Plastic vs. Wooden Tees

I just purchased a box of Pride Evolution plastic tees. A playing partner noticed I was using the plastic tees and commented that they are bad for the driver face/sole.

I remember back in the day when cheaply painted plastic AND wooden tees would leave residue marks on the sole of my driver, but can't say I've noticed anything with my new Evolution tees. Personal preferences aside of tee material, just wondering if there's truth to their statement? (Personal experience?)

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I'd think hitting a solid 1.68oz golf ball over and over, on the screws, would do much more damage than clipping a tee which can't weigh more than a few grams (no, I've never weighed mine).

But I've been wrong before.

Picked up some Martini Tees, lovin' em. They're nearly indestructible and the top is large enough that the ball stays on the tee in a stiff wind.

http://martinigolftees.com/

I don't like plastic tees. Here's my argument:

Those 'brush' tees claim that they give you extra distance because they minimize the interference with your club. I don't believe that. BUT, just in case that might be just a little bit true, then it follows that plastic unbreakable tees must really impede your club. But, I don't believe that either. Therefore, I don't side with either, and I use good ol American made heartland kickory wooden tees. Work just great.

I remember during the 70's or 80's there was a claim that plastic tees damaged club faces. Possible i guess with early non wood drivers or maybe claim started by wooden tee companies.

I'm sure with todays clubs its fine.

Plastic tees damaging a club face made of metal? Do people listen to the voices in their heads before they talk?

I have understood that plastic tees may not be kind to mowers and are banned on some courses.

On personal note I do not like to leave any more plastic lying around in ground as "needed" (i.e. stray balls)...

Whatever tee left at the tee box

Wooden for driver and plastic for irons (Par3's)

I used to use zero friction tees because I couldn't break them. However after they did this to my G20 I tossed them and went with wood or plastic standard tees.

I definitely notice small chips on my black driver face that I believe is caused by plastic tees. It does no real harm though, so I keep using them.

Plastic tees damaging a club face made of metal? Do people listen to the voices in their heads before they talk?

Been using Wedge tees for years with zero issue.

Plastic can damage metal? Wow, thats a new one. LOL

I use the zero friction tees. Pink ones at that so they are easy to find after a drive and so people are less likely to want to bum tees from me.

They last a long time. I just barely put them in the ground so they get knocked out of the ground before they break most times. Finding them can be troublesome if they go far even being bright pink.

I used to use zero friction tees because I couldn't break them. However after they did this to my G20 I tossed them and went with wood or plastic standard tees.

Not to question you, but are you sure that there wasnt a grain of sand or something on your ball? I would have never thought a plastic tee could do that to a metal face! (luckily, I should have no issues like that since I have the swing speed of an arthritic 90yo grandma.)

With a raw potato in one hand and straw in the other, I can put that straw clean through the potato. If an object hits another object hard enough, it can cause damage.

I use wooden, always have always will.

the inventor of the Martini tee should be knighted

I used to use zero friction tees because I couldn't break them. However after they did this to my G20 I tossed them and went with wood or plastic standard tees.

 

Not to question you, but are you sure that there wasnt a grain of sand or something on your ball? I would have never thought a plastic tee could do that to a metal face! (luckily, I should have no issues like that since I have the swing speed of an arthritic 90yo grandma.)

I agree. It doesn't seem likely that a plastic tee could damage a driver. When you make contact the tee gives - its not immoveable.

Martini forever!!

I used to use zero friction tees because I couldn't break them. However after they did this to my G20 I tossed them and went with wood or plastic standard tees.

 

Not to question you, but are you sure that there wasnt a grain of sand or something on your ball? I would have never thought a plastic tee could do that to a metal face! (luckily, I should have no issues like that since I have the swing speed of an arthritic 90yo grandma.)

 

I agree. It doesn't seem likely that a plastic tee could damage a driver. When you make contact the tee gives - its not immoveable.

Trust me, I fully understand!

I wipe off my clubs after every shot. I keep the HC on the woods as well. This happened on the course with new golf balls so doubt it was sand. It wasn't there the hole before and it was there after my next tee shot when I wiped the face off. The Friction tees has a pretty sharp and pointed prong (three of them) and I suspect I hit one at the right angle.

Our club uses plastic but with the nubs on top to hold the ball... Same at Murfield (Dublin, OH) - I love it because there aren't broken tees left all over the place. The tee boxes always look nice and neat.

I bought the same tees you did and haven't had any issue. Even if it causes damage, it's going to cause damage on the bottom of the face, to which, if you're hitting it there, you have bigger problems. I just hate having fourteen tees in my pocket as opposed to two.

Martini tee for the win.

There is no way a plastic tee can damage a metal driver. Sorry.

Sand/rocks hit at 100+mph, absolutely they can.

Plastic tees damaging a club face made of metal? Do people listen to the voices in their heads before they talk?

If I listened to the voices in my head I would probably be in jail.

I bought the same tees you did and haven't had any issue. Even if it causes damage, it's going to cause damage on the bottom of the face, to which, if you're hitting it there, you have bigger problems. I just hate having fourteen tees in my pocket as opposed to two.

I bought the same tees you did and haven't had any issue. Even if it causes damage, it's going to cause damage on the bottom of the face, to which, if you're hitting it there, you have bigger problems. I just hate having fourteen tees in my pocket as opposed to two.

It looks pretty banged up but to me, all the tees did were transfer some paint and scratch up the club a little bit. I see no dents or chunks out of the metal from a plastic tee.

Just because people think they're clubs need to remain in pristine condition all the time, I need to say that we are essentially carpenters (golfers) and we use tools (golf clubs) in our trade and most of the time while working, you're tools (golf clubs) are going to get banged up because you are SWINGING THEM INTO THE EARTH (golf clubs) and/or SWINGING IT AND AN OPPOSING OBJECT (golf ball).

I know not everyone agrees, but this is the reality of our game we all love so much.

I bought the same tees you did and haven't had any issue. Even if it causes damage, it's going to cause damage on the bottom of the face, to which, if you're hitting it there, you have bigger problems. I just hate having fourteen tees in my pocket as opposed to two.

 

It looks pretty banged up but to me, all the tees did were transfer some paint and scratch up the club a little bit. I see no dents or chunks out of the metal from a plastic tee.

 

Just because people think they're clubs need to remain in pristine condition all the time, I need to say that we are essentially carpenters (golfers) and we use tools (golf clubs) in our trade and most of the time while working, you're tools (golf clubs) are going to get banged up because you are SWINGING THEM INTO THE EARTH (golf clubs) and/or SWINGING IT AND AN OPPOSING OBJECT (golf ball).

 

I know not everyone agrees, but this is the reality of our game we all love so much.

It's just an example of what can happen when you hit the ball with the bottom of the club.

The ball has the potential to cause much more damage than a tee will.

Yes, that's my new driver.