Driving Range Tee Too Low (How to Bring Your Own Rubber Tee)

Not all driving ranges offer the option to hit off natural grass, and rubber hitting mats are used at many practice facilities. 

Multi-level ranges, indoor launch monitor setups, and ranges that often experience inclement weather are all regular users of rubber mats. Often, golfers find the rubber tees provided at these facilities to be awkward and challenging to adjust to. 

Standard rubber tees do not allow you to adjust ball height, and not all ranges offer a variety of rubber tee sizes. Luckily, there are a few workarounds that resourceful golfers have come up with over the years.

Bring Your Own Rubber Tee Holder to the Range

The most time-tested solution for using a real golf tee at the golf course is to purchase your own rubber tee holder and bring it with you to the driving range.

The critical difference is that the center has a tapered slot in the top that is just wide enough to fit a traditional golf tee. The bottom of the tee rests snuggly in the center, allowing standard-shaped wooden and plastic golf tees to be used on rubber mats. Brush tees can even be used, since the bottom half features a traditionally shaped spike. 

While rubber tee holders are an affordable and convenient way to use real tees on any range, using them does come with a few caveats. First, you’ll need to use a shorter tee than usual in some cases. Some driving ranges feature hitting mats that are either fixed to the ground or not easy to flip over and change tees.

This is usually true at larger multi-level ranges like Topgolf, and in these cases, you’ll have to rest the rubber tee mount on top of the hitting surface instead of under. A standard length tee will be too high in these cases, and a shorter tee made for irons or fairway woods should be used instead. If a shorter tee isn’t available, you can always use a broken tee.

The Tee Claw

The Tee Claw is an innovative product that has been gaining popularity at driving ranges and practice facilities over the last few years. The Tee Claw addresses the issues experienced by rubber tee holder users, as it allows golfers to tee the ball at a wide variety of heights from on top of the artificial mat. 

These plastic discs have a tee holder on one side, and the other features four claw-like legs that grip into artificial hitting mats. The discs are placed on the mat in a straight line pointed downrange, and the tee is placed into the front disc. The rear disc acts as an anchor, as some tee shots will dislodge the front disc from the turf. The lanyard keeps the front disc from flying away, and it is easily replaced for another shot. 

Shorter tees are required to use this system, as there is no option to have it sit under the mat like with rubber tee holders. Full-size tees can be broken or cut down to the desired length, and it may take some trial and error to achieve the same standard tee height you are used to on the golf course. Additionally, it is essential not to rest the ball directly on the tee claw, as hitting directly off of it without a tee can cause damage. 

The height of the tee can be one of the most important factors when it comes to adjusting the trajectory of the golf ball. The Tee Claw is such a game-changer because it allows golfers to tee the ball up lower than ever before when using real tees on artificial hitting mats. Having the ability to tee the ball up at different heights during practice is crucial for golfers looking to find their correct tee height.

Tee Claw Drills

While the rear circular disc of the tee claw primarily acts as an anchor for the front disc, the lanyard that connects the two also serves as a helpful training aid. When used regularly, the bright yellow string forms a straight line for your club to follow on its way to impact, reminiscent of a landing strip.

While this built-in feature is helpful on its own, there are many additional ways to configure multiple tee claws that are ideal for practicing your swing. When used correctly, a pack of tee claws can produce many of the same golf practice drills that traditionally require alignment sticks. Here are some of the best ways to practice with a pack of Tee Claws.

1. Body Alignment Drill – The first drill is one of the simplest and most commonly used tricks used by golfers worldwide. A golf club or alignment stick is often placed in front of the golfer’s feet, pointing straight at the target line. This simple exercise works great using the Tee Claw, as the bright yellow line really pops on the green hitting mat.

1. Swing Path Drill – This swing path drill is extremely helpful when learning how to put a draw or a fade on the golf ball, and requires two tee claws. The first Tee Claw is set up regularly, pointing straight down range. The second Tee Claw forms roughly a 45-degree angle, facing either away from or toward the golfer. A setup facing toward the golfer illustrates the proper club path to achieve a draw, while one facing away shows where the club should travel when hitting a fade. 

1. Ball Position Drill – This simple ball position drill also requires two tee claws, and is extremely helpful when building a proper setup and pre-shot routine. The first Tee Claw is placed in a straight line in front of the golfer’s feet, exactly the same as in the previously mentioned body alignment drill. The second is placed perpendicular to the first, directly between the golfer’s feet. This grid helps players keep track of where the ball is in their stance and provides a reference point to avoid getting out of position throughout a range session. 

1. Club Path at Impact Drill – This is a simple hitting drill that is very commonly used with alignment sticks. Golfers often run into the issue of their alignment sticks rolling from side to side on artificial hitting mats, which is not an issue with the Tee Claw. Additionally, this drill requires you to roll the next golf ball over one of the guides when setting up for the next shot. These reasons make the Tee Claw perfect for this Club Path drill. Two Tee Claws are placed in parallel lines, facing the target line. The golfer simply places the ball in between these two lines, which serve as a visual guide and help keep the club on the correct line through impact.

Best Golf Tees For Indoor Mats

While the Tee Claw is great for use at the driving range, it may not always be the best option when using indoor mats – especially when using a launch monitor. Launch monitors use cameras and radar technology to track everything from the speed of the clubhead to the flight and spin of the golf ball when struck. Each launch monitor uses slightly different technology to track these metrics, and the Tee Claw may present an issue with some. 

The front disc of the Tee Claw may interfere with the tracking of the golf ball, since it becomes dislodged and flies up a bit before being caught by the lanyard. A rubber tee holder is the best option for those looking to use a traditional-style golf tee on an indoor golf simulator. This simple and affordable tool will not interfere with a launch monitor, and will stay put for an entire range session. 

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use normal tees at driving range?

Yes, you can! With the purchase of products like the Tee Claw and rubber tee holders, it is possible to use traditional golf tees at driving ranges with rubber hitting mats. 

How should a beginner tee off?

Beginners should start by learning the proper tee positions and then adjusting accordingly as suited to their swings. The standard tee height when using a driver is 1.5 inches, .5 inches for fairway woods, and around .25 inches for irons off the tee. 

Can you put a tee in a mat?

Without the use of a special adapter, you can not stick a golf tee into a hitting mat. The rubber surface of the mat is too hard to penetrate with a golf tee, and if you did manage to get one in, it would damage the mat by putting a hole in it.

Do rubber tees affect ball flight?

While there is some debate as to whether the rubber tee itself affects the flight of a golf ball, its height can definitely be a factor when it comes to trajectory. 

Can you use rubber tees in golf?

While it is not commonplace to use a rubber tee on the golf course, it is entirely legal to do so. Rubber tees are completely legal according to the rules of golf, provided they are not longer than four inches.

Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com

Practicing your golf swing at the driving range is the best way to hit the fairway more often, and start carding fewer bogeys and more birdies. 

While some driving ranges only offer artificial rubber hitting mats, there are a couple of solutions on the market now that allow golfers to adjust their tee height no matter where they practice. The team of experts at Tell Me More Golf recommends picking up a rubber golf tee holder or a pack of Tee Claws if you find that the provided rubber tee at your driving range is either too high or too low.

Patrick Corley

From a golf scholarship to a Southern California University, to a private golf coaching career and an instructor position at a nonprofit organization, I’m here to help you get better at golf! With my 50+ years of golf experience; I bring you Tell Me More Golf. A golf coaching website that helps your game with instructional golfing content that’s ultimately geared toward making you a better golfer and having more fun!

Our golf instructor team brings it all to you, so enjoy!

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