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- There is no one answer to the question of how far each golf club should go. It depends on many factors, including the speed of your swing and where on the club face you hit the ball (scroll down for all the average distance data)
- Generally speaking, different types of clubs have different expected distances. Woods, hybrids, irons, and wedges all have different purposes, and so the distance they can achieve varies.
- For the average golfer, game improvement clubs will provide the most distance. They are designed to help improve accuracy and forgiveness as well as distance.
- Player’s style clubs are for better scratch golfers who want more shot-shaping ability and spin control.
- Distance clubs bridge the gap between player’s style clubs and game improvement clubs. They offer many of the benefits of both types of clubs.
Since ancient times, golfers have been trying to figure out how far each club is supposed to go. And it’s a question that still plagues even the most experienced players!
But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll discuss the average distances you can expect to hit each type of golf club.
So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been playing for years, read on for some valuable information.
Here’s a quick golf distance chart to help visually summarize the data:
Average Distance Per Golf Club
The average man’s golfer club distances
| Club | Yardage | Range (depending on swing speed) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 230 | 200-260 |
| 3 Wood | 215 | 180-235 |
| 5 Wood | 200 | 160-220 |
| 3 Hybrid | 190 | 160-200 |
| 4 Iron | 170 | 150-190 |
| 5 Iron | 160 | 140-170 |
| 6 Iron | 150 | 130-160 |
| 7 Iron | 140 | 120-150 |
| 8 Iron | 130 | 110-140 |
| 9 Iron | 120 | 100-130 |
| Pitching Wedge | 105 | 80-120 |
| Gap Wedge | 90 | 70-110 |
| Sand Wedge | 80 | 60-100 |
| Lob Wedge | 70 | 50-90 |
The average woman’s golfer club distances
| Club | Yardage | Range (depending on swing speed) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 175 | 150-200 |
| 3 Wood | 150 | 125-180 |
| 5 Wood | 140 | 110-170 |
| 3 Hybrid | 130 | 100-160 |
| 4 Iron | 120 | 90-150 |
| 5 Iron | 110 | 80-130 |
| 6 Iron | 100 | 70-120 |
| 7 Iron | 90 | 60-110 |
| 8 Iron | 80 | 55-100 |
| 9 Iron | 70 | 50-95 |
| Pitching Wedge | 60 | 50-80 |
| Gap Wedge | 55 | 45-75 |
| Sand Wedge | 50 | 40-70 |
| Lob Wedge | 40 | 35-60 |
LPGA And PGA Tour Average Club Distances
| Club | PGA Tour Average | LPGA Tour Average |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 294 | 244 |
| 3 Wood | 275 | 225 |
| 5 Wood | 250 | 200 |
| 3 Hybrid | 230 | 190 |
| 4 Iron | 220 | 180 |
| 5 Iron | 210 | 170 |
| 6 Iron | 200 | 160 |
| 7 Iron | 190 | 150 |
| 8 Iron | 180 | 140 |
| 9 Iron | 170 | 130 |
| Pitching Wedge | 150 | 110 |
| Gap Wedge | 135 | 105 |
| Sand Wedge | 120 | 100 |
| Lob Wedge | 100 | 80 |
Average Driver Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average Driver Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 238 yards |
| 30-40 | 231 yards |
| 40-50 | 220 yards |
| 50-60 | 211 yards |
| 60+ | 196 yards |
| All Golfers | 219 yards |
Learn more about average driver distance by age here.
