Wedge Gapping And The Clock System
Rick Shiels EVERY golf club distances!
I have mentioned this before in relation to wedge gapping. This is certainly not my own idea-it is quite a common thing, especially in better players and pros. It involves having say three different swings for three different wedges and it lets us hit different distances using different wedges. For example, your 80 yard shot might be a full lob wedge, a three-quarter or nine oclock sand wedge or a half/six oclock gap wedge.
Making a distance chart for the rest of the bag is somewhat different. The aim isnt really to have various ways of hitting the same shot, more to have a definitive reference for every club in the bag on a full swing. In fact, you can probably exclude driver and even three wood from this. I see driver as a club which is there, generally, to hit it as far as possible . Three wood is the longest club most golfers will hit in any other situation apart from on the tee. It doesnt mean that they should be excluded from a yardage chart, but it wont be the most useful information you will note down.
How Far Should You Hit Your Irons Based On Swingspeed
In days gone by your average golfer probably would not have even heard of the term swingspeed never much considered it as a category for how to measure how far hit their irons compared to other players.
In modern golf however the topic of swingspeed has become a hugely important one as golf tech products such as Trackman and Shotlink have enabled golfers to understand its importance in relation to how far they hit the ball.
Once again when it comes to seeing how far golfers hit their irons broken down by swingspeed it is of course much harder to pull together stats for average amateur golfers by comparison to the pros who all carry their own individual launch monitors around with them wherever they go.
Based on the swingspeeds and yardages hit by the pros however experts in swing speed training, including PGA pro and GolfWRX senior writer Jaacob Bowden, have been able to apply some clever algebra to come up with estimates for how far you should hit your irons based on your swingspeed.
These estimates of carry distances are included in the table below together with relevant benchmark comparisons with the pros.
SWINGSPEED |
170 |
From these numbers we can clearly see the direct link between increased swingspeed and increased distance.
As a result anyone hoping to hit the ball further has an increased incentive to work on their swingspeed.
Its not hard to see therefore why the metric of swingspeed is getting ever increasing focus in the modern game!
Final thought
Average Golf Iron Distance By Age
When it comes to how far you should hit your irons age clearly is also a key factor.
It is no great secret that golfers lose distance as they age but does the average golf iron distance gradually decline with age or drop off a cliff once players reach a certain stage in their golfing life?
As a general rule the average golfer will lose approximately 4 yards of the total distance they hit a 7-iron every 10 years after they reach the age of 30 according to golfs first artificial intelligence shot tracking platform, Arccos.After 60 years of age iron distances then however drop off more severely.
While comprehensive iron distance data is readily available for the pros along with any other number of stats you care to think of, detailed and tested numbers on how far different age groups hit their irons are sadly not so readily available.
Thankfully in the modern era however shot-tracking systems such as Arccos and Shotscope have enabled the on-course capture of millions of shots by amateurs of all ages and standards which allows us to be much more accurate with our estimates as to how far different age groups of golfers hit their irons.
Unfortunately though nobody currently makes a complete data set for iron distances available to enable us to zero in on precisely how many yards amateurs can expect to lose in the distance they hit their irons as they get older.
IRON CLUB
These stats are obviously clear on the following facts:
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Golf Club Distance Chart
The distance chart provided here will help you get a better understanding of your stroke and the distances you travel with your clubs in hand in yards and meters.
Elevation changes and forces all play a role in the game of golf. According to popular belief, a single golf shot will never be identical to another. It is necessary to get familiar with each club and grasp their potential and performance in relation to your style and swing.
This takes time and practice. It will take some time and effort to do this. Other elements, such as the kind of ball used, the state of the course, and the weather, especially the feared wind, will all have an influence on how far the ball will go.
Hopefully, by examining the charts below, you will be able to obtain some information that will be useful to you in some manner throughout your game.
Club |
---|
37 Meters
Table Of Golf Club Distances

All these are rough estimation of the clubs used to hit the ball. It varies depending on such factors as your sex, height, and fitness level. It also depends on your ball type, swing speed, and of course, how well you actually hit the ball. Below is a table of average club distances for different categories of players.
Golf Distances are calculated in yards based on average amateur male and female players ranging from short, mid, and long hitters, with the different types of clubs listed. The distances are total distances. This pagehas information on the carry distances.
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Bryson Dechambeau Club Distance Chart
Because of the dedication, Bryson DeChambeau has put into his health and workout regimen, it is no surprise that he has been able to significantly increase the distance with which he can strike the golf ball in recent years.
He is said to be able to hit his 7 iron 205 yards, which is far further than the majority of normal golfers can hit their drivers!
