Golf Tees Explained: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Smallest Piece Of Equipment In Your Bag

When golfers think about improving their game, they usually focus on clubs, balls, lessons or technology.

Very few spend much time thinking about the humble golf tee.

Yet it's the only piece of equipment you'll use on almost every hole, and it plays a bigger role in your performance than many golfers realise.

From tee height and materials to durability and consistency, choosing the right golf tee can make a genuine difference to your confidence and setup.

So let's take a closer look at one of the smallest, and most overlooked, pieces of equipment in golf.

A Brief History of the Golf Tee

Before golf tees became common, golfers would simply mound up small piles of sand to elevate the ball.

Many courses even provided sand boxes on teeing grounds specifically for this purpose.

The first patented golf tees appeared in the late 1800s and early 1900s, eventually evolving into the wooden peg-style designs we recognise today.

More recently, golfers have seen the introduction of plastic tees, brush tees, castle tees and a wide range of specialist designs aimed at improving consistency.

Despite all these developments, the purpose remains the same:

To present the golf ball in the best possible position for the shot ahead.

Why Golf Tees Matter More Than You Think

The tee is responsible for one important thing: consistency.

A consistent setup leads to consistent strikes.

When you place a ball at the same height every time, you're giving yourself the best possible chance of repeating the same swing and making solid contact.

That's particularly important with modern drivers, where small differences in strike location can have a significant impact on distance and accuracy.

The tee itself won't fix your swing, but it can help eliminate unnecessary variables.

Golf Tee Materials Explained

Today, most golf tees fall into three main categories:

Wooden Golf Tees

Traditional wooden tees remain popular because they are simple, inexpensive and widely available.

However, they can be prone to breaking and often lack consistency when pushed into different ground conditions.

Plastic Golf Tees

Plastic tees became popular due to their durability.

Unfortunately, durability isn't always a positive thing.

Lost plastic tees can remain in the environment for many years and have become an increasing concern for golfers and golf courses alike.

While plastic tees may survive multiple rounds, eventually they break, and when they do, they remain plastic waste.

Bamboo Golf Tees

Bamboo offers the best balance of performance and sustainability.

It's naturally strong, flexible and fast-growing, making it an ideal material for golf tees.

Unlike plastic, bamboo naturally biodegrades over time.

That's why more golfers are making the switch to bamboo golf tees as a practical alternative to plastic.

What Are Castle Golf Tees?

Castle tees, sometimes called graduated tees or step tees, feature a small shoulder or "castle" built into the design.

This shoulder acts as a guide, allowing golfers to insert the tee to the same depth every time.

The result?

Consistent tee height.

For many golfers, from beginners through to elite players, castle tees can be one of the simplest upgrades they make.

Castle Tees: From Club Golfers to Major Champions

Some golfers assume castle tees are only for beginners or higher handicappers looking for a little extra consistency.

The reality is very different.

One of the most recognisable users of graduated tees in professional golf is recent PGA Champion Aaron Rai. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Rai has long used castle tees as part of his setup, proving that consistency matters at every level of the game.

When the difference between success and failure can come down to millimetres, it's easy to understand why.

A castle tee won't fix your swing, but it can help remove one variable by ensuring the ball is teed at the same height every time.

Whether you're playing in your weekly medal or competing for a major championship, consistency is one of the most valuable assets in golf.

That's why more golfers are making the switch to graduated tees and building a teeing system that works for their game.

Why Tee Height Matters

One of the most common mistakes golfers make is using the same tee for every club.

Different clubs often benefit from different tee heights.

A driver typically requires a higher tee position, while irons and hybrids are often played from much lower tees.

Finding the correct height helps improve consistency and confidence.

The Green Swing Tee Height System

At Green Swing, every castle tee is built around the same principle.

All of our castle tees feature a uniform 20mm spike.

Why?

Because we've found it provides the ideal balance between stability and durability.

Longer spikes can become more prone to bending and breaking, particularly on firm tee boxes. Shorter spikes, meanwhile, don't always provide enough grip in the ground to keep the tee stable through impact.

Keeping the spike length consistent also means golfers can clearly understand exactly how much of the tee sits above the ground.

For example, our bestselling 60mm castle tee actually places the ball 40mm above the ground, while our 70mm castle tee sits 50mm above the ground.

It's a simple system, but one designed with performance in mind.

With sizes ranging from 25mm through to 70mm, Green Swing offers one of the most comprehensive bamboo castle tee ranges available.

Our current range includes:

Tee Length	Height Above Ground
25mm	5mm
32mm	12mm
38mm	18mm
45mm	25mm
50mm	30mm
60mm	40mm
70mm	50mm

We've even had a growing number of golfers asking for something in between...

Watch this space.

Why Colour Matters

Ask many Green Swing customers what size tee they use and they won't tell you the length.

They'll tell you the colour.

Over time, our range has developed into a simple visual system:

🟢 Green – 25mm
🔴 Red – 32mm
🔵 Blue – 38mm
🟡 Yellow – 45mm
⚪ White – 50mm
🩷 Pink – 60mm
🟠 Orange – 70mm

It makes selecting the right tee quick and easy, both online and on the course.

No tape measures required.

Are Expensive Golf Tees Worth It?

Not necessarily.

The best golf tee isn't the most expensive one.

It's the one that provides:

• Consistent tee height
• Reliable performance
• Appropriate durability
• A design that suits your game

For most golfers, consistency matters far more than gimmicks.

The Future of Golf Tees

Golfers are becoming more conscious of both performance and sustainability.

At the same time, golf equipment is becoming increasingly personal.

Golf tees are no longer viewed as disposable accessories. They're becoming part of a golfer's setup and routine.

We're seeing increasing demand for:

• Sustainable materials
• Greater height choice
• Better consistency
• Unique designs
• Plastic-free alternatives

The future of golf tees isn't just about performance.

It's about giving golfers more choice than ever before.

Final Thoughts

The golf tee may be the smallest piece of equipment in your bag, but that doesn't mean it should be overlooked.

The right tee can improve consistency, simplify your setup and help you approach every tee shot with confidence.

Whether you're a traditionalist, a castle tee convert or someone looking to make the switch away from plastic, choosing the right golf tee is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your game.

After all, every great shot starts in exactly the same place.

On the tee.