What Is The Average Distance For Each Golf Club?

Are you tired of guessing how far your golf ball will travel with each club in your bag? Understanding the average distance for each golf club can be the key to improving your game and making smarter decisions on the course.

How often have you pulled out an iron thinking it’ll be spot on, but it ends up being 10 or even 20 yards short? Most golfers, particularly amateur golfers overestimate their club selection. For example: choosing a 7 iron when they should be using a 6 iron.

Related article: Top Distance Balls

Let’s delve into the average distances you can expect to achieve with each type of golf club in your arsenal:

Average Distances per Club

When looking at golf club distance charts it is important to remember that these are averages and there are certainly outliers.

Driver (1 Wood)

The driver is often the club that gets the most attention when it comes to distance, as it’s used to hit the longest shots off the tee. It is also the club that varies the most. On average, male golfers can expect to hit their driver between 200 to 250 yards. While female golfers typically achieve distances ranging from 180 to 210 yards.

Professional male players often drive the ball as far as 300 yards or even further!

Fairway Woods (3 Wood, 5 Wood)

Fairway woods are versatile clubs that can be used off the tee or from the fairway when you need distance, particularly on par 5s. A 3 wood can typically carry between 180 to 220 yards for men and 150 to 180 yards for women. Meanwhile, a 5 wood usually carries slightly shorter distances, ranging from 160 to 200 yards for men and 120 to 150 yards for women.

Hybrids

Hybrids are designed to combine the best features of both irons and woods, offering forgiveness and distance. The average distance for a hybrid club varies depending on the loft, but as a general guide, men can expect distances ranging from 160 to 200 yards, while women can achieve distances between 100 to 150 yards.

Irons (3 Iron to Pitching Wedge)

Irons are essential for approach shots and navigating the fairway. The distance you can achieve with each iron will depend on factors such as swing speed, loft, and ball contact. On average, you should expect about 10-15 yards difference between each iron. For example, if you hit your 7 iron 160 yards on a full swing you should expect to hit your 8 iron 145 to 150 yards yards on a full swing.

Average iron distances are:

• 3 iron – 170 to 200 yards for men and 120 to 150 yards for women
• 4 iron – 160 to 190 yards for men and 110 to 140 yards for women
• 5 iron – 150 to 180 yards for men and 100 to 130 yards for women
• 6 iron – 140 to 170 yards for men and 90 to 120 yards for women
• 7 iron – 130 to 160 yards for men and 85 to 115 yards for women
• 8 iron – 120 to 150 yards for men and 80 to 110 yards for women
• 9 iron – 105 to 135 yards for men and 70 to 100 yards for women
• Pitching Wedge (PW) – 90 to 120 yards for men and 60 to 90 yards for women

It is important to understand your average golf club distance with your own clubs because the loft angles, shaft flex and club speed will differ from other brands and models.

Wedges (Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, Lob Wedge)

Golf wedges vary the most when it comes to distance because you rarely hit them with a full swing. They are used for a a variety of shots and differing swing speeds depending on the type of shot being attempted. The distances for wedges can vary greatly depending on the loft and the swing speed:

• Gap Wedge (GW) – 80 to 110 yards for men and 60 to 90 yards for women
• Sand Wedge (SW) – 70 to 100 yards for men and 50 to 80 yards for women
• Lob Wedge (LW) – 50 to 90 yards for men and 40 to 70 yards for women

Wedge selection is very much a personal preference, how you hit the ball, how open the face of the club is, and the types of wedges you have in your golf bag play a major role in wedge distances. It is vital that you understand the loft differences between your wedges. Some golfers use just a pitching wedge and sand wedge, whereas others might have up to 5 wedges in their bag, each differing by just a few degrees.

Main Factors That Affect Golf Club Distance

1. Swing speed – Power and speed
2. Golf clubs – Shaft flex and loft angle
3. Ball speed – Golf balls and compression

Whether you’re teeing off with a driver or chipping onto the green with a wedge, knowing your golf club distances can lead to more accurate shots and lower scores. Not only do you need to know how far you hit each club, but you also need to know how far it is to the pin, check out our Best Golf Rangefinders article to help you determine distances accurately.

