Ten golf tees compared on material, length and durability, each with a spec table and a checklist for stocking the bag.
Bamboo, wood and plastic tees from MAZEL, WHAMZ33, Amazon Basics, Martini, PrideSports, NorthPointe, Zero Friction, Maxfli, Callaway and FlightPath, all in stock on Amazon and all with the maker’s own specs.
The best golf tees at a glance
A tee is the cheapest equipment decision in golf and one of the few where the differences are easy to describe. Three things separate the packs below: the material, which decides whether a tee survives a fat drive or snaps; the length, where 3 1/4 inch suits a modern large-head driver and 1 1/2 inch is for irons and par 3s; and the head, where a prong or cup design reduces the contact area between tee and ball so less side spin gets imparted at impact.
Almost every pack here is striped, which is the feature that actually changes scores: pushing the tee to the same stripe every time removes one variable from the tee shot. Below are three picks for the common cases, then the full table, then all ten in detail.
- The all-round pick for most bagsMAZEL Bamboo combo pack
- Cheapest per teeWHAMZ33 bamboo, 100 count
- The plastic pack to buy in bulkAmazon Basics recycled plastic
- Lasts longest per teeMartini Step-Up
| Tees | Material | Length | Count | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAZEL Bamboo Golf Teesbest overall | Bamboo and wood | 2 3/4 and 3 1/4 inch | 50 per pack | One pack that covers every club |
| WHAMZ33 Bamboo Teesbest value | Solid bamboo | 2 3/4 inch | 100 per pack | Stocking the bag for a season |
| Amazon Basics Golf Teesbest plastic pack | 100 percent recycled plastic | 2 3/4 inch | 100 per pack | Bulk plastic without the brand markup |
| Martini Step-Up Golf Teeslongest lasting | Plastic | 3 1/4 inch | 5 per pack | Golfers tired of snapping tees |
| PrideSports PTS Wood Teestour standard | 100 percent natural hardwood | 3 1/4 inch | 75 per pack | Drivers and woods, teed high |
| NorthPointe Combo Packbest combo | Plastic, 6-prong cup | 3 1/4 and 1 1/2 inch | 50 per pack | Carrying a driver tee and an iron tee |
| Zero Friction Power Varietythree heights | Bio-composite | Three heights in the pack | 50 per pack | Par 3s, irons and drivers in one bag |
| Maxfli Performance Serieslaunch control | Plastic, 4-prong | 3 1/4 and 1 1/2 inch | 50 per pack | Setting launch height deliberately |
| Callaway Par-Teerubberized cup | Co-molded plastic with rubber cup | 3 1/4 inch | 10 per pack | Low-spin launch off the driver |
| FlightPath Premium Teesheaviest duty | Heavy plastic, USGA approved | Not stated in the listing | Bulk pack | High swing speeds that destroy tees |
The ten packs of golf tees in detail
- Materialnatural wood and bamboo
- Pack50 tees, 25 brown at 2 3/4 inch and 25 black and white at 3 1/4 inch
- Headglossy cup, 0.43 inch cup diameter
- Markingstripes for repeatable tee height
- Design goalless friction and less side spin at impact
- Also sold asa 120 count pack
Best for: Golfers who want one purchase to cover the driver and the shorter clubs
The MAZEL pack is the default recommendation because it removes a decision. Half the pack is 2 3/4 inch and half is 3 1/4 inch, so you are covered whether you are teeing a driver or an iron on a par 3, and both halves are color coded so you can find the right one in a pocket without looking.
The head is the other reason. A glossy cup 0.43 inch across is wide enough to be stable and shaped to keep the contact area between tee and ball small, which is how a tee reduces side spin. The stripes on the shaft are what make it repeatable: push to the same stripe, get the same launch.
