Golf Club Distance Charts – Find Your Average Yardages (2024)

Golf club distance charts are essential tools for golfers of all skill levels, offering a clear guide to typical distances for each club.

They’re particularly helpful for beginner golfers, aiding in club selection and course strategy without the need for expensive equipment like GPS rangefinders or launch monitors.

While individual distances can vary based on factors like swing speed and physical ability, these charts provide a foundational understanding of yardages and can boost your confidence on the course.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the significance of understanding your yardages, reveal key factors for increasing distance, and offer guidance on creating personalized yardage charts.

Disclaimer: The following charts provide generalized yardages for each club segmented by skill level. It is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for personalized data. Individual swing speed, launch angle, and smash factor will significantly influence actual distances.

Golf Club Distance Charts:

Curious how far you should hit each club? We’ve got you covered.

Check out these general yardage charts for golfers of all levels, from beginners to PGA Tour pros.

See where you stack up and discover how far you can expect to hit each club based on your skill level.

ClubBeginnerAverageGoodAdvancedPGA Tour
Driver190 yards220 yards250 yards285 yards296 yards
3-wood170 yards210 yards225 yards250 yards262 yards
5-wood150 yards195 yards205 yards230 yards248 yards
Hybrid145 yards180 yards190 yards220 yards242 yards
2-iron145 yards180 yards190 yards215 yards236 yards
3-iron135 yards170 yards180 yards210 yards228 yards
4-iron125 yards160 yards170 yards195 yards219 yards
5-iron120 yards155 yards165 yards185 yards209 yards
6-iron115 yards145 yards160 yards175 yards197 yards
7-iron105 yards140 yards150 yards165 yards185 yards
8-iron95 yards130 yards140 yards155 yards172 yards
9-iron80 yards115 yards125 yards145 yards159 yards
Pitching Wedge70 yards100 yards110 yards135 yards146 yards
Gap Wedge60 yards90 yards100 yards125 yards135 yards
Sand Wedge55 yards80 yards95 yards110 yards124 yards
Lob Wedge40 yards60 yards80 yards100 yards113 yards
Golf Club Distance Chart
Golf Club Distance Chart - Updated 2024

Beginner Golfer Distance Chart

ClubMenWomen
Driver190 yards170 yards
3-wood170 yards150 yards
5-wood150 yards130 yards
Hybrid145 yards125 yard
2-iron145 yards125 yards
3-iron135 yards115 yards
4-iron125 yards105 yards
5-iron120 yards100 yards
6-iron115 yards95 yards
7-iron105 yards85 yards
8-iron95 yards75 yards
9-iron80 yards65 yards
Pitching Wedge70 yards60 yards
Gap Wedge60 yards50 yards
Sand Wedge55 yards40 yards
Lob Wedge40 yards35 yards
Beginner Club Distance Chart

Average Golfer Distance Chart

ClubMenWomen
Driver220-270 yards190-230 yards
3-wood190-210 yards170-190 yards
5-wood180-200 yards160-180 yards
Hybrid180-200 yards160-180 yards
2-iron175-195 yards165-175 yards
3-iron170-190 yards150-170 yards
4-iron160-180 yards140-160 yards
5-iron150-170 yards130-150 yards
6-iron140-160 yards120-140 yards
7-iron130-150 yards110-130 yards
8-iron120-140 yards110-120 yards
9-iron110-130 yards90-110 yards
Pitching Wedge100-120 yards80-100 yards
Gap Wedge90-110 yards70-90 yards
Sand Wedge80-100 yards60-80 yards
Lob Wedge60-80 yards40-60 yards
Average Club Distance Chart

Lady Golfer Distance Chart

ClubWomen’s Average DistanceLPGA Tour Average
Driver200 yards258 yards
3-wood180 yards228 yards
5-wood170 yards216 yards
Hybrid170 yards211 yards
2-iron165 yards206 yards
3-iron160 yards199 yards
4-iron150 yards190 yards
5-iron140 yards182 yards
6-iron130 yards172 yards
7-iron120 yards161 yards
8-iron110 yards150 yards
9-iron100 yards139 yards
Pitching Wedge90 yards128 yards
Gap Wedge80 yards117 yards
Sand Wedge70 yards108 yards
Lob Wedge60 yards97 yards
Ladies Club Distance Chart

Senior Golfer Distance Chart

ClubSenior’s Average DistancePGA Tour Champions
Driver196 yards279 yards
3-wood173 yards240 yards
5-wood164 yards227 yards
Hybrid160 yards222 yards
2-iron156 yards217 yards
3-iron151 yards209 yards
4-iron145 yards200 yards
5-iron138 yards191 yards
6-iron130 yards180 yards
7-iron123 yards169 yards
8-iron114 yards157 yards
9-iron105 yards146 yards
Pitching Wedge97 yards136 yards
Gap Wedge89 yards122 yards
Sand Wedge82 yards108 yards
Lob Wedge74 yards97 yards
Seniors golf club distance chart

Create Your Personalized Yardage Chart in 2024

While beginner golfers can use general distance charts as a starting point, don’t rely on them completely. Your own swing, how high you hit the ball, and even the specific clubs you use can make a big difference in how far you hit each shot.

That’s why it’s important to create your own personalized yardage chart.

It’ll give you a much more accurate picture of your distances, helping you make better club choices and play smarter on the course.

Sample Personalized Distance Chart
Example of a Personalized Distance Chart

This chart will reflect your unique capabilities, empowering you to make informed decisions on the course.