Observe the chart under to see how far hitting from the tee has come on the PGA Tour in the past 20 years, then youll see how far it has come in the last 20 years. Bryson DeChambeau is now the farthest hitter on the PGA Tour in terms of driving distance.
Club |
---|
110 Yards |
How Far Is A Good Driving Distance
While I cannot tell you how far you should be hitting your golf balls, we can use some averages to see if youre behind or ahead of the average for your skill level.
What shot distance is considered a good golf drive? Driving a golf ball 220 yards or more is a good distance which places you in the top 25% of players. A ball travelling 220 yards is further than the average of 195 to 205 yards that an average recreational player will hit a golf ball.
When it comes to professional golfers, the 280+ yard mark falls in the good range.
To get an accurate distance, female golfers can deduct 50 yards from the measurements discussed.
On average males drive the ball 27.2% further than females. This means a good distance for women golfers is 180 to 200 yards.
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How To Make Your Own Club Distance Card
To make your own club distance card, youll need to start by measuring each clubs carry and/or total distance. There are several ways to get this data:
- A golf simulator
- A launch monitor
- A range finder and some time at the driving range
Choose which data is most helpful. For example, carry distances are useful for hitting a green or ensuring you can get over trouble, and the total distance helps you know your range. You can also track distances for partial swings .
After youve gathered all the numbers, there are several ways you can use them to make your club choices easier on the course:
- Paper the most basic way is to write them down on some note paper you can use the templates below for an idea of what to write down.
- Phone you can save these numbers as a note or document for reference if your phone is easily accessible during your golf round. Apps like the Arccos Caddie will also track this for you.
- Print Out weve included some sample templates below to give you ideas on how to design a card.
Once you have your distance card, you can laminate and carry it, put it in a scorecard holder, attach it to your bag with a bag tag holder, or tape it to your push cart.
How Do I Work Out My Average Distance
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR DISTANCES??? Golf Monthly
As we said above, this all-important understanding takes time and effort. Over time you will naturally become more familiar with your distance capabilities and average but in the early years, you will have to do a bit of homework.
The fastest way to do this is at the driving range. You will need to experiment with each club and keep track of the results. If you hit around 50 shots with a particular club and eliminate the 5 worst and 5 best, that will give you a fairly accurate idea of your average with that club.
This will need to be done with each club if you really want to be sure but initially, you can check your driver, woods, and 2 or 3 irons to get a faster idea.
The same can be done on the course but will not be as accurate and will take a lot longer. The best approach is to use both the range and the course and keep track of your averages as well as your progress.
So, as much as the above chart is a useful guideline, the true average varies widely from player to player. It is important to work out your personal average. This should naturally increase over time as your skills and technique improve.
It is valuable to keep track of your distances from practice as well as on the course. This can be done manually however there are mobile phone apps that can also help.
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Golf Club Yardage And Specification Chart
The distance difference between clubs is created equally by the increments in club length and loft angle.
The calculations here are based on 1/2 club length difference = 5 yards distance difference and every 4° loft angle difference = 5 yards distance difference. If 4° loft does not divide out in even increments, simply interpolate the distance. In the example below: 19° difference between the 5 iron and PW = 19° ÷ 4 = 4 with 3 degrees left over. So, 4 x 5 yards = 20 yards. The 3 degrees loft left over = 4 yards, so 20 yards + 4 yards = 24 yards. Do not get too serious about this interpolation thing, a close guess is usually ok.
This calculation method is, however, quite accurate and is the best way to fit clubs regarding distance differences in your iron set. You will usually find that 5 yards works for most golfers however, for many better players and also stronger players, you will find 6 yards works better.
Most golfers get 10 yards overall difference between clubs, but others get 12 yards overall difference between clubs.I have worked with a few touring pros who get 14 yards overall between irons with their normal swing (this means you would need to use 7 yards for each 1/2 difference in club length and 7 yards for each 4° difference in loft angle.
Look over the example closely. It should help you in being able to calculate your own yardage to determine if you have the best set make-up or to fill-in any yardage gaps that hurt your game.
Theres No Right Distance
When it comes to the yardage that you hit each club, the fact is that theres no right distance.
Well share with you the yardages that average golfers hit their shots, but whats far more important than knowing how far others hit their clubs, is knowing how far you hit your own clubs.
Too often, higher handicap players simply pick a club that they think will reach the green, but they dont really know for sure.
The end result is a lot of shots that come up short of the green or shots that go over the green.
Having a solid understanding of how far, on average, that you hit each of your clubs will make you a better golfer.