Pros
- Two lengths in one bag, so the driver and the irons are both covered
- The 0.43 inch cup head is wide enough to hold the ball steady on windy days
- Stripes let you set the same tee height every time, which is the single most useful tee feature
- Bamboo is biodegradable, so a broken tee left in the ground is not litter forever
Cons
- 50 tees is a small pack next to the 100 count options
- Bamboo still breaks, just later than softwood
- The two lengths come in fixed proportions, 25 and 25
- Materialsolid bamboo
- Length2 3/4 inch
- Pack100 tees, natural color
- Weightlightweight and reusable
- Claimstronger than wood tees and biodegradable
- Supportthe maker offers a replacement pack if tees break easily
Best for: Anyone who loses tees faster than they wear them out
This is the pack you buy when tees are a consumable. A hundred solid bamboo tees at 2 3/4 inch cost less than a sleeve of balls, and bamboo has the useful property of being harder than the soft wood most cheap tees are cut from, so it bends and splinters less on a fat strike.
The limitations are honest ones. There is one length and one color, natural, which means no short tee for irons and a tee that disappears into cut grass. If you tee a modern driver high, look at the 3 1/4 inch options instead.
Pros
- 100 tees for under seven dollars, the lowest price per tee in this list
- Bamboo is harder than the softwood used in cheap wooden tees, so more of them survive the round
- Biodegradable, which matters because most tees end their life in the ground
- The maker replaces the pack if the tees snap easily, which is unusual at this price
Cons
- One length only, so no short tee for irons
- Natural color only, so they are hard to spot in the grass
- 2 3/4 inch is short for a large-head driver teed high
- Material100 percent recycled polypropylene, GRS certified
- Length2 3/4 inch
- Pack100 tees, white
- Head4-prong, minimal ball contact
- Shaftreinforced against bending in hard ground
- Markingblack height marker system on the shaft
Best for: Golfers who want plastic durability in bulk and do not care about the logo
This is the plastic pack that replaced a SAPLIZE listing that has gone out of stock. It does the same job for less: 100 tees with a four-prong head that holds the ball on the prongs rather than in a cup, which keeps the contact patch small and the side spin down.
Two details lift it above generic bulk plastic. The shaft is reinforced, which is what stops a plastic tee bending sideways when the ground is baked hard in summer, and the black marker system on the shaft gives you the same repeatable height a striped wooden tee does. The material is certified recycled polypropylene.
Pros
- 100 plastic tees for around 13 dollars, roughly a third of what a branded plastic pack costs
- The 4-prong head does the same job as the Pride and Maxfli designs, minimizing contact and side spin
- A reinforced shaft is the answer to the one real weakness of plastic tees, bending on hard ground
- Made from certified recycled polypropylene, and reusable across many rounds
Cons
- 2 3/4 inch only, so no short tee in the pack
- Plastic tees do not decompose if you lose one
- No brand cachet, if that matters to you
- Materialplastic, the design traces back to the AirLift tee
- Length3 1/4 inch
- Pack5 tees, multicolor
- Headoversized step-up cup
- Legalityconforms to the USGA Rules of Golf
- Originmade in the USA
Best for: Players who go through a dozen wooden tees a round and want it to stop
The Martini is a different proposition from every other pack here. You get five tees, not fifty, because the design assumes each one survives round after round. The oversized step-up head is what makes that work: the ball sits on a wide platform rather than on a fragile cup, and the shaft is thick enough that a heavy strike moves the tee instead of breaking it.
Martini also makes a point that matters if you play a premium driver. The tees are safe on every club and will not stripe the sole. They conform to the USGA Rules of Golf and are made in the USA. Price per tee is high, cost per round is not.
Pros
- One Martini tee is meant to outlast dozens of wooden tees, which is the whole point of the design
- The oversized head makes teeing up easy and holds the ball steady in wind
- Martini states the tees will not stripe the sole of a driver, so no marks on the club
- Conforms to the USGA Rules of Golf, so it is legal in competition
Cons
- Five tees for nine dollars is the highest price per tee here by a wide margin
- Only 3 1/4 inch, which is too tall for irons
- Plastic this size is very visible, and some players dislike the look
- Material100 percent natural hardwood
- Length3 1/4 inch
- Pack75 tees
- Headcup shaped for stability with minimal ball contact
- Markingstriped for repeatable tee height
- Claimthe number one wood tee on tour
Best for: Golfers who tee a driver high and want the pack the professionals use
Pride's Professional Tee System is the reference wooden tee, and the reason is the material. Hardwood holds up where the soft wood in cheap tees splinters, and the cup at the top is shaped to give the ball a stable seat while touching as little of it as possible.
