Typical Golf Yardage Distances

Typical Ranges in Yardage

Lob Wedge – Driver

VERY SHORT MODERATE AVERAGE LONG VERY LONG
SHORT
MEN Tour Pros
Low handicap (18-47 yrs)
Average (18-47 yrs)
High-Handicap (18-47)
Mid-Handicap (48-62 yrs)
Mid-Handicap (63-77 yrs)
Elderly (>77 yrs)
VERY SHORT MODERATE AVERAGE LONG VERY LONG
SHORT
LW Up to 30 30 – 50 45 – 60 60 – 75 70 – 90 95+
SW Up to 40 55 – 75 70 – 92 89 – 100 100 – 110 115+
PW Up to 55 80 – 95 90 – 112 110 – 121 122 – 135 137+
9 iron Up to 65 89 – 105 100 – 122 120 – 132 135 – 147 149+
8 iron Up to 75 98 - 115 110 – 132 131 – 143 146 – 159 162+
7 iron Up to 85 107 – 125 120 – 142 142 – 154 157 – 170 175+
6 iron Up to 95 116 – 135 130 – 152 153 – 165 168 – 181 187+
5 iron Up to 105 125 – 145 140 – 162 164 – 176 179 – 203 199+
4 iron Up to 115 134 – 155 150 – 172 175 – 187 190 – 203 210+
3 iron Up to 125 143 – 165 160 – 182 186 – 198 200 – 214 220+
5 wood Up to 145 150 – 175 170 – 195 192 – 218 213 – 240 240+
3 wood Up to 155 160 – 190 185 – 210 205 – 235 230 – 255 260+
Driver Up to 175 180 – 220 215 – 245 235 - 270 255 – 285 285+
VERY SHORT MODERATE AVERAGE LONG VERY LONG
SHORT
WOMEN LPGA Pros
Low handicap (16-45 yrs)
Mid-Handicap (16-45 yrs)
High-handicap (16-45 yrs)
Mid-Handicap (46-62 yrs)
Senior (>62 yrs)

Human beings cannot be placed into easy and convenient groupings, but we have attempted
to do it, nonetheless. Please remember that the distance categories are just for general
reference. They represent only the ranges of yardages that various segments of the playing
population might reasonably expect to generate – on average.

In reality, performance levels vary endlessly for all age groups and sexes. Senior standout, Jim
Dent, can knock the ball well past strong players who are thirty years his junior. Nick Fa ldohits
a 4-iron about the same distance as Charles Howell III hits an easy 7-iron, though Nick is a
much larger and stronger man. Some part-time hackers can hit for great distances while some
highly skilled low-handicappers of the same age and physical type hit for much shorter
distances.

When a player calculates his (or her) own hitting averages, he will need to use his range of
average hits, not his very best hits. Very best and very worst results should be thrown out of
the equation. Most people, especially males, tend to ignore their poor shots and just recall
their finest efforts. Consequently, they pull a 6-iron from their bag when they should be pulling
their 5 or 4 iron. The shot comes up short and they say, “But I can hit my 6-iron 170 yards!”
That is just what they can do – two times out of ten attempts. The other eight times, the shot
will be ten to twenty yards shorter. For every ten hits with a particular club, the two worst and
the two best hits should be tossed out.

Six elements combine to create maximum distance:

1. Proper technique
2. F ine ath le t i c i sm
3. Good conditioning
4. Appropriate equipment
5. Gender
6. Youth

If you don’t like where your own, personal averages appear on this chart, you can always
improve upon three, maybe four, of the six elements listed above.