Youll make better decisions about which club to use on any given shot, youll have more confidence that your shot will carry the right distance, and youll make fewer distance mistakes due to mis-clubbing.
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Printable Golf Club Distance Chart 202: Skill Cheat Sheet
Do you know how far away each of your golf clubs should be struck? What is the distance between each of your golf clubs on the course?
These are some of the most often asked questions by those who are new to golf. However, the only entirely true response is: It depends.
The answer is dependent on a variety of circumstances, including the clubs you are using, the balls you are using, and the conditions in which you are playing (hard or soft fairway?
Is it blowing, or is it calm? Your gender and age, your physical condition, coordination, and agility, swing speed, how firmly you are connecting with the ball, and so on are all taken into consideration, as well as the weather . Humid or dry?
Golf club distance charts show the average distances for golfers at many different levels of games.
How To Increase Golf Drive Distance

No doubt increasing the yards of your golf drive is an objective every golfer has. Its a simple yet fun metric to use to feel like youre becoming a better player.
While I always stress that accuracy is more is more important than distance, there is a caveat.
Starting a hole with long drive is important as it makes approach shots easier. You certainly want to drive the ball at least 200 yards in order to avoid hazards later on in the hole.
Bunkers, trees and lakes are placed around the ½ to ¾s points on any given hole. Driving the ball a reasonable distance will mean your 2nd and 3rd shots are much more likely to avoid said hazards.
I have tried many different methods over my golfing career to improve on my own distance.
These are the best methods and tips I can share with you to help you drive the ball further.
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How To Find Your Driver Swing Speed
There are several ways to find your swing speed to place yourself on this chart.
The simplest way is to get the yardage for one of your clubs, such as the driver, and match that yardage to the chart. You should find one of the columns closely matches your yardages. Ensure youre tracking average yardage and not your best drive to get accurate numbers.
Here are several other ways:
- Use a golf simulator to get an accurate swing speed number. A device like a Trackman or a Skytrak should be able to provide you with this data. If you dont have a simulator, you may be able to find somewhere nearby where you can rent time in a simulator bay.
- Use a launch monitor like the PRGR , which accurately measures speed.
How To Improve Your Distances
Everybody wants to hit the ball longer. Most people try swinging the club faster. You probably already know what the result is. Yeah, the ball flies off the planet in the wrong direction .
There are a few things you can try to improve your distances. They might not all work for you, but theyre definitely worth trying.
The first thing Id recommend is playing the right golf ball for you and your swing. Most people play the wrong golf ball and its just going to make things tougher.
All balls are different. Some of them are built for slower swing speeds while others are built for high swing speeds. For beginner and high handicaps , having a ball thats easy to compress and flies straight is super important.
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If youre a mid handicapper , you probably want a similar ball with a bit more greenside spin. This is to dial in your short game and to get the ball to stop a bit quicker.
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If youre a scratch or low handicapper, you probably dont care a whole lot about distance and straightness. Youll want more control over the ball, and theres a specific ball for you. Here are some resources to check out:
- Soft vs Hard Golf Balls: What To Play?
The next thing you should check is where youre making contact with the clubface. Are you hitting it in the sweet spot or are you hitting too much towards the heel or toe?
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FAQs
How far should a 60 year old drive a golf ball? ›
Age Range | Average Driver Distance |
---|---|
40-50 | 220 yards |
50-60 | 211 yards |
60+ | 196 yards |
All Golfers | 219 yards |
At its core, the median driving distance is 200.76 metres (219.55 yards). Other club distances of note: the median 3-wood goes 170.89 metres, 7-iron clocks in at 122.05 metres and pitching wedge at a 67.64 mark.
What is the average golf drive for a 70 year old man? ›50-59: 215.4 yards. 60-69: 204.5 yards. 70+: 190.4 yards.
How far do seniors hit a 7 iron? ›Club | Senior Average Distance | Senior PGA Tour Champions |
---|---|---|
7 Iron | 123 yds | 169 yds |
8 Iron | 114 yds | 157 yds |
9 Iron | 105 yds | 146 yds |
Pitching Wedge | 97 yds | 136 yds |
7-Iron Smart Distance
On average, each bracket loses four yards, with those who are 60+ have a 140-yard Smart Distance with their 7-iron. Even though the older age brackets are hitting it shorter, their approach shot handicaps are actually improving.
The average seven iron, for most golfers, carries between 120-158 yards. On the golf course, you should try to keep your seven iron shots within the range that you generally hit the golf club.
How far should a 95 mph swing go? ›This average swing speed is attributed to the average distance of approximately 214 yards, which does satisfy the average golfer's appetite for driving distance. But, if you're looking to increase your distance, speed might not be everything after all.
