tour pro 3 wood distance

How Far PGA Tour Players Hit Every Club In The Bag

The latest Trackman data has revealed the average distances and speeds from shots hit on the PGA Tour

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In this age of ultra-long hitters and ever-increasing technology among the golf-equipment sector, the distances and speeds in the professional game continue to go one way - up.

It is not quite the same among the amateur population , however, with Arccos data via the USGA and R&A in March 2022 revealing that the average male golfer - with a handicap - hits their total drive around 215 yards , a number that has remained relatively consistent over the past five years. Meanwhile, in the women's game, the average total-driving distance for players of all abilities is just shy of 148 yards.

But the latest numbers released by Trackman show that PGA Tour professionals are sending it a long way past that, as you would expect. The average carry distance for a PGA Tour pro with a driver in hand during 2023 was 282 yards.

Their club speed was usually around 115mph with a driver and the resulting ball speed averages 171mph, reaching a max height of just 35 yards off the ground.

Despite a 33-yard drop-off between driver and 3-wood, in regard to carry, PGA Tour players are still averaging 249 yards carry with the latter and bettering the average distance your leading amateur can manage with the big dog.

Rory McIlroy is the longest average driver on the PGA Tour and is known for his high ball-flight

From 3-wood down, between 5-13 yards of carry was lost as you move through the bag. PGA Tour players typically hit a 5-wood 236 yards in 2023, while - surprisingly - the number dropped to just 231 with a hybrid.

The numbers between the two aforementioned clubs are particularly interesting to take a closer look at, with players generating 106mph club speed with a 5-wood and 102mph with a hybrid. The angle of attack was almost identical, and the smash factor for both clubs was exactly the same at 1.47 out of 1.5.

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Ball speed differed by 7mph (156mph - 5w/149mph Hy) but the spin rate difference was much more noticeable at 4322rpm for the 5-wood and 4587rpm for the hybrid. Ultimately, though, the total carry resulted in just a five yard drop off for the shorter club.

Moving into the irons, PGA Tour players averaged 218 yards carry with a 3-iron (100mph CHS/145mph BS) and 199 yards with a 5-iron (96mph CHS/135mph BS), and as the club becomes shorter - predictably - so do the numbers.

When looking at the 7-iron, the total carry distance on the PGA Tour was 176 yards thanks to 92mph club speed and 123mph ball speed. PGA Tour players struck their shortest club - the pitching wedge - around 142 yards (carry) in 2023, according to the Trackman data.

Updated PGA Tour Averages released by @TrackManGolf It’s been a while since they have released updated CHS, distances, AOA, launch angles etcBookmark for future reference and see how you compare 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/iyySMw41xZ May 2, 2024

HOW FAR DO PGA TOUR PLAYERS HIT EVERY CLUB IN THE BAG?

Data: Trackman, 2024

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.

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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.

Beginner Golfer Distance Chart

Average Golfer Distance Chart

Lady Golfer Distance Chart

Senior Golfer 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.

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

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

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

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.

#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.

• 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.

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 Charts By Age, Gender And Skill Level

Last Updated on January 9, 2024 by Matt Greene

How far should you hit the ball?

How do you compare to others?

It's always good to know that age, gender, and skillset are the biggest differentiators so you don't make unrealistic comparisons.

I did so much research on this article to bring you the most up to date information to help you quickly skim the tables and charts about golf distance.

My golf distance charts show the key elements that influence how far you can hit each golf club: 

• Swing speed
• Smash factor
• Quality and optimization of equipment

These factors are all heavily influenced by your physiology, skill, age and strength or flexibility levels. Very often, you can optimize each area, with some training or coaching or both.

Golf Club Distance Chart by Swing Speed

Swing speed is a major determining factor the golf club distances. It is not the only factor but if 100 people strike the ball the same, the fastest swings will carry the ball further.

• Most golfers are around 90 mph driver swing speed. 
• The average swing speed on the PGA Tour is around 114 mph. 
• 150 mph is the top range and only long drive competitors will be swinging toward this range.

NOTE: The swing speed at the top of each column is driver swing speed. We use this as a general gauge to estimate the distance of each club thereafter.

How do I swing the club faster?

You've compared yourself to the numbers in the chart but you want to hit it longer. Almost everyone does and there are 3 ways to swing the club faster:

• Get lessons on proper mechanics with a professional swing coach. They will utilize all your physiological elements and limitations to the maximum, as well as help you hit the ball in the center of the club face. You can add as much as 10 mph to your driver swing speed with correct technique.
• Get stronger and more mobile in the gym. Strength training plus mobility work with a trainer will increase your swing speed guaranteed. You will have a wider range of motion in your muscles and your strength will 100% translate into more speed. You can add 10-20mph to your swing depending on how advanced your strength and mobility currently is.
• Get lighter golf equipment fitted to your swing. Lighter shafts can help increase your swing speed 2-5 mph.

These are the only ways to improve swing speed but the MOST important factor is the coaching and practice so that you can HIT THE SWEET SPOT of the golf club. 

The center strike means you send as much energy into the ball as possible and we measure how well you hit the ball using the Smash Factor.

What is  Smash Factor ?

Smash Factor is ball speed divided by club speed.

For example: 150 mph ball speed / 100 mph swing speed = 1.50 Smash Factor

The number calculated gives a ratio to show how much energy is moved from the club head to the golf ball at impact.

Low Smash Factor numbers mean less energy is transferred, while higher Smash Factor numbers mean you send more energy from your golf club into the golf ball.

The optimum Smash Factor number for excellent ball striking with the driver is 1.50 Smash Factor.

Ideal Smash Factor for every club

The PGA Tour golfers are the best in the world so we can use their averages to assume the best smash factors in the world. If you can attain these smash factor numbers as stated by Trackman , you are striking the ball as good as you possibly can.