3 1/4 inch is the length to buy if your driver has a large head and you tee the ball so half of it sits above the crown. Pride also stripes every tee, which is worth more than any of the claims on the bag: same stripe, same height, one less variable in the swing. Pair it with a short tee for irons.
Pros
- Hardwood rather than softwood, which is why these survive more drives than a bargain-bin wooden tee
- 3 1/4 inch is the right length for a modern large-head driver
- Striped, so tee height stops being a guess
- 75 tees for around eight dollars is good value for a branded pack
Cons
- Wood breaks eventually, no matter how hard it is
- One length only, so pair it with a short tee for par 3s
- The tour claim is marketing, not a performance spec
- Materialdurable plastic
- Pack50 tees, 40 at 3 1/4 inch and 10 at 1 1/2 inch
- Head6-prong cup to cut surface contact
- Markingthree stripes on the long tees, cup imprint on the short ones
- Storageclear water resistant bag
- Originmade in the USA, several designs available
Best for: Golfers who want a driver tee and an iron tee in the same bag, in plastic
NorthPointe's combo pack answers the one thing single-length packs cannot: par 3s and iron tee shots need a much shorter tee, and carrying two packs is annoying. Forty long tees and ten short ones in one water resistant bag solves it.
The head is a six-prong cup, which reduces the surface touching the ball more than a four-prong design does, and the long tees carry three stripes for consistent depth placement. It is made in the USA and sold in several printed designs, which changes nothing about performance but does make the tees easier to find in the rough.
Pros
- The 40 and 10 split matches how a round actually plays, mostly driver, occasionally a short tee
- A 6-prong cup is the most aggressive contact-reducing head in this list
- The reusable water resistant bag keeps tees from scattering through the golf bag
- Made in the USA, with stars and stripes and shamrock designs if you want them
Cons
- Plastic, so a lost tee stays in the ground
- Higher price per tee than the bulk bamboo packs
- The high visibility design is a matter of taste
- Materialbio-composite
- Pack50 tees in three different heights
- Colorswhite, blue and lime for visibility
- Extraone velvet carrying pouch per pack
- Design goalmaximum durability from the composite material
- ModelZU10003
Best for: Golfers who want a tee for every scenario without buying three packs
Zero Friction's variety pack is built on the observation that no single tee height is right for the whole course. The 50 tees come in three heights, so the driver, the fairway wood off a low tee and the iron on a par 3 all get the tee they want, and the bright white, blue and lime coloring means you find them afterwards.
The material is a bio-composite that Zero Friction picked for durability, sitting between wood and rigid plastic in behavior. The velvet pouch in the pack is a small thing that turns out to matter, since loose tees migrate to the bottom of a golf bag within two rounds.
Pros
- Three heights in one 50 tee pack, which covers driver, fairway wood and iron
- Bio-composite is tougher than wood and less brittle than hard plastic
- Three bright colors, so the tee is findable after the shot
- Comes with a velvet pouch, which is genuinely more useful than the loose bag most packs ship in
Cons
- Zero Friction does not publish the three exact lengths
- 50 tees split three ways means fewer of each than a single-length pack
- Around eleven dollars, mid-price for what you get
- Materialplastic
- Pack50 tees, 40 at 3 1/4 inch and 10 at 1 1/2 inch
- Head4-prong, minimal contact for less drag
- SystemOptimal Launch System with three colored bands
- Bandscover the bottom band for high launch, the middle for mid, the top for low
- Colorsblue, green, yellow and orange
Best for: Players working on launch angle who want the tee to be repeatable
The Maxfli pack is the one for a player who is working on something. The Optimal Launch System is three colored bands on the shaft with a simple rule: bury the tee to the bottom band for a high launch, the middle band for a mid launch, the top band for a low one. It converts an intuition into a repeatable setup.
Underneath that it is a well made plastic combo pack, 40 long tees and 10 short ones, with a four-prong head that keeps drag down at impact. The four bright colors are practical rather than decorative, since a plastic tee that flies twenty feet is worth finding.
