<P> A player usually carries several clubs during the game (but no more than fourteen, the limit defined by the rules). There are three major types of clubs, known as woods, irons, and putters . Woods are played for long shots from the tee or fairway, and occasionally rough, while irons are for precision shots from fairways as well as from the rough . Wedges are irons used to play shorter shots . A new type of club called a hybrid combines the straight - hitting characteristics of irons with the easy - to - hit characteristics of higher - lofted woods . A hybrid is often used for long shots from difficult rough . Hybrids are also used by players who have a difficult time getting the ball airborne with long irons . Wedges are played from difficult ground such as sand or the rough and for approach shots to the green . Putters are mostly played on the green, but can also be useful when playing from bunkers or for some approach shots . Putters have minimal loft, forcing the ball to stay on the putting surface when struck . The most common clubs to find in a golfer's bag are the driver, 3 - wood, numbered irons from 3 to 9 (with hybrids commonly replacing the 3 and 4 iron), pitching and sand wedges, and a putter . Players commonly also carry a 5 - wood, and / or additional wedges such as a gap or lob wedge . </P> <P> When on the green, the ball may be picked up to be cleaned or if it is in the way of an opponent's putting line; there are certain other circumstances in which a ball may be lifted . In these cases, the ball's position must first be marked using a ball marker; this is typically a round, flat piece of metal or plastic that is differentiable from others in use . Ball markers are often integrated into other accessories, such as divot tools, scorekeeping tools or tee holders, and in the absence of a purpose - made marker, a small coin such as a penny is acceptable . </P> <P> A tee is an object (wooden or plastic) that is pushed into or placed on the ground to rest a ball on top of for an easier shot; however, this is only allowed for the first stroke (tee shot or drive) of each hole . Conventional golf tees are basically spikes with a small cup on the head to hold the ball, and are usually made of wood or plastic . Wooden tees are generally very inexpensive and quite disposable; a player may damage or break many of these during the course of a round . Plastic tees are generally more expensive but last longer . The length of tees varies according to the club intended to be used and by personal preference; longer tees (3 - 3.5 ") allow the player to position the ball higher off the ground while remaining stable when planted, and are generally used for modern deep - faced woods . They can be planted deeper for use with other clubs but then tend to break more often . Shorter tees (1.5 - 2.5") are suitable for irons and are more easily inserted and less easily broken than long tees . Other designs of tee exist; the "step tee" is milled or molded with a spool - shaped upper half, and so generally provides a consistent ball height from shot to shot . The "brush tee" uses a collection of stiff bristles instead of a cup to position the ball; the design is touted by its manufacturer as providing less interference to the ball or club at impact, for a straighter, longer flight . </P> <P> Alternately, the rules allow for a mound of sand to be used for the same function, also only on the first shot . Before the invention of the wooden spike tee, this was the only accepted method of lifting the ball for the initial shot . This is rarely done in modern times, as a tee is easier to place, hit from, and recover, but some courses prohibit the use of tees either for traditional reasons, or because a swing that hits the tee will drive it into or rip it out of the ground, resulting in damage to the turf of the tee - box . Tees also create litter if discarded incorrectly when broken . </P>

What do you rest a golf ball on