Wood or plastic tees?

[DAVID HAHN]

It got to the point that I broke every wood tee with every drive.  I switched to plastic and they last forever.  Unless they get bent.  Then you have to adjust them as you put them in the ground.  A small issue.  

[GolfSpy TCB]

I remember breaking tees all the time back in my 20's and 30's... now that I'm in my mid-50's they must have figured out how to make them stronger... I hardly ever break a tee now!  

[JWK1969]

I tended towards plastic tees for a while, because that's what my club gave out (the best things in life are free, after all).  And I would pick up tees I found on the tee boxes.  But it was getting that I'd end up with about 20 extra tees by the end of the round, so I tried to limit myself to 1 tee a tee box.  Nice that they last the way they do but, as others have pointed out, not the most ecologically friendly alternative.  My current club gives out wood.  So I'll probably transition over to those.

I don't think one helps me hit it farther or better than another so, until I see data that proves one is better than the other, I'll just play whatever is at hand.  And I can break plastic and wood tees without too much problem.  Plastic usually takes a little longer, but I still snap 'em off.

[knotthead17]

I buy bulk bamboo tees on amazon. Like a bag of 500 or 1,000 at a time. I went with bamboo for the sustainable choice, even over hardwood tees. I feel like I also end up using a tee I find on the box say 75% of the time. Always look for a broken tee for iron / fairway wood tee shots. I probably have 50% plastic tees in my bag right now from picking them up on the tee box. I know it's a tiny detail but I'm always looking for less waste! 

[PrismFlopper]

Have always used wood just for the fact they are cheap and biodegradable. By no means a “tree hugger” but why soil the course or cause the ground crews to spend time picking them up.

[jbsap]

Plastic outside of the winter months.  Once the ground freezes here I have to switch to wood tees.

[NubianRugby]

Makes no difference to me.

During my first round of playing golf with my Dad (he made me caddy for him on our first round together. Huge 70's staff bag, I was 9 years) I didn't pick up my tee and he said, "Your dad must be rich cause you don't pick up your tees." It was a very 70's way to make a point about being thrifty and saving your tees but it stayed with me and, because so many other people can't be bothered, I play with whatever I pick up off the ground or get in goody bags at tournaments.

[R. Poort]

5 hours ago, B_R_A_D_Y said:

We spent 5 min looking for a guy’s $15 plastic golf tee. I’ve searched diligently for thousands of balls, but never a tee. I empathized with his plight … but $15 for a tee? The tee box was elevated, and his tee flew off the front. And I won’t let him forget about it. Whenever I play with him, or even when he’s paired with others, I ALWAYS warn them to watch his tee, not his ball.

I played with a guy who put a string and nail on his tee and pegged it down to keep from losing it.

[tony@CIC]

Plastic all the way for me. They'll last dozens of rounds without breakage. The three I use are below and have a head wide enough to balance the ball even if the tee is crooked. Our club hands out free wooden tees with tiny heads and its virtually impossible to balance the ball unless the tee is perfectly vertical. Plus I hate seeing broken wooden tees on the tee boxes. Note I've spent a lot of time perfecting the right height for tee placement and mark my tees accordingly with a sharpie marker. And yes the one in the middle is a MGS tee which I also like. 

[catlo]

I always use plastic because they last a lot longer.  Prefer the ones with color markings to ensure consistent tee height although you can get wooden ones with similar markings.  Finally, they do not leave a color mark on the bottom of your clubs. 

[snoopy79]

Interesting topic. Arguments for both sides are valid. Sounds like a future MyGolfSpy lab test to me.

[Randall Robbins]

Have both in the bag, just depends on what I decide to use on a given day.

[Toddlemm]

I use Flightpath plastic tees for my driver shots. Use wooden for 3 wood or irons from tee boxes. I like the Flightpath for reduced resistance off the driver. But have to switch back to wood during the summer months as our tee boxes become very hard and they are not watered. Would need a drill for the tee box if I stayed with plastic.

[RAD]

I prefer plastic because they last longer. Wood tees create a mess in the tee box. I always re-use broken tees. 