How far should a senior hit a 5 iron? ›The average 5 iron should travel 160 yards. Players have a wide range of swing speeds, so the faster swing speed golfers should expect yardages of 180 or even more with the 5 iron.
At what age do most seniors stop driving? ›The time you stop driving should be determined by your performance on the road, not age. But when you get to 85 years of age, it's time to start preparing for life away from the steering wheel, even if you feel you are fit as a fiddle. It is less safe to continue driving after you turn 85 years.
What is the easiest driver to hit for seniors? ›- Cobra AIR-X Offset Driver.
- Titleist TSi1 Driver.
- Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Driver.
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 Driver.
- Callaway Rogue ST MAX Driver.
- PING G425 SFT Driver.
- Mizuno ST-X 220 Driver.
What degree driver is best for seniors? ›
Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
What is the 40 second rule in golf? ›“Under the guidelines for Rule 6-7, a player is permitted 40 seconds to play a stroke. This 40-second time limit includes the first to play from the teeing ground, from the fairway and from around and on the putting green."
Is Pro V1 a good ball for seniors? ›A Pro V1 golf ball can be an excellent choice for a senior that needs low spin and long distance from the tee and spin technology that helps a ball stop on the greens. The only issue with the Pro V1 for seniors is that it can take a slightly higher swing speed to compress.
What age is seniors in golf club? ›Senior Open Golf Competitions
The competitions are for those golfers aged 50 years or over which we then split into various age categories, 55+, 60+ & 65+.
Yes, graphite shafts are the best choice for most seniors. As I mentioned, the shaft plays a major role in ball striking, consistency, and distance. The overwhelming majority of senior players would benefit from using a graphite shaft.
Do driving range balls go shorter? ›On average, driving range balls are 6-10% shorter than premium balls and will likely spin a lot less. Distances will vary more with the wedges but will be a lot closer as you move to the driver.
What swing speed is 230 yard drive? ›A good starting goal is 230 yards. This means that you are at or above 90 mph in clubhead speed — check out our article about how clubhead speed and ball speed affects distance — which is a reasonable and attainable swing speed.
What should a 70 year old golf swing speed be? ›Approximate swing speed of golfers 60 years and older – 75 mph (males), 60 mph (females) at an average distance of 160 to 190 yards.
What age do golfers decline? ›Around the age of fifty, golfers start to lose distance in their game. As you move towards sixty and seventy, the changes are much more pronounced and noticeable. At the age of 70, you will see many golfers switch to senior tees simply because of distance loss.
What is the shelf life of golf balls? ›The average life of a golf ball, when stored properly, is about 10 years. While golf balls do get old, the overall performance will generally be maintained with proper storage and care.
What is the best golf tip ever? ›
- #1 – Take Your Time. It is easy to rush in the golf swing. ...
- #2 – Pick Out a Specific Target. ...
- #3 – Relax Your Grip. ...
- #4 – Quiet Hands in the Takeaway. ...
- #5 – Play to Your Strengths. ...
- #6 – See the Club Hit the Ball. ...
- #7 – Stay Perfectly Still While Putting. ...
- #8 – Don't Slide.
According to data from the National Golf Foundation, only 26 percent of all golfers shoot below 90 consistently on regulation 18-hole courses; 45 percent of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round.”
How can seniors get more distance with drivers? ›- Use your hands and wrists. ...
- Close your stance. ...
- Turn early. ...
- Turn your hips, too. ...
- Make the club lighter on your backswing. ...
- Lighter clubs. ...
- Use more loft. ...
- Proper ball position.
The golfing version states that the 80% of your best practice efforts are likely to occur on the golf course 20% of the time. The inverse also applies; the lowest 20% of your practice performance is likely to occur on the golf course 80% of the time.
How far should a 100mph swing go? ›If your swing speed is 100 mph, your distance potential could be as high as 270 yards.
What swing speed do you need to hit 250 yards? ›Driver Swing Speed & Distance Chart
So to hit your driver 250 yards, you'll need to swing at around 100mph. And if your current driver distance is maxing out at 217 yards, you're going to need to increase your swing speed by around 15mph to get there.
The difference in irons
While we hate to lump you in with the short hitters as a beginning golfer, we will be practical and do so, and tell you that the average short hitter can hit a 5-iron 140 yards, while that same 9-iron will go 95 yards max.
The forward tees are for middle or high handicap women and seniors, and beginners of all stripes.
