In a previous article, we have discussed how to tee the ball depending on what type of shot you would like to play. However, this is not the only consideration you should have when starting a hole.
Not only does the height of the tee have an impact on your shot but also where you place the ball inside the tee box. On every hole you play, you have a choice of where in the tee box you would like to set-up your ball.
You are not restricted to one place, you can go anywhere you like if you are not going outside the designated area. In that case, you should know exactly where you want to place the ball in the tee box, to give you the best possible chance of making a great shot. This means you do not simply place the ball wherever you feel like it, you must have some idea of what you are trying to achieve.
This is where strategy comes into play, especially when playing a tournament which sees you go around the same 18 holes, two, three or four times.
Watch how many other amateur players walk up to the tee and place their ball right in the middle, without any thought at all. This is a mistake.
If you are planning on hitting your drive perfectly straight, then yes, teeing up the ball in the centre of the tee box is a good idea. However, how often do you want to hit the ball dead-straight off the tee during a round of a golf? Secondly, how good are you at hitting the ball perfectly straight with the driver?
In truth, not many people can hit a straight drive and will tend to see the ball move from left to right to vice versa.
So, if most of your shots are curving from the left to right, why would you tee up the ball in the centre of the tee box?
Instead, place your ball as close to the right marker on the tee box as you can, without impeding your stance or having the marker distract you during the shot. By placing your ball in this position, you open the whole of the fairway for your drive. Even if you start the ball down the centre of the fairway, you should still leave yourself on the right side of the fairway for your second shot due to the direction in which the ball is initially travelling from your position.
If you are a right-handed player and tend to strike the ball from right to left, you will need to come close to the tee box marker when positioning your ball. It may take a little practice to play your drive with it close to your ball but you should only be concentrating on the ball and will soon get used to it.
If you learn to optimise your angle on tee, relative to the shape of the fairway and the way you usually strike the ball, you will find the fairway consistently. This can result in several saved shots during a round or tournament.