[Dweed]

2 hours ago, snoopy79 said:

Interesting topic. Arguments for both sides are valid. Sounds like a future MyGolfSpy lab test to me.

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy the questions and often light banter!

[Dweed]

I use both. Just happens when I grab what and when. I do prefer plastic tees for chewing on during my rounds. Never golf without one and never ones used to tee the ball. Don't trust the fertilizer and pesticides on the turf. Wood is a renewable resource, and biodegradable if lost or broken. Easily broken whereas plastic tends to last longer unless lost. 

[FmrCaddie13]

Wood, plastic, , bamboo, whole, broken, pencil w/eraser removed. 

Haven't bought tees in years. Find so many I give away bags several times a year.

If they aren't broken I compulsively pick them up. I start each round with one from my bag and end with a bunch in my pocket. 

My preshot routine starts with checking for consistent height once I put the ball on the tee. That's the only time I think about tees. If it lets me put the ball at the height I need it works.

[Dweed]

Come to think of it. Grandboys and I attended the LPGA Dow Classic in July. Some of the swag that Dow was handing out were divot tools and tees made from plastic gathered and recycled from last years tourney. I need to really check them out to see. Thanks for the reminder.

[Byrnzee]

I'm not sure if it makes too much of a difference in terms of actual performance, but I've always preferred wooden tees to plastic tees. I like the look and feel much better and that is the important factor for me. It all comes down to personal preference though. I have plenty of friends who use plastic tees, but I try to stock up on wooden tees whenever I can to avoid using them.

[bellken]

No preference, though, I did buy a 10,000 bag of 2 1/8 wooden tees from a Golfsmith closing sale. fwiw, I will use plastic tees, if I find them, since, they are more durable.

[King Cobra]

White wooden tees only . a few reasons why are -

1.  With Driver , if I burst my tee then I must be hitting down on the ball instead of hitting up.

2. At par 3's and short par 4's will just use someone else's (white) broken tee 

3. Tradition and what I've always used.

4. Tried bamboo tees and found them no more resilient than wooden tees but cost significantly more.

 

[Mr_BogeyPro]

22 hours ago, Parshooter36 said:

I have seen those, but have never used them.  I am curious, does the thinner profile make them easier to get in the ground on a firm teebox?

Yes, they are easier to go into the ground on a firm tee box because they are a bit thicker than the normal plastic tees, allowing you to push down harder. 

[snoopy79]

13 hours ago, Dweed said:

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy the questions and often light banter!

Thanks! Really enjoy the forums and all the golf talk. Happy to chip in my thoughts once in awhile

 

[PrismFlopper]

Anyone use these bristle style. I cant stand them but have a buddy that swears by them.

[rbgntx]

I use both but my preference is for wooden tees.  The plastic tees, if the ground is dry, can require a jack hammer to get in the ground.  I have thought about adopting the technique I saw Laura Davies use at the Dallas LPGA event a few years ago.  I was carrying the scoreboard for her group.  She didn't use a tee the entire round.  On every teebox her caddy would toss her a wedge, she'd use it to dig up a piece of turf and put the ball on top.  Worked pretty well.

[Swood1994]

Another thing about wood tees, white ones specifically, there’s something about a good driving day where you look at your driver face after the round and it looks like a pga tour pros with tee marks dead center. Talk about confidence inducing!

[Tbonia]

Plastic for me ! Every time I hit a wood tee it breaks !

[EMacK1961]

I’ve gone to the dark side and now I play the Martini tees. Much easier than carrying a pocket full of tees.

[Dead Solid Bogey]

10 minutes ago, EMacK1961 said:

I’ve gone to the dark side and now I play the Martini tees. Much easier than carrying a pocket full of tees.

The only thing other than a beverage from “your” cooler, that the riff-raff, I play with will “borrow” is one of those Martini golf tees… 

[edkera]

Makes no difference to me. I use both. I use 2 1/2" with my driver but short stubbies for my 3-wood, hybrid or irons off the tee. To gauge consistent height, I use my index finger as a guide.

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