Why does a tee seem to mess up my golf swing?

Question
QUESTION: Basically, the problem I have is inconsistency with the driver (I can really nail it and I believe I have the tee height and ball height just right but that is one in 5 tries) and that happens with the other clubs when I put a tee under the ball. I'll either top it, hit it fat, hit a snap hook or slice.

What else I have are an 11 degree Orlimar fairway wood, 3-5-7 woods.  I have Nickent hybrids.  The 7-GW are Golfsmith P2 and the SW,LW, TW (yes, 64 degrees).   I found what helped my consistency with the woods and hybrids was to shorten the shafts by 1 inch (all my woods and irons have graphite shafts).   I hit all these straight.  I've basically resorted to using the 11 degree fairway wood with no tee on the tee boxes.  The par 3s I definitely quit using tees and I generally get pars or bogeys.  

The last time I played I shot 43 for 9 at a par 32 executive course and I usually score 49 or so at Miramar on the front 9 (the par is 37).  My short game is pretty deadly (more like that of a low handicapper) and it makes up for the inconsistency.

ANSWER: Hi Lou:
Sounds great Lou.  So hit the ball off the turf with no tee.  I would suggest putting a tee under it off the tee with your driver (11 degree), but not very high at all.  A sweeping motion is required for a driver anyway, so teeing it low with an Orlimar is no big deal.  Quit trying to fight what works, use that to your advantage.  If you play par 3's with no tee, who cares.  It sounds like you are doing everything right.  Don't fix what isn't broken.

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The ones I am trying to hit are the 10.5 degree Plus and the 9.5 degree square driver.  I think what my plan is now, is to use the 11 degree on the course until can get the others to work.  With the other two drivers I can get close to 300 on a good hit.  With the 11 degree I get about 220 but consistently with no tee.
ANSWER: Lou:
Doesn't sound like you need to change anything.  

Eddie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Actually, this is not really a follow up question but a rather lengthy comment and maybe some advice on the middle irons).  Your tips have helped rebuild my golf game over the past six months.  Up until 1993 I played a reasonable amount of golf (I'd say about once per month) and generally shot in bogey range despite having a crummy short game.  I used to tee off with a 4 wood or a 1 iron 99 percent of the time (I was able to hit a 3 wood 300 yards + and my longest ever drive was when I was 15 at 325; I had a reputation of outdriving most of the golfers at the country club I caddied at) and was consistent with all my irons (even the 2 iron).  Since I came to CA (1993) as part of my military duties (I am retired) I think up until last year I played 10 times in 13 years (I believe my average score was about 105 for 18 on a regular course and about 65 for 18 on a par 3 course).  I've played at least about a dozen since last Nov.

I was actually THATCLOSE to putting away my clubs in Feb.  I was dynamite with wedges but couldn't hit anything above  an 8 iron.  

The first thing I found out was that I got under the ball better with my old X31 irons than the so-called "forgiving" Adams GT3 irons but I constantly pulled the ball with anything above the 8 iron no matter what.  I was able to hit hybrids pretty straight but not too consistent.  I picked up that 11 degree fairway wood for $20 and found out I could hit it well but a bit high (it also sparked an interest in Orlimar Trimetal fairway woods).

The next adjustment was mechanical.  I had a couple el cheapo hybrids (the 4 and 5 irons) that I hit reasonably well but not super consistent.  I shortened the shafts on the 3 and 6 iron hybrids (I have an Orlimar Trimetal 3i hybrid and a Nickent 3DX) by 1 inch and I got very consistent. I did the same thing to the 11 degree and the other fairway woods (3,5,7) and... voila!! Straight!!

I changed the short irons and the PW, GW to Golfsmith P2 with regular shafts and basically started getting deadly from 150 yards in.  I also have the 4-5-6 of that set but I prefer the hybrids.

The only dilemma I have is which fairway woods and hybrids to leave out of the bag since you can carry only 14 clubs.  Leaving out the gap wedge or the 64 degree wedge is not an option because I use both (the latter helped me conquer the TRAP FROM HELL at Miramar and I put a tee shot on a par 3 pin high with the former at the same golf course). I hit the 3-5-7 Orlimar woods well.  I also hit the Nickent 4 iron pretty well.  I just ordered the Nickent 5 iron hybrid (since I hit the el cheapo pretty well) since I like the feel of the Nickent hybrids. I also have a 25 degree 7 wood (for instance, if I want to carry the 1-3-5 and leave out the 5 iron) and 25 degree 9 wood (if I want to carry the 1-5-7 and leave out the 5 iron) at my disposal.  I was experimenting with a 29 degree 9 wood (what the heck... 7 bucks at Play It Again Sports) about a month ago and then I got pretty much consistent with the hybrid 6 (including some really crappy lies) and put it away.  I think what I foresee is sticking with the Nickent 5 iron.  I've pretty much put away the 3 iron hybrid since I hit the 5 wood much farther and they both have the same loft.  My logic is if I go to the exec course is to carry the 5 and 7 woods and the 4 iron since the longest par 4 is 395.  Where would it be better to carry 1-3-5, 1-3-7, or 1-5-7 and leave out the 4 iron; 1-3 , 1-5, 1-7 and use the 4 iron?

Answer
Lou:
That is totally up to you.  I am doing the same thing right now with my set.  I waffle back and forth between which clubs to put in my bag because we only can have 14.  What I am doing is making my decisions based on the length of the course I am playing, the wind conditions that day (for instance, if it's windy, I leave my 25 degree hybrid at home and put in my 4 iron).  If you have played a course before, those decisions are a little easier.  But I leave it to a game time decision based on several factors.  My Pro used to tell me "You have to dance with who you brought", and I guess that is why I leave that decision to the day of play, literally at the golf course.  Some of it will be how I feel that day.  Some of it will be how I am hitting different clubs recently, some of it will be based on wedges and turf conditions, etc.  But regardless of our choices, you still can only have 14 clubs.  I guess the cool part about playing golf nowadays is that technology can really help us.  So if the worse thing we have to deal with is choosing which clubs to use for todays round, we're doing alright.  You seem to have made some good choices, and have worked out and through many issues.  Make your club selections the day of play, you'll be fine.  

Eddie