Here are the top software tools available to help you find the distances of your golf clubs.

1) Launch Monitors

Rapsodo Launch Monitor

Launch monitors offer the easiest way to create your own distance charts. They track various metrics like clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate. This data is captured and the yardage chart is automatically created for you. Just set it up on your next range session and hit your clubs! The software will do the rest.

Best Golf Club Distance Calculators 2024

2) GPS Devices and Apps

Golf GPS Device

Many GPS devices and apps now track your shots on the course, providing estimated distances for each hit. While not as precise as launch monitors, they offer an accessible and cost-effective way to gather generalized data during play.

18 Best Golf Apps of 2024 (Free & Premium)

3) Rangefinders

Golfer using a rangefinder

Rangefinders provide accurate yardage measurements to targets via laser on the range and course. This is a more traditional way to understand your yardage for each club. They’re also a must on any golf course. I recommend using a launch monitor for practice and a rangefinder for play.

Top 10 Best Golf Rangefinders for Improved Accuracy and Performance

The Evolution of Distance Charts

In the past, golfers depended on basic distance charts found in magazines or scorecards, which offered general information often based on average swing speeds and lacked personalization.

Thankfully, technology has revolutionized how golfers track their distances.

With golf gadgets like launch monitors and GPS devices, golfers can now access personalized data based on their own swing speed, launch angle, and ball strike.

This translates to far more accurate distance charts tailored specifically to each player’s abilities.

The Importance of Knowing Your Distances

Knowing your yardages in golf is crucial for several reasons:

  • Club Selection: Golf involves selecting the right club for each shot based on the distance to the target. If you don’t know your yardages for each club, you’ll struggle to choose the appropriate one, leading to shots that are too short or too long.
  • Course Management: Understanding your yardages allows you to plan your shots and navigate the course strategically. You can identify layup areas, avoid hazards, and position yourself for better scoring opportunities.
  • Consistency and Confidence: Knowing your distances helps you develop a consistent approach to the game. You’ll have a clearer understanding of your capabilities, leading to more confident shot selection and execution.
  • Lower Scores: By making informed club choices and playing strategically, you’ll improve your chances of hitting greens, getting up and down, and ultimately lowering your scores.

Key Factors Influencing Golf Club Distances

Several factors play a role in finding out how far you hit each club, some of the top reasons include:

#1 – Swing Speed

Swing speed is the biggest factor in how far you hit the ball. A faster swing means a faster clubhead, which means a faster ball and more distance.

Every 10 mph increase in swing speed can add a lot of yards to your shots.

Swing Speed vs. Distance Correlation Chart
Swing Speed vs. Driver Distance Chart

#2 – Ball Speed

Swing speed is important, but the speed of the ball when it leaves the clubface is what really determines how far it goes.

Hitting the ball squarely in the center of the clubface gives it the most speed and sends it flying farther than off-center hits.

#3 – Smash Factor

Smash factor measures how well you transfer energy from your club to the ball when you hit it.

It’s calculated by dividing the ball’s speed by the clubhead’s speed. A higher smash factor, closer to 1.5, means a more efficient transfer and longer shots.

Examples:

  • Scenario 1: A golfer swings their driver with a clubhead speed of 100 mph and achieves a ball speed of 140 mph. Their smash factor would be 1.4 (140 mph / 100 mph = 1.4). This indicates a good energy transfer and likely a solid drive.
  • Scenario 2: Another golfer also swings their driver at 100 mph, but their ball speed is only 130 mph. Their smash factor would be 1.3 (130 mph / 100 mph = 1.3). This suggests a less efficient energy transfer, perhaps due to an off-center hit or other factors, resulting in a shorter drive compared to the first golfer.

In essence, smash factor helps quantify the “quality” of your strike. Even with the same swing speed, two golfers can achieve different distances due to variations in smash factor.

A higher smash factor generally leads to longer shots, highlighting the importance of solid contact and efficient energy transfer.

#4 – Age and Skill Level

Age and skill play a role in how far you hit the ball.

As we get older or less fit, we might swing slower and hit it shorter.

On the other hand, experienced golfers usually swing faster and hit it farther than beginners.

#5 – Weather Conditions

Weather can affect your distances, although not as much as other factors.

Headwinds will make your shots shorter, while tailwinds can give you a boost.

Cold weather might make the ball fly a bit less far, and playing at higher altitudes can actually help you hit it longer because the air is thinner.


Conclusion

Distance charts are a valuable tool for all golfers.

They help you understand how far you hit each club and improve your game in several ways:

  • Make smarter choices on the course by knowing your distances and avoiding hazards.
  • Confidently choose the right club for every shot.
  • Identify areas where you need to improve your distances or adjust your clubs.
  • Practice more effectively by setting specific distance goals.

By creating and using your own distance chart, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your game and make better decisions on the course, leading to lower scores and more enjoyment.

🤔 Glossary Of Yardage Terms

  • Swing Speed: The speed of the clubhead at impact.
  • Ball Speed: The speed of the ball after impact.
  • Smash Factor: The efficiency of energy transfer from club to ball.
  • Launch Angle: The angle at which the ball leaves the ground.
  • Carry Distance: The distance the ball travels in the air before landing.
  • Roll Distance: The distance the ball rolls after landing.
  • Layup: A strategic shot aimed at a safe location on the course, often short of the green.

Downloadable Distance Charts:

Golf Club Distance Chart 2024
Golf Club Distance Chart 2023
Golf Club Distance Chart 2022
Golf Club Distances by Swing Speed