Swing Speed: High Speed = Long Distances

It might seem obvious, but swing speed is the most important factor in determining your average distance. Golfers with a slower average swing speed can optimize their distances with club selection, technique and even golf ball selection, however, swing speed is the deciding factor when it comes to distance with each club.

When referencing swing speed you’ll hear players talk about their average sing speed in Miles Per Hour (MPH). Typically golfers will refer to the driver swing speed, swing speeds can be broadly defined as:

• Fast swing speed: Greater than 100 MPH
• Medium swing speed: 85 to 100 MPH
• Slow swing speed: Less than 85 MPH

Increasing Your Swing Speed

If you’re seeking more distance each time you hit the ball, there are ways to increase your swing speed. Increasing your muscle in your arms, shoulders and upper back will increase the power you can generate. Strength is not everything though, also increasing your range of movement can significantly increase your swing speed too. Many golfers do not utilize a full swing, this may be because of technique or personal preference, however, for many it is because their movement is limited. Stretching regularly and following a suitable exercise routine will help you reach your full swing speed potential.

Golf Clubs: Maximizing Distance

Regardless of your swing speed, matching the right clubs to your swing can increase how far you hit the ball. Golf club design has improved significantly over the last few decades, providing greater distances and forgiveness.

Shaft Flex

Matching shaft flex with your swing speed will not only increase how far you hit each club, but will make golf a far more pleasurable experience too. When it comes to shaft flex, too much or too little flex will affect your launch and feel negatively. Getting it just right will increase the club head speed and ‘spring’ on impact.

If you have a slower swing you will be better off with a more flexible shaft because your swing is slower you’ll need the shaft to do some of the flexing for you. A fast swing speed however, will require a stiffer or ‘regular’ shaft because the high swing speed naturally produces more flex, the stiffer shaft is needed to deal with the high energy.

Related article: Steel vs Graphite Shafts

Loft Angle

Not all clubs are made equal when it comes to loft angle. Drivers for example usually vary between 8 degrees and 12 degrees loft angle. Higher lofts produce higher flight trajectories, an 12 degree driver will produce a higher ball flight than an 8 degree driver.

Golf club distances depend heavily on the loft angle of the club. A higher trajectory can give you good carry distance but possible not much roll. A low flight trajectory on the other hand can give good carry and good roll. Depending on the golf course and the conditions, different flight trajectories will be favorable for optimum distance.

Club selection and loft angle is important to consider across brand and models of golf clubs. A Titleist T100 7 iron for example is 34 degrees, whereas a Titleist T150 7 iron is 32 degrees, and a T200 7 iron is 30.5 degrees.

Ball Speed – Golf Balls Built For Distance

High ball speed in golf refers to the velocity at which a golf ball travels off the clubface upon impact with a golf club. It’s a crucial metric in golf performance, as higher ball speeds typically result in longer distances off the tee and greater overall distance for shots. Achieving high ball speeds requires a combination of factors including clubhead speed, angle of attack, and the efficiency of energy transfer from the club to the ball.

Golf ball compression is an integral measurement of a golf balls’ distortion upon impact and influences ball speed. Matching your swing speed with a suitable golf ball compression will positively affect your launch and distance.

Aerodynamics also play an important role in how far a ball flies – less resistance = further distance. Golf ball dimples are there to make the golf ball behave in certain ways during flight. Some golf balls are designed for minimal resistance and longer distances, whereas others are designed for greater spin.

Summary

Understanding the average distances for each golf club in your bag can give you a strategic advantage on the course. However, it’s essential to remember that these distances are just averages and can vary greatly. Factors such as personal technique, swing speed, club loft and shaft flex play a vital role in determining distance. External factors such as weather conditions and course elevation also play a part in overall distance. Regular practice and experimentation with different clubs will help you fine-tune your distances and improve your overall golf game.

So, the next time you step onto the tee or approach the green, keep these average distances in mind. Use this guide to make more informed decisions and hopefully shave strokes off your score. Remember too, sometimes longer distances mean a sacrifice of accuracy, finding a balance that works for you is key. Happy golfing!

Related article: Hitting a Golf Ball Farther