Which Side of the Tee Box to Tee Up On
Also known as: which side of the tee box, side of the tee box, where to tee up on the tee box, tee up on the side of trouble, tee on the trouble side
Tee up on the same side as the trouble you want to avoid, then aim away from it. If out of bounds runs down the right, tee up near the right marker and aim toward the left half of the fairway. This angle gives your shot more room to curve away from danger.
The teeing area is a rectangle two club-lengths deep behind the line between the tee markers. You may tee the ball anywhere inside it, and you may stand outside it. That gives you a choice of angles on every hole.
Teeing on the trouble side points your shot away from the trouble. Your ball crosses the fairway at an angle instead of running alongside the danger. The same idea works with your shot shape. A golfer who fades the ball often tees on the right side and aims down the left. The fade then has the whole fairway to move into.
Also look at the ground. Pick a flat spot with no divots or bumps. On a par 3, choose a level patch and use the depth of the area if you need a little more or less distance.
Tips by skill level
Before you tee up, find the biggest trouble on the hole. Tee on that side and aim away from it.
Match tee position to your shot shape. A fader tees right and a drawer tees left, so the curve moves toward the center.
Example
Water runs along the left of a par 4. The golfer tees up near the left marker and aims at the right center of the fairway. Her slight draw lands in the middle.
Why it matters
Where you tee up changes the angle of every tee shot. It is a free way to make the fairway play wider.
Common mistakes
- Always teeing up in the middle out of habit
- Teeing on the safe side and aiming toward the trouble
- Ignoring the slope of the ground where you tee
Frequently asked questions
Should I tee up on the left or right side?
Tee up on the side where the trouble is, then aim away from it. Golfers with a fade often tee right and golfers with a draw often tee left.
How far back can I tee the ball?
Up to two club-lengths behind the front line between the tee markers. You may stand outside the area as long as the ball is inside it.
Sources
Related terms
- Parts of a Golf Course (Tee Box, Fairway, Rough, Fringe and Green)A golf hole runs from the teeing area, or tee box, to the putting green, where the hole or cup sits. The fairway is the closely mown strip between them. The rough is the longer grass around it, and the fringe or apron is the short collar around the green.
- Course ManagementCourse management is your strategy for where to aim, which club to hit, and how to play each hole. The goal is to limit risk and score well for your skill level.
- Good MissA good miss is the preferred side to miss on a given shot. It is the direction or spot where an error leaves the easiest recovery or does the least damage.
- Teeing Up in Front of the MarkersIf you tee off in front of the markers in stroke play, you get two penalty strokes and must replay from inside the teeing area. The first shot does not count. In match play there is no penalty, but your opponent may cancel the stroke and make you replay it.
Related guides & benchmarks
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