Pros
- The banded system turns tee height into an instruction rather than a guess
- The same useful 40 and 10 split as the NorthPointe pack
- Four high visibility colors, so tees do not disappear into the grass
- Maxfli names the mechanism, less drag through a 4-prong head, rather than making vague distance claims
Cons
- At around 13 dollars it is one of the pricier 50 tee packs
- Plastic, with the usual environmental caveat
- Three bands are only useful if you actually know which launch you want
- Materialco-molded, white plastic base with a black rubberized cup
- Length3 1/4 inch
- Pack10 tees
- Headrubberized cupped top for low-spin launches
- Tipstiff sharpened tip that doubles as a groove cleaner and divot tool
- Designlimited edition with the Callaway logo
Best for: Golfers who want a small pack of premium tees and a soft cup under the ball
The Par-Tee is Callaway's take on the cup tee: a rigid white plastic base with a black rubberized top, molded together rather than assembled. The soft cup is the point, since it holds the ball with less grab than hard plastic and Callaway links that to a lower spin launch.
The tip is worth noting too. It is stiff and sharpened, which means it goes into a dry, compacted tee box without bending, and Callaway points out it doubles as a groove cleaner and divot repair tool. What you do not get is a height marker, so consistency is on you.
Pros
- A rubberized cup grips the ball differently from hard plastic, which Callaway ties to lower launch spin
- Co-molded construction means the soft top and the rigid base are one piece, not glued
- The sharpened tip goes into hard ground easily and works as a groove cleaner
- 3 1/4 inch, the right length for a driver
Cons
- Ten tees for ten dollars, a dollar per tee
- One length only
- No stripes or height markers, so tee height is by eye
- Materialheavy duty plastic, thicker than standard tees
- Designpatented shape aimed at reducing ball spin
- Testingshape developed with robotic testing for side spin and speed
- LegalityUSGA approved
- Usecourse and driving range
- Lengthnot stated in the listing
Best for: High swing speed players who break ordinary tees
FlightPath built these around one problem: a fast swing turns ordinary tees into splinters. The plastic is noticeably heftier than a standard tee and the shape came out of robotic testing aimed at cutting side spin and increasing ball speed off the face.
They are USGA approved, so nothing here is a range-only novelty, and the range is where the durability pays for itself fastest. Two caveats. This is the priciest pack in the list, and FlightPath does not state the tee length in the listing, so if you need a specific height, buy one of the packs above that publishes it.
Pros
- The thickest plastic here, built specifically to survive a hard strike
- The shape was developed through robotic testing rather than guesswork
- USGA approved, so it is legal in competition
- Works as a driving range tee, where tees take the most abuse
Cons
- At around 20 dollars this is the most expensive pack in the list
- FlightPath does not publish the tee length anywhere in the listing
- The spin reduction claims are the maker's own, with no published numbers
Checklist: What Makes a Great Golf Tee
- Material Durability: Look for golf tees made from sturdy materials such as natural bamboo, hardwood, or durable plastics that can endure multiple rounds of golf and resist breaking on impact.
- Size Flexibility: A range of sizes caters to different club requirements and preferences. Ensure the tees you select are available in lengths suitable for your particular clubs, from drivers to irons.
- Eco-Friendly Design: Consider golf tees crafted from biodegradable or recyclable materials like bamboo or bio-composites to make an environmentally conscious choice without sacrificing tee performance.
- Innovative Features: Check for tees with unique designs that aim to reduce friction, such as those with a 4-prong or 6-prong head, to enhance ball distance and accuracy as part of their engineering advantage.
- Height Consistency: Select tees that offer consistency in tee height, such as those with stripe markings or step-up designs, to support uniformity in your swing, promoting shot reliability.
- Multi-use Functionality: Some tees offer extra features, doubling as divot repair tools or groove cleaners. These can add value and convenience to your golfing experience.
FAQ
What should I look for when choosing a golf tee?
Select a golf tee made of durable material, in a size that suits your clubs, with innovative features for reduced friction and consistent tee height.
Are there eco-friendly options available for golf tees?
Yes, there are eco-friendly golf tees made from biodegradable materials like bamboo or bio-composites that offer sustainability without compromising performance.
Can a golf tee really affect my game performance?
A golf tee can impact your game by providing consistent ball height and reducing friction, leading to improved distance and accuracy in your shots.
