Wooden Golf Tees: Sizes, Wood Types, and When to Use Them

Wooden golf tees are the simple peg most golfers grew up with, and they are still the most common tee in golf bags today. They come in a handful of standard lengths, they are made from a few different woods, and the right one depends on the club in your hand. This guide covers wooden golf tee sizes, the woods tees are made from, when to reach for each length, and what the Rules of Golf say about tees. We sell and print wooden tees by the hundred, so we have also included what we have learned from filling orders for golfers, courses, and events.

Wooden Golf Tee Sizes at a Glance

Most wooden tees come in one of a few standard lengths. Here is a quick reference.

Our white wood golf tees 100 pack comes in the two lengths golfers ask for most: 2 3/4 inch and 3 1/4 inch.

What Wooden Golf Tees Are Made Of

"Wood tee" covers more than one material. The differences show up in how long a tee lasts and how it feels going into the ground.

Birch and Other Hardwoods

Traditional tees are turned from hardwood, with birch being a common choice. Hardwood tees are inexpensive, smooth, and take paint and printing well. They do snap more easily than some alternatives, especially on a low, hard swing with an iron.

Bamboo

Bamboo tees look like wood but come from a fast growing grass. Many golfers find they last longer than standard hardwood tees before breaking. They usually cost a little more per tee.

Painted vs Natural Finish

Most wooden tees are painted white or a bright color so they are easy to find in the grass. Natural finish tees skip the paint for a classic look. For printed tees, a solid painted finish gives logos and names a clean background.

When to Use Each Wooden Tee Length

The goal is to set the ball at the right height for the club. Tee height affects launch, spin, and contact.

Driver

With a modern driver, most golfers tee the ball so that about half of it sits above the crown of the club, and many tee it higher. A long 3 1/4 inch tee makes that easy. A GOLF.com look at tee height and driving distance revisits a 2006 GOLF Magazine test that found the highest tee height produced the most carry, about 12 yards more on average than the lowest setting, thanks to higher launch and lower spin.

Fairway Woods and Hybrids

Tee these low, with the ball just above the turf. A 2 1/8 inch or 2 3/4 inch tee pushed most of the way into the ground works well.

Irons

For irons on a par 3, the ball only needs to sit a fraction of an inch off the ground. A short tee or a standard tee pushed deep keeps contact consistent. Many players like teeing irons because it gives a clean lie every time.

Practice and Range

Golfers break and lose more tees at the range than anywhere else. Buying a bulk pack of wooden tees keeps you from running out mid session.

Why Wooden Tees Break (and How to Break Fewer)

Snapped tees are part of the game, but a few habits cut down on how many you go through.

• Driver tees usually survive. A well struck drive sweeps the ball off the tee, so long tees often last several holes.
• Irons are the tee killers. A descending iron blow hits the tee too. Push the tee deeper so less of it sits above the ground.
• Hard ground snaps tees. On firm or cold turf, make a starter hole with a broken tee before pushing in a full length one.
• Grab broken tees. Short pieces work fine for teeing irons on par 3s, and picking them up keeps the tee box tidy.
• Try bamboo if you break a lot of tees and want a longer lasting option.

Wooden Golf Tees and the Rules

Wooden tees are fully legal, but every tee has to meet a few limits. Under USGA Equipment Rules Part 6, Rule 2, a tee:

• Must not be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm)
• Must not be designed in a way that could indicate the line of play
• Must not unduly influence the movement of the ball
• Must not otherwise assist the player in making a stroke

Standard wooden tees meet all of these, which is why they are the default choice for tournament play.

Wooden vs Plastic Tees: Quick Take

Wooden tees offer a traditional look and break down naturally over time. Plastic tees generally last longer and many have fixed height steps. If durability is your top concern, our comparison of plastic golf tees vs wood and which lasts longer goes deeper into the trade offs.

How Many Wooden Tees Do You Need?

Golfers burn through tees faster than they think. Here is a rough guide based on the orders we see.

Buying Wooden Golf Tees

A few tips we share with customers:

1. Buy two lengths. Keep long tees for the driver and shorter ones for irons and hybrids.
2. Pick a bright color if you often lose tees in the grass.
3. Buy in bulk to drop the cost per tee.
4. Add a name or logo if the tees are a gift or event favor. Printed tees are one of the most affordable custom golf items.

If you want tees with a name, logo, or event date, browse our custom golf tees collection. Planning around the long length? Our guide to personalized golf tees 3 1/4 inch explains why that size has become the go to for driver play. Printed tees also make easy stocking stuffers, so order early for the holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size wooden golf tee should I use for a driver?

Most golfers with a modern 460cc driver use a 3 1/4 inch tee. It lets you set about half the ball above the crown of the club, or higher if you prefer.

What is the standard length of a wooden golf tee?

The traditional standard length is 2 1/8 inches. Today, 2 3/4 inch and 3 1/4 inch tees are just as common because modern drivers have larger heads.

What is the longest golf tee allowed by the rules?

The USGA and R&A limit tees to 4 inches (101.6 mm). Tees also cannot indicate the line of play or unduly influence the movement of the ball.

Are bamboo tees better than wooden tees?

Bamboo tees usually last longer before breaking and cost a little more. Hardwood tees are cheaper, smooth, and take paint and printing well. Both are legal.

Can you print a logo or name on wooden golf tees?

Yes. We print logos, names, and dates on wooden golf tees, which makes them popular for tournaments, weddings, and gifts.