Practice… why practice, I plan to invent a product that makes golf easy. Given the plethora of wacky golf tee patents, this line of thinking must be fairly common. However, it is probably a lot easier for the average golfer to achieve a sizable payday by inventing the next new hot golf product than it would be making it on the Tour.

The USGA may have something to say about the legality of the following patented golf tees, but they are nonetheless very interesting. First, U.S. Patent No. 4,367,879 follows the simple principle of controlling the ball by controlling the spin. The ‘879 golf tee, seen below, is intended to aid the golfer in correcting their slices or hooks off the tee. A cup-like portion shields the ball and serves to substantially reduce the spin imparted to the ball by the club. Any further tendency to spin is reduced by the friction pads attached to the various arms extending around the ball.                

Next, the inventors of U.S. Patent No. 4,103,888 seek to increase driving distance by promoting elastic deformation of the ball at impact.   The ‘888 teeing device, seen below, creates a vacuum under the ball to make the ball “heavier,” a term used in the patent. Since the ball is “heavier” it will have greater resistance to the force of impact. As a result, the ball will travel further due to the increased elastic reaction of the ball to the club. Interestingly, the patent only contains a single claim.

Finally, the inventor of U.S. Patent No. 5,746,667 plans to kill two birds with one stone by suspending the golf ball. After all, what golfer wouldn’t be interested in eliminating broken tees and worm burners. The ‘667 golf tee suspends the ball above the ground, as seen below. The patent boasts that the invention solves the annoying problem of broken tees and prevents topping the ball of the tee, thereby preserving the course’s turf.