Golf Club Distance Charts: Understanding the Distance Each Club Can Hit.

If you’re new to golf or looking to improve your game, understanding the distance each club can hit is crucial. It can help you identify the right club to use for each shot on the course.

However, it’s important to note that there are several factors that can affect how far a particular club can hit, including the swing speed, impact location, weather conditions, and launch angle.

In this article, we’ll discuss those factors, along with golf club distance charts in detail. It’ll provide you with a good starting point to understand the distances each club can typically hit.

Factors that Affect Golf Club Distance

Before getting into the details of different charts explaining golf club distances, let’s discuss major factors that can affect golf club distance.

Swing Speed

When it comes to hitting long golf club distances, swing speed, or club speed, is critically important. More swing speed leads to more energy transferred from the club to the ball, resulting in higher ball speed and more distance.

The following chart contains the average club speed by a player’s age.

Smash Factor

Smash Factor is the result of ball speed divided by the club speed. It provides you with a ratio of energy transfer from the club head to the ball.

A higher Smash Factor means a more efficient transfer of energy, resulting in more distance.

Impact Location

Hitting the “sweet spot” on the clubface results in the optimal transfer of energy, and increases the total distance covered by the ball. Whereas striking too high, low, or off-center can lead to lower smash factors and reduced distance.

Equipment

PGA Tour professionals use custom-fit equipment tailored to their specific technique, skill level, and body shape. The same swing speed by a pro and an amateur will result in vastly different ball distances.

Additionally, the club type, such as wedges, irons, and drivers, also makes a difference because of different materials and sizes. If you are a beginner, we’ve written a post on the Best Golf Clubs for Beginners.

Weather and Course Conditions

Weather and course conditions such as wind and altitude can have a significant impact on club distance. Therefore, it’s essential to consider these factors when deciding on which club to use.

Skill Level

Skill level is another important factor that affects the distance of your shots. A beginner or average golfer will likely hit the ball much shorter than an experienced or professional golfer.

It’s essential to understand your skill level and work with it, rather than trying to emulate the shots of more skilled golfers.

Golf Club Distance Charts

Are you a beginner golfer and looking to improve your golf game? Knowing the average distance golfers hit each club can help you develop a more strategic approach.

The following golf club distance charts will provide you with information on the average distances golfers hit their clubs.

Golf Club Distance Chart for Men

Use the following chart to see the average distances that men hit using different golf clubs based on their experience level.

Club	PGA Tour	Advanced	Good	Average	Beginner
Driver	296 yards	285 yards	250 yards	220 yards	190 yards
3-wood	262 yards	250 yards	225 yards	210 yards	170 yards
5-wood	248 yards	230 yards	205 yards	195 yards	150 yards
Hybrid	242 yards	220 yards	190 yards	180 yards	145 yards
2-iron	236 yards	215 yards	190 yards	180 yards	145 yards
3-iron	228 yards	210 yards	180 yards	170 yards	135 yards
4-iron	219 yards	195 yards	170 yards	160 yards	125 yards
5-iron	209 yards	185 yards	165 yards	155 yards	120 yards
6-iron	197 yards	175 yards	160 yards	145 yards	115 yards
7-iron	185 yards	165 yards	150 yards	140 yards	105 yards
8-iron	172 yards	155 yards	140 yards	130 yards	95 yards
9-iron	159 yards	145 yards	125 yards	115 yards	80 yards
PW (Pitching Wedge)	146 yards	135 yards	110 yards	100 yards	70 yards
GW (Gap Wedge)	135 yards	125 yards	100 yards	90 yards	60 yards
SW (Sand Wedge)	124 yards	115 yards	95 yards	80 yards	55 yards
LW (Lob Wedge)	113 yards	105 yards	80 yards	60 yards	40 yards

According to USGA (United States Golf Association), an average male golfer achieves a drive distance of around 210 yards with a club speed of 80 to 90 MPH.

Golf Club Distance Chart for Women

Use the following chart to see the average distances that women hit using different golf clubs based on their experience level.

Club	Excellent	Good	Average	Beginner
Driver	230 yards	200 yards	175 yards	150 yards
3-wood	210 yards	180 yards	150 yards	125 yards
5-wood	200 yards	175 yards	140 yards	110 yards
Hybrid	195 yards	170 yards	135 yards	105 yards
2-iron	190 yards	170 yards	135 yards	105 yards
3-iron	185 yards	160 yards	125 yards	100 yards
4-iron	180 yards	150 yards	120 yards	90 yards
5-iron	170 yards	140 yards	110 yards	80 yards
6-iron	160 yards	130 yards	100 yards	70 yards
7-iron	150 yards	120 yards	90 yards	65 yards
8-iron	140 yards	110 yards	80 yards	60 yards
9-iron	130 yards	95 yards	70 yards	55 yards
PW (Pitching Wedge)	115 yards	80 yards	60 yards	50 yards
GW (Gap Wedge)	95 yards	70 yards	55 yards	45 yards
SW (Sand Wedge)	85 yards	60 yards	50 yards	40 yards
LW (Lob Wedge)	70 yards	50 yards	45 yards	35 yards

According to USGA statistics, the average drive distance for female golfers from 2013 to 2019 was 148 yards.

Golf Club Distances Chart by Swing Speed

As discussed already, swing speed does affect the drive distances and they’re shown in the following table. It’ll come in handy on the golf course when you’re not carrying a launch monitor or rangefinder.

