you ignore a posted sign?
Do you wear metal spikes when you are not supposed to also?

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

Its not enforced, its not a rule of the game its a club "rule" similar to "Please replace your divots" or "Please repair your pitch marks"

If people ignore the signs then what can you do?

Why would you ignore a posted sign?
Do you wear metal spikes when you are not supposed to also?

Replace your divots/Repair your pitch marks are not club rules, they are part of etiquette. A rule, by default, once broken would incur some form of penalty.

If people ignore signs, you can do nothing. The same way if people record a 4 on a card when they have had a 6, you can really do very little, unless they are caught.

As for your "metal spikes" question, I have really no idea why you are asking me this, but no, I don't wear them at all, so the issue does not arise.

Mister Sifter

I doubt it will be a rule, more just a 'repair your pitch marks' type thing.

GreeBo

Hobart wrote: »

Replace your divots/Repair your pitch marks are not club rules, they are part of etiquette.A rule, by default, once broken would incur some form of penalty.

Which is why I said "its not a rule of the game" and I quoted the word rule...
Does it not say on most cards to follow all local rules and signs?
I would consider ignoring a sign as a breach of etiquette.

Hobart wrote: »

As for your "metal spikes" question, I have really no idea why you are asking me this, but no, I don't wear them at all, so the issue does not arise.

Im assuming (unless you are new to golf) that you wore them before soft spikes were invented?

I asked because you said you ignore the signs that ask you to use a tee. Im just wondering which signs you follow and which you dont and how you make the distinction.
Do you ignore signs regarding dresscode/mobile phones?

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

Does it not say on most cards to follow all local rules and signs?
I would consider ignoring a sign as a breach of etiquette.

Never seen anything like this on a card, in particular to signs. I've seen a section for "local rules" on most club cards, I have seen statements in relation to following directions of marshals etc...but never anything in relation to "signs" tbh.

It's not a rule in any club I know of, it's not a golfing rule. In fact, it's not a rule full stop.

Im assuming (unless you are new to golf) that you wore them before soft spikes were invented?

I have no idea when soft spikes were invented, I've being playing golf for 10 - 12 years, I've always used soft spikes.

I asked because you said you ignore the signs that ask you to use a tee. Im just wondering which signs you follow and which you dont and how you make the distinction.
Do you ignore signs regarding dresscode/mobile phones?

I thought I had already explained when I choose to tee up or not? It depends on how I'm playing at the time, including some other factors such as wind, club in use, distance etc... a number of factors.

As for mobile phones/dress code (Christ you are really clutching at straws) I respect them as they are part of "normal etiquette" on all golf courses, although, Elm Green sticks in my mind as an exception.

My bottom line is, and my actual point is, that your assertion that the "tee up" request is an actual rule, is false and erroneous information.

[edit]I see you have edited your original post, please note I'm responding to your original message, not your subsequently edited one.[/edit]

As for your edit, I apologise. When you said rule, I thought you meant rule, as in "rule". I now see that you actually meant "rule" and not rule.


*what date is it today?

The Rooster

Hobart wrote: »

My bottom line is, and my actual point is, that your assertion that the "tee up" request is an actual rule, is false and erroneous information.

Without wishing to get in the middle of somebody else's argument, my view is that it is a local rule imposed by some clubs, and the penalty could be that you are thrown off the course if you are caught!

If a club decides to put a sign on its tee-box saying you must tee-up, then, in my opinion, it is a clear breach of etiquette if you choose to ignore it.

Hobart

The Rooster wrote: »

Without wishing to get in the middle of somebody else's argument, my view is that it is a local rule imposed by some clubs, and the penalty could be that you are thrown off the course if you are caught!

If a club decides to put a sign on its tee-box saying you must tee-up, then, in my opinion, it is a clear breach of etiquette if you choose to ignore it.

It's a fair point, and 1 I would totally agree with. I have never seen a rule, never, local or otherwise, which states that players must tee up on a par 3.

If such a rule exists in a club (be it local or otherwise) it must follow that there is a penalty for breaching this. Point me in the direction of this rule (and it's punishment) and I'll fully accept it.

I have seen signs that say "Please Tee Up" which is a world away from "You must tee up on all tee's, and this is a rule" . Please suggests a request, the latter a rule.

GreeBo

Hobart wrote: »

My bottom line is, and my actual point is, that your assertion that the "tee up" request is an actual rule, is false and erroneous information.

But I never made any assertion of the kind, in fact I explicitly said "its not a rule" in my original, unedited post.

Hobart wrote: »

[edit]I see you have edited your original post, please note I'm responding to your original message, not your subsequently edited one.[/edit]

I edited it to point out that I never said it was a rule, you made it a rule.

Hobart wrote: »

As for your edit, I apologise. When you said rule, I thought you meant rule, as in "rule". I now see that you actually meant "rule" and not rule.

I only ever said "rule" you said rule.