Average Fairway Wood Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average Fairway Wood Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 220 yards |
| 30-40 | 214 yards |
| 40-50 | 204 yards |
| 50-60 | 196 yards |
| 60+ | 182 yards |
| All Golfers | 203 yards |
Average Hybrid Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average Hybrid Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 196 yards |
| 30-40 | 190 yards |
| 40-50 | 181 yards |
| 50-60 | 174 yards |
| 60+ | 161 yards |
| All Golfers | 180 yards |
Average 5 Iron Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average 5 Iron Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 179 yards |
| 30-40 | 174 yards |
| 40-50 | 165 yards |
| 50-60 | 158 yards |
| 60+ | 146 yards |
| All Golfers | 164 yards |
Average 6 Iron Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average 6 Iron Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 169 yards |
| 30-40 | 165 yards |
| 40-50 | 156 yards |
| 50-60 | 149 yards |
| 60+ | 138 yards |
| All Golfers | 155 yards |
Average 7 Iron Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average 7 Iron Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 160 yards |
| 30-40 | 155 yards |
| 40-50 | 146 yards |
| 50-60 | 139 yards |
| 60+ | 128 yards |
| All Golfers | 145 yards |
Average 8 Iron Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average 8 Iron Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 150 yards |
| 30-40 | 145 yards |
| 40-50 | 137 yards |
| 50-60 | 130 yards |
| 60+ | 120 yards |
| All Golfers | 136 yards |
Average 9 Iron Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average 9 Iron Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 139 yards |
| 30-40 | 134 yards |
| 40-50 | 127 yards |
| 50-60 | 120 yards |
| 60+ | 110 yards |
| All Golfers | 126 yards |
Average Pitching Wedge Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average Pitching Wedge Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 127 yards |
| 30-40 | 123 yards |
| 40-50 | 117 yards |
| 50-60 | 112 yards |
| 60+ | 102 yards |
| All Golfers | 116 yards |
Average Sand Wedge Distance By Age
| Age Range | Average Sand Wedge Distance |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 94 yards |
| 30-40 | 91 yards |
| 40-50 | 86 yards |
| 50-60 | 81 yards |
| 60+ | 74 yards |
| All Golfers | 85 yards |
Breaking it all down
Factors that influence driving distances
There are many factors that influence drive distance. The following is a list of some of the most important ones:
- Clubhead Speed – This is the speed at which the clubhead moves through the air. It is determined by the swing speed of the golfer and the loft of the club. A higher loft will result in a slower clubhead speed, and vice versa- buttressing average swing speeds.
- Launch Angle – This is the angle at which the ball is launched off of the clubface. It affects how high or low the ball flies and how much backspin is put on it. A higher launch angle will result in a higher flight path and more backspin, while a lower launch angle will result in a lower flight path and less backspin.
- Loft – Loft is the angle of the clubface in relation to the ground. It determines how high or low the ball will fly. A higher loft will result in a higher flight path, while a lower loft will result in a lower flight path.
- Ball Speed – This is how fast the ball travels off of the clubface. It is determined by the clubhead speed and the impact point on the ball. A higher ball speed will result in a longer distance traveled, while a lower ball speed will result in a shorter distance traveled.
- Impact Point – This is where the clubhead makes contact with the ball. If it makes contact too far forward on the ball, it will cause it to fly too high and go a shorter distance. If it makes too far back on the ball, it will cause it to fly too low and go a shorter distance. The sweet spot is in the middle, and that is where you want to make contact with the ball.
These are just a few of the factors that influence drive distance. If you can improve your clubhead speed, launch angle, ball speed, and impact point, you will see a significant increase in your drive distance. Practice with a coach or use a launch monitor to help you improve these areas of your game.
My own experience
I was always a solid golfer. I could hit golf balls a long way, but I was never really able to control where it went. My average drive distance was about 250 yards. But I wasn’t happy with that. I wanted to be able to hit the ball further and more accurately- especially for my skill level.
I worked with my coach on center contact and making a more consistent swing. And it paid off. My average drive distance increased to 270 yards. But I still wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to hit the ball even further.
I also learned how to swing faster. I increased my club head speed and started hitting the ball further than ever before.
I also started using a golf simulator to improve my accuracy.
Finally, I worked on shaft lean at impact. This helped me to hit the ball with more accuracy and control. And it also helped me to increase my average drive distance to 285 yards.
I’m now one of the longest hitters on my golf club’s championship course. And I’m still working to improve my game. I know that if I keep practicing and improving, I’ll be able to drive the ball even further and more accurately.
What Is The Average Distance Per Golf Club?
