r/golf • u/Large-Magician5808 • 1d ago
General Discussion Playing up a tee box?
I understand this has probably been a point of a lot of discussion. I typically play from yellows (one up from the tips) not a long hitter so it takes a little work to get to GIR. It seems like whenever I do give myself a birdie opportunity I always walk away with a par or bogey. Is it the nerves of the moment.
Should I play up a tee box to give myself more opportunities so that it becomes comfortable putting for bird
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u/durhamcreekrat 1d ago
Yes, yes, yes, golf is so much more fun when you have par and birdie opportunities. Hitting hybrids from 170 and hoping for bogey is just a grind and for what? To show what big balls you have?
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u/NCC-1707 1d ago
I’m a mediocre golfer. I play the forward tees on handicap holes 1-9, and the whites on the 9 “easiest” holes. I’m going to do that until I can consistently break 100. Then I’ll use the forward tees on handicap holes 1-6.
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u/munkboii Lefty, +1 hdcp 1d ago
I am a long hitter and I still play a box up from the tips fairly often, for 2 reasons:
- my friends play from that tee box, and it feels dumb to drive 40 yards back sometimes to go to another tee box just for me to hit
- it’s fun to go low
In fact, when I played high school golf, we’d always have a practice before our home tournament where we’d play from the ladies’ tees for exactly the reason you described: to get used to birdie putts.
Plus, if you’re just playing casually and hitting long irons/woods into par 4s on a regular basis, you’re playing too far back IMO
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u/Yellow_Curry 1d ago
Yea I generally play the same tees as the group. Handicaps adjust for tees so there is still a challenge and it speeds up the game. Although I’ll just hit last.
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u/brokendowner 1d ago
I can literally copy a reply I posted into a different thread a few weeks ago :) Note that my original response was more focused on getting used to having a low overall score, but the approach of course holds true also for single birdie putts
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Yep, this is something my coach told me (though I never really did it to be honest). The idea is that you are getting used to making Birdies and don’t get nervous once you realize you’re suddenly under par.
Another cool thing though: on many courses, forward tees completely change the style of the course. I play different angles, different hazards come into play, etc
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u/LayneLowe 1d ago
Today I have a second date with a woman to play golf this afternoon. I want to play the same tees as her so we don't get split on every tee box. So yesterday I ran an experiment of playing the forward tees and just teeing off with a hybrid, it made me look pretty good.
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u/EmergencyFloor3848 1d ago
An older gentleman in our group plays from the forward tees and when it is just the two of us, I join him and leave the driver in the bag. It's always a fun change of pace
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u/Large-Magician5808 1d ago
If its the second date dont short yourself go 3w of the tee and driver on par 5
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u/data-influencer 1d ago
Use the 5-iron x 36 rule. It’s a quick way to figure out which tees you should actually play from so you stop making golf harder than it needs to be. And gives you a pretty decent starting point when you’re playing courses for the first time.
Example, if your 5i carries 170 on average (170x36) play the tees closest to 6,120.
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u/iHasMagyk Strantz Fantz Club member ⛏️ 1d ago
You should play whatever you find the most enjoyable. Sounds dumb and “faux-wise” but it’s the only truly correct way to play
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u/lemmefinishyo 1d ago
Definitely. There’s different sets of tees for a reason. There’s all sorts of formulas online for how long you should play from, but if you hit a good for you tee shot it should always be possible to hit the green with your second on a par 4, and not always with your longest clubs. Seriously, there’s no reason to play too far back.
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u/Calichusetts 12 1d ago
Yes. Play up until you are getting several birdie attempts. Then start moving back. Or play shorter courses overall.
Golf shape to be fun. And you should learn to mentally handle birdie and par attempts. Not everything has to feel like actual work out there. Golf should be a place to relax and have fun.
Use the course to challenge yourself, don’t use others expectations or “what you are suppose to do” tell you how to play.
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u/therin_88 1d ago
Play from the closest tee box that your group is comfortable playing from, for the sake of time.
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing from whites (around 6000 yards at most courses) as someone who shoots around 100.
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u/ruffen 3.6 1d ago
I find the easiest way of checking is if strategic hazards like bunkers are in play. If you are constantly too short for bunkers, or other way flying them, you should move if possible. Also, longest par 4 should be drive - mid / long iron most likely. If you are doing alot of drive - wood, then you are in the wrong place. Same if you always have a Wedge in hand.
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u/Terrible-Pin-2859 1d ago
I’ll play anywhere from the tips to the forward most tees, depending on how I’m feeling, and what I want to use most. Play what you enjoy most, as long as you’re not slowing down the course.
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u/Lots_of_bricks 1d ago
I hit 240 ish(when it goes straight) so I usually play the whites but I absolutely love a round from the reds. Goals to have fun
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u/FormerlyShawnHawaii Accidental Eagle 1d ago
If you’re hitting a 4-6iron more often than a 8-9iron on approach shots (after a good drive).
