Distance golf isn’t about keeping up with the Joneses. It doesn’t really matter if your friend hits the ball 10 meters ahead of you – does it? Distance, coupled with accuracy, is a game changer. If you are curious how far you are MUST to hit each club and if you’re in line with other players of a similar skill level, we’ve got some clues to share. Keep in mind, this is distance data from Shot Scope based on handicap for male golfers, and while there are other ways to analyze your distance performance in golf, this data provides a starting point.
Drivers and highways
There is nothing particularly surprising about the data of the driver and the fairway wood. The driver distance gap between a male golfer and a 25 skill golfer is 81 yards. This is a wedge shot for many players that plays into the handicap differential.
While we don’t have swing speed data to pair with these numbers, it’s safe to assume that most of this discrepancy comes from hitting accuracy. How cleanly and consistently a player hits the ball plays a large role in these distance differences.
| Handicap | Driver | 3 Wood |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 285 years | 261 years |
| 5 | 261 years | 234 years |
| 10 | 259 years old | 227 years |
| 15 | 236 years | 215 years |
| 20 | 225 years | 195 years |
| 25 | 204 years | 178 years old |
lattice
The main takeaway from this chart is not the total distance, but the yardage gaps. For men’s 25 handicap players, these gaps can be a little messy, especially on the longer clubs. You’ll also notice distance gaps decrease in the 4- and 5-iron range, which often signals that it’s time to consider swapping the iron for an inexpensive wood.
Another interesting observation is that 10-handicappers sometimes have better distance skills than 5-handicappers. One explanation could be differences in equipment with some 5 handicap players using player’s shackles and 10 handicaps choosing player distance or even shackles to improve play.
If you are looking for something applicable from this table, focus on your gaps in the distance.
When golf pros talk about their yardage, you’ll often hear statements like, “A 7-iron is 177 yards.” Do you say your 7-iron goes 150 and then assume your 6-iron is 160? Get a launch monitor to dial in your exact yard.
Chances are your gaps aren’t always a perfect 10 yards. Knowing your exact numbers can make a huge difference in your game and result in fewer approaches that miss the green.
| Handicap | 4 Iron | 5 Iron | 6 Iron | 7 Iron | 8 Iron | 9 Iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 223 years | 200 years | 185 years old | 178 years old | 166 years old | 155 years |
| 5 | 201v | 183 years old | 172 years | 164 years | 153 years | 139 years old |
| 10 | 199v | 187 years old | 171 years old | 161 years old | 150 years | 140 years |
| 15 | 186 years old | 169 years old | 162 years | 154 years | 146 years old | 136 years old |
| 20 | 169 years old | 162 years | 151 | 146 years old | 138 years old | 129 years old |
| 25 | 151 | 143 years | 137 years old | 132 years | 122 years | 108 years old |
wedges
Five-handicap golfers are likely to play blade-style wedges, but they don’t have the ball speed of a scratch golfer. On the other hand, 10-handicappers can use something more forgiving, giving them a distinct distance advantage.
For players with a 25 handicap, don’t stress about those 49-yard wedge shots. or half swing pitching wedge or a controlled three-quarter sand wedge will often leave you in a much better position than trying to maximize your flat wedge.
| Handicap | Pitching Wedge (PW) | Gap Wedge (GW) | Sand Wedge (JP) | Lob Wedge (LW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 141 years | 126 years old | 105 years | 86 years old |
| 5 | 126 years old | 109 years old | 86 years old | 71 years old |
| 10 | 127 years old | 110 years | 98 years old | 79 years old |
| 15 | 121 years old | 104 years | 84 years old | 75 years old |
| 20 | 108 years old | 94 years old | 85 years old | 78 years old |
| 25 | 90 years old | 79 years old | 80 years old | 49 years old |
How can this information help your game?
If I saw this data for the first time, here’s what I would do with it:
Identify any obvious issues in your yards.
Is your 5-iron only five feet longer than your 6-iron? Are you consistently hitting 10 or more yards short of the golfers in your handicap range? These are signs that something may need fixing.
Use data as a tool, not a benchmark.
If your goal is to move up to the next handicap level, consider where you may need improvement. For example, if you want to play up to scratch and hit your drive 230 yards, you may benefit from more distance off the tee. If you’ve already hit 280 yards off the tee, look elsewhere for opportunities to improve your short game, accuracy or consistency.
Rate your devices.
Are your clubs appropriate for your skill level? If your space gaps in the longer irons are shrinking, it may be time to interface a 4 iron with a hybrid. Also, don’t be afraid of extra fairway wood if it helps with distance.
Call in your yards with a release monitor.
Accurate data will help you know your true distances instead of relying on guesswork or averages. Stop basing everything on the idea of ​​a 150 yard iron. It might be more like 148 yards and your 8-iron might be 136 yards. These little details matter when you have a bunker between you and the hole.
Distance is not everything.
Don’t chase a metric. Be aware of the different paths to achieving your handicap goals. Balance distance with accuracy and consistency and let’s not forget the mental side of the game.
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