The average distance per golf club will often determine your performance on the golf course. Yet, this distance will often vary with various factors, including loft, weather, and swing speed. Understanding the average distance will help you devise suitable stratagems during your play. Here are a few insights into this aspect.
Average Distance In Golf Clubs For Men
The average distance per golf club used by men will vary with the golf club used. The driver club guarantees a distance of 200-230-260, while the 3-wood offers a stretch of 180-215-235. The 5H golf club provides a distance of 170, 195, and 210 in the short, mid, and long hitters.
The 3-hybrid golf club guarantees a distance of 163, 190, and 205 in the short, mid, and long hitters. It is an excellent choice when you frequently use a loft angle of between 15 and 18 degrees.
On the other hand, the 3 Iron golf club offers a distance of 160, 180, and 200 yards. The 4 Iron assures you of a spread of 150, 170, and 180 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters. In contrast, the 5 Iron golf club guarantees a 140-160-170 yard distance, while the 6 Iron golf club provides a 130-150-160 yard length. The 8 Iron and 9 Iron golf clubs give a spread of 110-130-140 and 95-115-130 yards, respectively.
Suppose you want the distance of the wedge golf clubs. Then, the pitching wedge assures you of a distance of 80, 105, and 120 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters, while the sand wedge has a distance rate of 60-80-100 yards. Yet, the lob wedge has a rating of 50, 70, and 90 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters.
Average Distance In Golf Clubs For Women
The average distance of golf clubs for female golfers differs significantly from men. Usually, the driver golf club provides a length of 150, 175, and 200 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters. On the other hand, you’ll expect shorter distances in wood golf clubs. While the 3-wood golf club drives a distance of 125, 150, and 180 yards, the 5-wood has a 105-135-170-yard rating.
Iron golf clubs are central to improved performance on the golf course. The 2-iron golf club has a 105-135-170-yard rating, while the 3-iron offers a distance of 100, 125, and 160 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters. If you use the 4-iron golf club, expect a length of 90, 120, and 150 yards. While the 5-iron is 80-110-140 yards, 6-iron is rated 70-100-130 yards.
The 7-iron golf club is rated 65, 90, and 120 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters. On the other hand, expect a rating of 50-60-80 and 55-75-90 in the 8-iron and 9-iron golf clubs, respectively.
If you use the pitching golf clubs, expect a different rating depending on the golf club you choose. For instance, the pitching wedge assures you of a distance of 50, 60, and 80 yards in the short, mid, and long hitters. On the other hand, the sand wedge has a rating of 40, 50, and 60 yards.
How to improve your shot distance
There are a bunch of ways in which amateur golfers can improve their distance.
These include improving their contact on the ball, swinging faster, working on shaft lean, and increasing their hand arc.
Improving contact involves practicing with a spray club to find out where you are hitting the ball on the face, and then adjusting your swing accordingly.
Swinging faster can be achieved by practicing with a heavier club, and improving shaft lean can be done by practicing in an impact position without taking the club back.
Increasing hand arc can be accomplished by making bigger turns with the shoulders and hips– particularly effective for senior golfers.
Some other fixes include working on some of the following: improving your backswing, using a heavier club, working out in the gym, having a good sequence, and swinging with a faster tempo.
These fixes can help you gain more distance on your shots and improve your golf game.
Final Thoughts
At last, we have answered the question that has plagued golfers for centuries! No more wondering how far each club should go – we have all the data you need right here. And even better, we’ve broken it down by club type so you can figure out which one is best for your game. So what are you waiting for? Get out on the green and start putting these distances to good use!
Hi, my name is Vince Richmond and I am the owner of earlygolfer.com. This blog is all about golfing, from tips and tricks to equipment reviews and everything in between. I have been golfing for over 20 years now and love the sport more than ever. I am always looking to improve my game and help others do the same. When I’m not golfing, I can be found spending time with my wife and two kids or playing some other sport (I’m a bit of a sports junkie). Thanks for reading and be sure to check out earlygolfer.com for all your golfing needs!
