USGA and R&A tee rules.

A tee is a small thing. The rules governing it are precise. Here is what they actually say.

The governing rule

The use of a tee is governed by Rule 6.2c of The Rules of Golf (jointly written by the USGA and the R&A; the 2023 edition is current as of 2026). The rule reads (paraphrased; consult the USGA Equipment Rules for the binding text):

A tee is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground for play from the teeing area. It must not be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm). It must not be designed or manufactured to indicate the line of play or to influence the movement of the ball. It must not unduly assist the player in making a stroke.

The four constraints in plain English

1. Maximum length: 4 inches (101.6 mm). Measured from the bottom of the tee to the highest point.
2. No alignment aids. A tee cannot include painted lines, marks, or features designed to help the player aim.
3. No ball-movement influence. The tee material must not significantly affect ball flight. (Reasonable materials including wood, plastic, and TPU are fine; springs, magnets, or curved cups that bias direction are not.)
4. No mechanical advantage. A tee cannot help the player swing or strike, beyond simply lifting the ball.

What this means for Better Golf Tee

Our tallest SKU (driver, 1¾") is 44.5mm; well under the 4-inch / 101.6mm limit. The cup is a standard cradle with no directional or alignment features. TPU is a standard tee material under the rule. The product is legal under Rule 6.2c.

The tether exception

The tee itself is legal in competition. The tether and caddy are not, because Rule 6.2c implicitly excludes tees attached to external objects (you cannot tee a ball using a device attached to your stance bag, for example). For competitive rounds, untie the tee from the cord and use it as a standalone tee. For practice rounds and simulator use, the tether is the whole point.

R&A vs USGA: any differences?

None for tees. The USGA (United States Golf Association) and the R&A (The R&A, based at St Andrews, Scotland) jointly publish The Rules of Golf and align fully on tee specifications. Some regional bodies (PGA Tour, Augusta National) impose additional restrictions for specific events, but those are competition-condition overlays, not differences in the underlying tee rule.

What is NOT a legal tee

• A tee with a spring or mechanism that launches the ball
• A tee with magnets, alignment lines, or laser pointers
• A tee longer than 4 inches
• A tee that significantly alters ball flight characteristics
• An object that is not designed as a tee, but used to elevate the ball (a small stone, for example, is not legal in competition)

Sources and further reading

• USGA Equipment Rules, official binding reference
• 2023 Rules of Golf Resources