A Guide to Golf Club Distances: How Far Should You Hit Each Golf Club?

How far can you potentially hit your golf clubs? What are the average golf club distances for each of your clubs? Are you utilizing the full potential of your golf clubs?

These are some of the most frequently asked questions from beginners. However, a candid answer is that it’s complex. The answers to these questions depend on a lot of factors. 

Factors like your club type, ball type, weather conditions, age & gender, physical fitness levels, hand-eye coordination, swing speed, swing strength, etc., all impact the average distance for golf clubs.

We will share comprehensive golf club yardage charts below, but first, let me explain why knowing average golf club distances is so vital. 

Why is Knowing Average Distances of Golf Clubs So Important

Well, when you know the average golf club distance, you know where you stand. You can then calculate how high you should aim as a competent golfer. Once you know your every club’s potential, you can apply this data to your playing strengths and weaknesses. 

But, these are not the only benefits of knowing average club distances. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage is that knowing it allows you to understand and manage any distance gaps between your clubs. 

Let me explain! 

Suppose you have a 20-30 yards gap between the 3 Wood and 4 Iron golf clubs. Now this leaves you in a pickle whether there’s a shot that requires a distance within such a big gap.

Therefore, your golf scores can improve if you know average distances. You can then successfully make your way through the golf course. It also means successfully avoiding any hazards, lost balls or out of bounds, etc., that can bring down your game. 

Once you figure out everything, you are ready to hit more greens in every round. Remember, being long or short with your distance is much more disadvantageous for your game than being right or left to your greens. 

What Golf Club for What Distance

Different golf clubs usually vary at distance gaps of 10-15 yards. Let’s find out which golf club should theoretically give you what distance. 

1. The Driver 

This is the longest club in your bag, and you probably use it to play off your tee shots. Theoretically speaking, it should go the farthest. However, it’s a bit hard to hit for beginners. 

2. The Woods 

The Woods is the second longest club in your bag. They have longer shafts and big heads. Consequently, they should give you the second farthest hit along with great speed. As it has more loft, it helps beginners get more distance and accuracy off the tee. Another easy way to remember how far your woods will go is by remembering the number. The lower the number, the lower AND farther the ball should go and vice versa. 

3. The Irons 

Next, we have the irons, which are ideal for intermediate distances. Because of their design, they hit with forgiveness instead of a scoring club. Resultantly, you get accuracy along with trajectory. The same rule applies to the irons, i.e., the lower the number, the farther it should go. For instance, a 4 Iron will go longer and slightly lower than an 8 Iron because 4 is a lower number. Therefore, the 8-iron golf should travel less distance. 

4. Hybrids 

Hybrids – as the name suggests – are a hybrid of iron and fairway wood. They have the face angle of irons while the body of a fairway wood. For instance, a 4-hybrid will have a face angle of a 4-iron, while the body of a fairway wood. Because of this uniqueness, hybrids can go more distance than irons. The difference between hybrids and their iron counterparts is usually 10-20 yards as you can see in the chart below. 

5. The Wedges  

There are a number of wedges in the market, such as the lob wedge, pitching wedge, and sand wedge, etc. The only major difference between them is the degree of the loft. Generally higher the degree of loft, the faster and farther the ball should travel into the air. 

6. The Putters 

Lastly, we have the putters. These are special clubs designed to roll the ball on the grass and get it into the hole. Usually, their lofts are less than 10 degrees which allows more rolling for the ball. 

Average Distance for Golf Clubs – Golf Club Distances Chart

This chart isn’t just a golf club distance chart for beginners but also for average, good, excellent, and pro golfers. Notice how the golf club distances for beginners differ from golf club distances for seniors and pro players. 

Distance for Golf Clubs Chart: Average Estimate for Male Golfers by Skill Levels

Let’s take a look now at the same chart for lady golfers. 

Distance for Golf Clubs Chart: Average Estimate for Female Golfers by Skill Levels

Club Styles

Beyond the golf club types like hybrids, woods, irons, and wedges, there are some club styles that can also impact your distance with these clubs. Most of the differences are easy to spot in irons. But other club types also have some variance in their styles. 

Player’s Style 

The Player’s Style clubs are specially designed for the better scratch golfer. These clubs provide maximum spin control from the irons. This playability allows more shot shaping and consistent distance throughout. However, any mishits on the heel/toe result in offline shots. You will notice much less focus on forgiveness/distance in player’s style drivers. They focus more on precision and distance control.

Game Improvement 

The Game Improvement clubs are built to assist golfers in playing their best game. That’s why they are suitable for beginners as well as golfers with average skill levels. These golf clubs utilize the best technology to improve distance and forgiveness. To do that, they use a larger head profile. Large iron heads, lighter shafts, and higher lofts on these designs promote more travel distance. 

Player’s Distance

The Player’s distance clubs are an amalgam of the player’s style clubs and game improvement clubs. They offer forgiveness and distance of game improvement clubs, along with delivering a more traditional look and feel. Players’ distance irons, in particular, feel like a blade iron with some extra distance and forgiveness in design. 

Golf Club Distance Calculator

You can use a Golf Club Distance Calculator to estimate what distance you can expect from your golf clubs. 

https://www.anycalculator.com/clubdistance.htm

Final Thoughts

We hope now you know the golf club distances average for men and women. As time goes by, you will easily figure out your average. But don’t get too caught up in the numbers game. The charts presented in this article are only meant to be your guide. Every golfer is different. Beginners will have lower numbers than a professional who’s been playing golf for a very long time. So, if you fare lower than the averages, don’t worry. Just keep swinging your club. Thank you for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Golf Club Is the Best for Distance?

Drivers give you the greatest distance off the tee. 

How Far Should Golfers Hit with Each Club?

We gave each club’s average golf club distance in the charts above. Take a look.

How Far Do Average Golfers Actually Hit It?

The average driving distance for all golfers is approximately 219 yards. However, it typically ranges between 196 to 238 yards. 

How Do Golf Clubs Actually Affect Distance?

It’s simple physics. Think of a Fulcrum and how it helps with leverage. The longer the fulcrum, the more power it has. Similarly, longer golf shafts provide more distance – assuming the swing speed remains constant. However, distance doesn’t just depend on one element of club design. The club head and face affect how much loft the ball will experience. Therefore, distance can also be a function of loft and speed.