Club	140 MPH	130 MPH	120 MPH	110 MPH	100 MPH	90 MPH	80 MPH	70 MPH	60 MPH
Driver	361 yards	335 yards	310 yards	284 yards	258 yards	232 yards	206 yards	181 yards	155 yards
3-wood	303 yards	283 yards	259 yards	238 yards	215 yards	195 yards	175 yards	150 yards	130 yards
5-wood	285 yards	265 yards	245 yards	225 yards	205 yards	185 yards	165 yards	145 yards	125 yards
Hybrid	280 yards	260 yards	240 yards	220 yards	200 yards	180 yards	160 yards	140 yards	120 yards
2-iron	271 yards	252 yards	233 yards	213 yards	194 yards	176 yards	155 yards	135 yards	118 yards
3-iron	265 yards	245 yards	226 yards	207 yards	188 yards	172 yards	150 yards	130 yards	115 yards
4-iron	245 yards	226 yards	208 yards	190 yards	180 yards	165 yards	145 yards	126 yards	110 yards
5-iron	228 yards	215 yards	198 yards	185 yards	170 yards	155 yards	138 yards	120 yards	105 yards
6-iron	208 yards	195 yards	185 yards	175 yards	165 yards	145 yards	130 yards	115 yards	100 yards
7-iron	195 yards	185 yards	175 yards	165 yards	155 yards	135 yards	120 yards	105 yards	95 yards
8-iron	190 yards	175 yards	165 yards	155 yards	145 yards	130 yards	115 yards	100 yards	85 yards
9-iron	186 yards	175 yards	310 yards	145 yards	130 yards	120 yards	105 yards	90 yards	80 yards
PW (Pitching Wedge)	167 yards	156 yards	259 yards	135 yards	120 yards	110 yards	100 yards	85 yards	73 yards

Ball Speed to Distance Chart

The following values are rough estimates of the distance a golf ball will travel in the air, along with the corresponding club head speed and ball speed.

Ball Speed in MPH	Club Head Speed in MPH	Driver Carry in Yards
110	77	181
120	84	198
130	91	214
140	98	231
150	104	247
160	111	263
170	118	280
180	125	296
190	132	313
200	138	329

How to Calculate Your Average Distance

Understanding your average distance is a critical aspect of golf, as it allows you to make better decisions when playing on the course.

While a launch monitor is the easiest way to calculate your average distance, not everyone has access to one.

If you don’t have a launch monitor, consider using the following step-by-step method to calculate your average distance easily.

Step 1: Go to a Driving Range or Golf Simulator

The first step is to go to a driving range or a golf simulator. Once on the range, take at least your five best shots with each club, keeping your mind relaxed and calm.

After that, take another round of five shots (or more based on the number of your previous round) with each club from the same spots. This will give you a better understanding of your average distance for each club.

Step 2: Measure the Ball’s Distance

While taking shots, use a rangefinder to measure the distance of each shot after the ball becomes steady. Make sure that you write down the distance of each shot and also note which club you used. If you don’t have a rangefinder, then hopefully the range has flags or objects to give you an idea of distance.

Since different clubs have different distances, organizing the data in a table format can be helpful. This will make it easier to keep track of the information and analyze it later on.

Remember that accuracy is key, so take your time and ensure that you measure each shot correctly, or as close as possible. By organizing your data in a clear and concise way, you will be able to calculate your average distance with ease.

Step 3: Check the Prescribed Average Distance

The final step is to find the average of all your shorts for each club and compare the results with the prescribed average distance, discussed above, to see how well you’re doing.

For example, if the distances of your Driver shots are 210, 212, 214, 208, 205, 213, 218, 208, 219, and 203, then their average will be 211, which is pretty close to the average male player’s distance with the Driver club.

Remember that your average distance will vary depending on your skill level, swing speed, and other factors. So, don’t be too concerned if your average distance is different from the typical values provided online.

With time and practice, you can improve your average distance and become a better golfer.

Golf Tips: How to Increase Your Golf Distance

The following are the most useful tips to incorporate into your game to increase your driving distance.

Master the Fundamentals

Having a fundamentally sound swing is essential for hitting the ball farther. Poor weight transfer, incorrect grips, bad posture, and excessive hip turn are factors that can rob you of driving distance.

Consistent practice is one of the best ways to improve your fundamentals and develop faster swings, which can enhance your opportunity for increased distance.

Adjust Your Tee Height

A tee that’s too high or too low can negatively impact your shot’s trajectory and distance. Consider experimenting with different tee heights to find the optimal height for your swing.

Use Your Wrists

When you have positioned yourself properly, allow your wrist to move freely. Hold the club with a proper grip by placing it on your fingers, which will give you the necessary stability to utilize your wrist during your swing.

Improve Your Flexibility

Keep in mind that tight muscles can prevent you from making a full turn, which can limit your power and drive distance. If you want to improve your body’s flexibility, we recommend you perform stretching and practice yoga.

Keep Yourself Physically Fit

Golf involves a lot of walking, which can be physically demanding. Therefore, it’s essential to stay fit and healthy to be able to play at your best.

You can consider taking up exercises such as weight training, cardio, and yoga to build up your core strength and improve your endurance.

Make sure that you focus on exercises that strengthen your lower body as they can help you generate more power in your swing.

Increase Your Clubhead Speed

The faster you swing, the more distance you can achieve. Focus on increasing your clubhead speed to get the most out of your shots. Work on building your core strength and flexibility to improve your swing speed.

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Knowing how far each of your golf clubs can hit helps you make better club selections on the course and enhance your game.

Remember that the distances discussed in this guide are based on averages and can vary depending on several factors.

However, they can serve as a good starting point to help you better understand how far each of your clubs should go on average.

With the right knowledge and consistent practice, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better golfer to enjoy each game to its fullest potential.