We have looked previously at how to play shots towards an elevated green but many golf courses will also feature an elevated tee shot.
In some cases, this will be on a par-3 hole but elevated tee shots can be on any hole of a golf course and you must be prepared. Not only does an elevated tee shot mean you must think about your club selection but the way you play the shot could also change.
Clearly the ball is going to travel further in the air when playing from an elevated tee and will drop further down on a green which is below the tee position. However, the ball will also travel further in terms of distance as it is never going to be dropping vertically out of the air onto the putting surface.
So, you will need less club when playing a par-3 from an elevated tee. How do you choose which club to use?
The general rule is to drop one club for every 50 feet of elevation distance. In other words, a club which would see the ball drop just short of the green on a flat hole, would be a good choice for an elevated tee.
This is a very simple example and you will need to consider the height of the drop to the green and the extra distance this will add to the shot. It is something which will become easier to judge with practice and if you can practice hitting the ball from an elevated position, it will give you some idea of the distance required and you can translate that to the golf course.
In addition to the extra distance, you must consider the extra time the ball will spend in the air when playing from an elevated tee position.
If you play with a fade for example, this will become more exaggerated the longer the ball is in the air. This could see the ball drift further away from the target than intended and it may land off the green.
The best way to avoid this is to keep the shot as low as possible. This is also true when it is windy. The higher you hit the ball into the wind, the more impact the wind will have on the ball and send it off course.
Always consider the choice of club and the height of the ball when playing from an elevated tee and you should be fine.
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