My question still stands about when/how you decide to follow course signs and how/when you dont.
Would you play in a tracksuit and soccer jersey whilst on your phone, just because thats how you felt like playing on that day?

PhilipMarlowe

I always use a tee. I tend to tee quite low so it's almost on the ground - so it becomes more like every other iron shot but with a perfect 'lie' every time.
I have a pretty steep line into the ball and will almost always take a good divot (sometimes a lump) out of the ground depending on the shot I am trying to hit.
Repair the divot the same as usual or fill with mixture if it's there (maybe).

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

But I never made any assertion of the kind, in fact I explicitly said "its not a rule" in my original, unedited post.

Indeed you did, and let me be totally clear on this. I am not saying that you said that it is a rule of golf. I am not saying this.

However, you did say that it was a club rule. You did say that. What I am asking, and it's simple really, is that if one was to break this club rule, what would the punishment be?

I edited it to point out that I never said it was a rule, you made it a rule.

Not so. You edited it out because you forgot to include it in your original point. That's fair enough, and understandable. As for your "I made it a rule" I did not.

I only ever said "rule" you said rule.

Lol tbh.

My question still stands about when/how you decide to follow course signs and how/when you dont.
Would you play in a tracksuit and soccer jersey whilst on your phone, just because thats how you felt like playing on that day?

I follow etiquette. That entails the "rules" of golf, the local "rules", the directions given on starting.

I have no idea where you play, but tracksuits, phones etc... would not be allowed on my course.

Licksy wrote:

Repair the divot the same as usual or fill with mixture if it's there (maybe).

You should never repair a divot with "the" divot after tee'ing off. It's totally wrong. Fill it with sand, or whatever filling is available.

Par72

Hobart wrote: »

You should never repair a divot with "the" divot after tee'ing off. It's totally wrong. Fill it with sand, or whatever filling is available.

Why is it totally wrong?

Plus 10

One possibility for the slice/taking big lumps of earth is that you could be trying to hit it too hard. The harder you try to hit it the more likely you are to loose your natural swing/position of impact. Try a few swings at 80/90% and work from there.

Hobart

Par72 wrote: »

Why is it totally wrong?

Filings of sand and/or earth are easily viewed on a tee box. Divots are not. Traditionally tee pegs are moved around on a tee box, especially Par 3's, as the ground between the pegs becomes worn. If a golfer was to tee up in a new area of the tee box and stand on a divot filled with a clump of ground which has been taken out of it, he/she runs the risk of losing his footing as he swings the club. In order to prevent this tee boxes should only be filled with sand/soil which makes the spotting of a divot easier.

The same does apply on fairways, and in my experience, the filling of divots on fairways with the clump taken from them is uniquely European thing. I have played golf in the States, and Asia, and (in my experience) the divots are filled over night and/or early in the morning by ground staff using seeded soil.

tiptap

Hi,
Thanks for the comments, and the debate :-)
So, after taking some tips ..it "seems" the following has worked for me, it was only 1 session though.
Anyhow, I put the ball slightly, very slightly, further back in my stance, and I was hitting as smoothly as I was off the deck. Maybe it was a once off, can't understand it, but will be trying it later again this evening. !!

copacetic

Par72 wrote: »

Why is it totally wrong?

because it is unstable footing for someone else. I have never heard anyone say to repair divots on tee boxes and have never seen anyone do it.

GreeBo

Hobart wrote: »

I follow etiquette. That entails the "rules" of golf, the local "rules", the directions given on starting.

No you dont and no it doesnt.
Etiquette is totally different than rules.
There is no rule to be quiet or to not walk on the line of someones putt, its the socially accepted way to play golf in as much as following the signs on the course.
There is no penalty in the rules of golf for walking on someones line, however, the committee may disqualify someone for a serious breach of etiquette.

from your posts it appears that you only follow the rules that carry a penalty. I would submit that this behaviour is totally opposite to etiquette.

Hobart wrote: »

I have no idea where you play, but tracksuits, phones etc... would not be allowed on my course.

Is there a sign to this effect or is it a local rule? Whats the penalty for breach of this rule? Perhaps its just etiquette...

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

No you dont and no it doesnt.
Etiquette is totally different than rules.
There is no rule to be quiet or to not walk on the line of someones putt, its the socially accepted way to play golf in as much as following the signs on the course.
There is no penalty in the rules of golf for walking on someones line, however, the committee may disqualify someone for a serious breach of etiquette.

from your posts it appears that you only follow the rules that carry a penalty. I would submit that this behaviour is totally opposite to etiquette.


Is there a sign to this effect or is it a local rule? Whats the penalty for breach of this rule? Perhaps its just etiquette...

You really should take a deep breath and read what I have actually said, and not what you have thought I said. I said entails, not encompasses, and it does entail all that you have quoted above.