What ball speed for 300 yard drive? ›But if you're up for a challenge and want a goal to aim for, talk to GOLF Top 100 Teacher Andrew Rice. Rice conducts lots of studies using launch data, which you can read on his website, and tells golfers that if they want to hit the ball over 300 yards, they need to swing their driver about 108 mph.
Can I still drive at 90 years old? ›There's no legal age at which you must stop driving. You can decide when to stop as long as you don't have any medical conditions that affect your driving. Find out how changes to your health can affect your driving and how to give up your licence, if needed.
Why do old people drive so slow? ›
A recent study found that elderly people tend to be slower drivers, because they have a narrower field of vision and have more difficulty seeing pedestrians.
What is the safest driving age? ›The fatal crash rate remains relatively flat from age 16 to 22 and starts decreasing for 24-year-old drivers. Explore other crash trends by driver age group using the interactive chart.
What is the oldest person driving? ›There are two male drivers who were issued with new driving licenses at age 104: Fred Hale Sr (USA) (b. 1 December 1890 d. 19 November 2004) was issued with a driving license in February 1995 at age 104, and drove until it expired on his 108th birthday in 1998.
What is the easiest shot in golf? ›Most people will be surprised to hear that a green side bunker shot is the easiest shot in golf. Why? Because you don't have to actually hit the golf ball. All you have to do is miss the ball and finish your swing.
What is the best swing weight for senior golfers? ›A swing weight between C-8 and D-1 is the best swing weight for a senior driver, and the shaft should be 55-60 grams. Loft should be 12-13 degrees or higher, and seniors should look for 2-4 degrees of hook in the face or consider an offset driver head to prevent slicing.
What loft is best for 85 mph swing speed? ›85 mph > = 14 – 20 degrees.
What is the best driver for a 85 mph swing speed? ›The best driver for an 85 mph swing speed is the Callaway Rogue ST Max.
Do any pros use a 10.5 degree driver? ›In fact, many pros do play 10.5 drivers, even on the PGA Tour. Nick Watney, Camillo, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, are some examples of pros who have used 10.5 drivers. Others like Tiger Woods, use less loft on their drivers.
How far should a senior golfer hit a 5 iron? ›The average 5 iron should travel 160 yards. Players have a wide range of swing speeds, so the faster swing speed golfers should expect yardages of 180 or even more with the 5 iron.
What is the average golf swing speed for a 60 year old man? ›What is the average swing speed for a senior golfer? In a study by MyTPI, the average swing speed of 50-60 year old golfers is between 93 and 110 MPH. While that of 60+ year old golfers falls between 85 and 104 MPH. As you can see from this data point, older golfers have lower clubhead speed.
What is the best driver loft for seniors? ›
What loft driver should seniors use? Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
What is the 75 rule in golf? ›The rule of 75 applies to a player who meets the following criteria: Over 75 years of age. Has an index that normally qualifies them to compete in the A-flight and therefore play from the pine tees.
What swing speed is a 270 yard drive? ›If your swing speed is 100 mph, your distance potential could be as high as 270 yards.
What is the best swing weight for seniors irons? ›A swing weight between C-8 and D-1 is the best swing weight for a senior driver, and the shaft should be 55-60 grams. Loft should be 12-13 degrees or higher, and seniors should look for 2-4 degrees of hook in the face or consider an offset driver head to prevent slicing.
How do you hit a golf ball further as you get older? ›- Use your hands and wrists. ...
- Close your stance. ...
- Turn early. ...
- Turn your hips, too. ...
- Make the club lighter on your backswing. ...
- Lighter clubs. ...
- Use more loft. ...
- Proper ball position.
The most forgiving irons are those that stay straight even if struck a little off-center. Our top pick, if budget isn't an issue, is the TaylorMade P790. But, any of our top picks are stellar in terms of their forgiveness. The Cleveland Launcher HB Irons offer the best overall quality to cost ratio.
What swing speed is needed for a 250 yard drive? ›Driver Swing Speed & Distance Chart
So to hit your driver 250 yards, you'll need to swing at around 100mph. And if your current driver distance is maxing out at 217 yards, you're going to need to increase your swing speed by around 15mph to get there.
Relevant exercises include shoulder raises, chest flys, and abdominal crunches. You can try some explosive exercises such as jumping jacks, squat thrusts, and bench presses to build up muscle mass in key areas including the chest and shoulders; these areas are important for generating enough power during your swing.
How far will a driver go with 90 mph swing speed? ›Losing just 10 MPH's off of that swing and going down to 90 will pull the distance all the way down to about 232 yards – a major difference when actually playing a round of golf. Conversely, upping the swing speed to 110 MPH offers a distance of about 284 yards, which is very impressive for any amateur golfer.