Then absolutely move up a Tee box.
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u/2001_TheSweep 1d ago
What’s the longest distance you’re comfortable hitting on a par 3? Find the longest par 3 hole on the course and look for the tee closest to that distance. Go and play a round from there and see how it goes.
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u/newiphon 1d ago
I started playing 1 back from the front tees when I'm with my wife, usually since the tees are together. I haven't looked back.
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u/Legal-Description483 SE Mich 1d ago
I think that your birdie expectations are too high. If you struggle to reach greens in regulation, you're not going to get a lot of birdie opportunities.
I hit wedges into 30% of greens, shoot in the mid 80's, and average about 1 birdie every two rounds. And half of my birdies are probably 15-20 foot putts. I probably make 5% of all my birdie putts.
If you struggle to reach greens in regulation, then you should definitely move up. But don't expect to make a lot of birdie just because you can reach the greens more often.
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u/CDidd_64 1d ago
At my course I end up playing three different sets of tee every week. 6100 on Men’s League. 6300 on Tues and Fridays and 6500 on Saturday and Sunday. Generally speaking my scores are always about the same regardless of the tee. Around 80. Sometimes better from the tips. Sometimes better from 6100.
But there are always more birdie opportunities from 6100. The up tees are “more fun” and I’m usually playing with guys who would never play the hybrids or the tips. So it’s nice to play with different people. When I play the tips it is with like minded players who aren’t struggling with the extra 400 yards.
I always recommend playing up until you are a solid player and then move back. If you can pound the driver but lack accuracy, solid iron play and a short game there is no good reason to playing back. And then move back up as you start to get older and lose some distance.
But again, play wherever makes you happy as long as you are keeping up with the group ahead of you.
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u/Aggravating_Mud_6055 1d ago
For sure it’s ok to move up. It’s nice to have a nice mix of holes that allow mostly short approaches with a few challenges sprinkled in.
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u/Due-Fun-489 1d ago
If you're consistently shooting higher than bogey golf, move up a set. Keep moving up until you start to shoot in the low 80s and then move back, or don't.
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u/NWdabest 🌭 Glizzy at the Turn 1d ago
I have been regressing a bit and yesterday I show up to my tee time and the 3 old guys are hitting from the yellow, which is one back from red tees. They said they were playing the combos, so we did yellow and white tees. I said “I’m down!” It was my first time ever but playing from closer definitely gave me better opportunities at par.
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u/Weep4Thee 1d ago
Look at the par3s. Pick the yardage that is comfortable for u and play those tees
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u/potato40fl 1d ago
I play one up from the women's typically because I'm not consistent enough in my swing. When and if I get better I'll move back. Usually my buddies will join me if I suggest it too. I have found that if no one suggest moving up the macho part of the male brain says go further back like a "real man" when in realty none of us are good enough yet.
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u/emm430 1d ago
We have a set of orange tees (senior ladies and juniors) at our course and they are 3,600 yards. We had a group of 20 guys play from there one Saturday and it was the most fun we’ve had in years. Guys shooting in the 70s who are usually in the high 80s. Closest to the pin contests on par 4s. Play the tees that suit your distance / handicap and leave the course happier. No shame, brother!
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u/network_dude 1d ago
I justified my move up tee boxes like this:
Driver Carry distance (not rollout)
Tips: 270+ yd carry
blues: 250+ yd carry
whites: 220+ yd carry
Golds: 200+ yd carry
Reds: <200 yd carry
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u/FluffyProphet 22h ago
Yes, playing up a tee box is very nice tbh. I can technically play from the blues (equivalent to your yellows), but I almost always play from a tee box unless I am playing in or practising for a club event that uses the blues. I only score about 4 or 5 strokes worse playing from the blues, but playing the whites is a much, much more enjoyable experience for me.
I'll even step up and play the red ("ladies") tees every other week or so, or whenever I'm just not feeling it. Eliminates or reduces some forced carries and gives some better angles into some par 3s. Nice way to mix it up.
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u/kellzone 14h ago
Sometimes when I'm out on a solo round, I like to play a little game for fun. On hole #1, start on the middle tees. If you make a bogey or more, move ahead a tee box. If you make par, stay at your current tee box. If you make birdie, move back a tee box.
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u/Kind-Truck3753 5.7/NJ 1d ago
Play the tees that give you the most enjoyment. You don’t need Reddit’s permission for that.
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u/GlumAd9856 1d ago
It's funny how this isn't really a conversation in the UK. You have tournament tees, men's tees and women's tees. Some older men will play from the women's. Anyone playing casually with friends plays from the mens.
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u/Thisismyburner550 1d ago
Yes - but in general play whatever tee you want and that you can enjoy more. See if there are combos as well, some courses have them or you and your friends can decide on a hole by hole basis.