There are rules in my club wrt dress code and use of phones. If you go out on my course, for example in denims, you will be asked to leave. If you use a phone of the course, you will be asked not you. If you persist, you will be asked to leave. Do you see the whole rule-penalty analogy I'm getting at?

A breach of any rule. Let me repeat that, any rule carries a penalty. Can you tell me one which does nor? Your premise that I "only" follow those rules which encur a penalty upon breach, is frankly ridiculous.

GreeBo

Hobart wrote: »

You really should take a deep breath and read what I have actually said, and not what you have thought I said. I said entails, not encompasses, and it does entail all that you have quoted above.

There are rules in my club wrt dress code and use of phones. If you go out on my course, for example in denims, you will be asked to leave. If you use a phone of the course, you will be asked not you. If you persist, you will be asked to leave. Do you see the whole rule-penalty analogy I'm getting at?

I think I clarified this before but let me re-iterate.
Its not a rule.
Its a posted sign on the golf course.
Im pretty sure its not there for people to lean their clubs against so Im surmising that the sign is there for a reason. Perhaps they hope that people will obey the sign. Perhaps its a sign thats of benefit to the course (like not dragging your caddy car across the green, thats not a rule either)

Its standard social behaviour to obey signs without the need for the sign to have a "or else" appended to it. You say you follow the etiquette of the game when you clearly disobey signs when you feel like it. Clearly thats not following the spirit of the game.

Hobart wrote: »

Your premise that I "only" follow those rules which encur a penalty upon breach, is frankly ridiculous.

Hobart wrote:

If such a rule exists in a club (be it local or otherwise) it must follow that there is a penalty for breaching this. Point me in the direction of this rule (and it's punishment) and I'll fully accept it.

Hobart wrote:

I have seen "please tee up" signs, but I have never seen a local rule, documented or enforced. Depending on how I'm playing I will either tee up or not, and not just on Par 3's.

i.e. I will do what I want as long as I dont get punished for it.
So you are a golfing anarchist.

Hobart

GreeBo wrote: »

I think I clarified this before but let me re-iterate.
Its not a rule.
Its a posted sign on the golf course.
Im pretty sure its not there for people to lean their clubs against so Im surmising that the sign is there for a reason. Perhaps they hope that people will obey the sign. Perhaps its a sign thats of benefit to the course (like not dragging your caddy car across the green, thats not a rule either)

Indeed. It's not a rule it's a "rule".

Its standard social behaviour to obey signs without the need for the sign to have a "or else" appended to it.

In your opinion

You say you follow the etiquette of the game when you clearly disobey signs when you feel like it. Clearly thats not following the spirit of the game.



i.e. I will do what I want as long as I dont get punished for it.
So you are a golfing anarchist.

Another quotation from the "if my aunt had balls" school of thought.

copacetic

lads, can we keep a sense of perspective please, or even friendly debate? The tone of this argument doesn't appear to be leading anywhere good.

The Rooster

copacetic wrote: »

because it is unstable footing for someone else. I have never heard anyone say to repair divots on tee boxes and have never seen anyone do it.

Well that's one thing I've learned today (although I should have known it already)

PhilipMarlowe

The Rooster wrote: »

Well that's one thing I've learned today (although I should have known it already)

Snap!
Though I will feel like a lazy yoke not replacing a divot... there better be mixture on the tee

markymac

As a matter of interest was the club or clubs where this "must tee up on Par 3's" rule is supposed to be in place, ever named?

billy3sheets

Getting back to the original problem of striking the teed-up ball with an iron.
I had this problem last year while taking lessons. My general iron play had improved greatly, but my irons on par 3's were frequently letting me down. I had reverted to using a 5 wood & trying to shorten the grip to reduce distance, with limited success.
I consulted my coach who identified the issue quickly. I was trying to get under the ball rather than striking down on it as with a normal iron shot. I went off and practiced with the downstrike in mind & it made all the difference. I don't move the ball back or forward to make any allowances for it being teed up. I generally push the tee down as far as the thickness of my fingers ~1cm.

GreeBo

tiptap wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the comments, and the debate :-)
So, after taking some tips ..it "seems" the following has worked for me, it was only 1 session though.
Anyhow, I put the ball slightly, very slightly, further back in my stance, and I was hitting as smoothly as I was off the deck. Maybe it was a once off, can't understand it, but will be trying it later again this evening. !!

Glad my tip helped out anyway, you will probably start to find that you will start striking the ball better from the tee now!

Though as a general '*"rule"*' I dont like giving swing advice.

eagle eye

I remember having this problem when I started out playing and the way I got rid of it was through the advice of a friend, and very simple, he told me to just forget about the fact that its teed up and just hit it as if it was on the ground.

madds

madds wrote: »

Lucan for one. There are many non-decent players out there, e.g. newbies in societies as well as club members.

I asked about this in Lucan and I am led to believe that its now not something the club ask players to follow, i.e. tee the ball up on par 3's.