Note how the smash factor decreases as the loft increases.

Skill level affects smash factor 

Distance is affected by the swing speed but MAINLY the quality of the strike related to that swing speed.

In other words, how close to the center of the club face you hit the ball will determine how your swing speed power is transferred into the golf ball.

If you employ a swing coach, they will assist you in hitting the ball in the middle of the face, or closer to the middle.

That will take your existing swing speed and optimize it by being more efficient with where you hit the ball on the club. 

The measurement we use for the quality of your strike is called Smash Factor.

Equipment affects swing speed and smash factor

The pros on tour have optimized equipment to their specific technique and skill level as well as body shape and strength.

The same swing speed in a PGA Tour pro will send the ball much further than an amateur golfer of higher handicap who has a similar swing speed.

The PGA Tour players technique is perfect so if you and a Tour pro hit the ball the same, the pro would still hit the ball further because their equipment has been customized to their exact swing.  

A fitting can help to optimize your strength and swing for more distance.

Average Golf Club Distance For Male Golfers By Skill Level

From 'Good Golfer' onward, the 2 iron down to 5 iron should improve as confidence and technique improve, thus bringing more swing speed. 

Beginner Golfer:  New to the game - first 6-12 months.

Average Golfer:  15-24 handicap .

Good Golfer:  6-14 handicap.

Excellent Golfer:  Below 6 handicap.

Swing speed charts by age and gender

Swing speed is a vital factor in determining the distance you hit the ball.

The swing speed, with a strike near the middle of the club face makes the ball go further.

A poor strike with high swing speed will go less distance. 

A pro golfer swinging at the same speed as an amateur gets wildly different distance numbers because they hit the ball in the center of the face often. 

Therefore, if you want to improve your distance with the same swing speed, you can work on improving your strike closer to the middle of the face.

Average swing speed by age and gender chart

In this chart we show the 50th percentile driver swing speed for each gender and age range according to the research done by TPI .

Driver Swing Speed Chart by Golf Skill Level

Confidence and skill make a big difference when hitting the driver efficiently and out the sweet spot.

Beginners with a driver  will be more tentative and have less effective mechanics.

Mid handicappers will be more adept at the driver  because of experience or lessons.

Advanced golfers swing with confidence from hitting a lot of golf balls and taking lessons with a pro.

PGA Tour golfers have optimized every aspect of the game with the driver and are the very tip of the spear. 

Is a 250 yard drive good?

Yes it is very good.  According to Arccos  and Shotscope , between 15% and 31% of golfers hit 250 yards or more.

Here is a video of me breaking it down.

Ball Speed To Club Head Speed Chart for Driver

The ball speed off the driver face is dependent on the strike.

If your strike or Smash Factor is good, you will hit the ball further with your swing speed than the same speed with a bad strike.

Below, we take the club head speed and use a Smash Factor of around 1.42 which is 0.08 away from a perfect strike.

What swing speed hits 250 yard drives?

A swing speed of around 105 mph with the driver, and ball speed of around 150 mph  will produce a 250 yard drive.

Ball Speed To Club Head Speed for 7 iron

A 7 iron optimal smash factor is 1.33. That is the PGA Tour average.  Remember for the driver it is 1.50

The ball speed off the 7 iron is determined by the swing speed and smash factor.

As the clubs get shorter, the ideal smash factor actually changes.

What distance will you get from a 7 iron at every speed of swing?

What swing speed hits the 7 iron 150 yards?

A swing speed of around 76 mph with the 7 iron, ball speed of around 105 mph and dynamic loft of 21°  will produce a 150 yard carry shot.

Golf Club Distance Charts Other Important Factors

Every club has a different loft and more loft goes less distance, while less loft goes longer distance in combination with longer golf shafts. 

Driver usually goes furthest while the lob wedge around 60 degrees goes the shortest. 

The golf clubs of today go a lot further since the manufacturers started creating cavity back golf clubs in combination with lower lofts for the same clubs. 

Every club is between 2 and 5 degrees lower in loft in the current day, which automatically increases distance by up to 15 yards per iron compared to prior times. Driver lofts cannot get much lower as people will not be able to hit them. In order to hit a driver with a loft below 9 degrees, your swing speed needs to be incredibly fast. 

An important factor to note for slower swing speeds, is that a higher lofted fairway wood or higher lofted driver can actually GAIN you distance because low lofted clubs are harder to launch at slower swings. Most golfers should be playing fairway woods with a loft that does not go below 16 or 17 degrees . 

The club heads are bigger for all golf clubs in modern times with much larger sweet spots. With the addition of lighter shafts in both the irons and the woods, the ball speeds and swing speeds are higher as well. Check out our article on the flex of shafts in the current game. 

Golf Club Distance Charts of PGA Tour Golfers

Why are modern golfers longer than prior generations, physical fitness.

Most modern pros are in the gym multiple times per week and in the physio offices often. In prior generations during the Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus days, the pros were regular people who even used to enjoy a smoke and a drink on the course. 

Bryson Dechambeau is an example of someone who bulked up in order to hit it further and it made a big difference. The side effects of that can be disputed as he has slimmed down again.

Tiger Woods was one of the first modern day pros to begin working in the gym. His huge transformation to a big, strong guy inspired a whole new generation of golfers and now most up and coming pros are hitting the ball longer than even this generation of pros.

Club advancements

Lofts have changed and the lower lofts in irons will change how far the ball appears to go with the same 'number' iron.

A 7 iron from the 80s may have had 40° of loft while a current 7 iron can have as low as 28° of loft. That 12 degree difference makes a 20-30 yard difference in distance. 

The other important factor especially with the woods and drivers, is the materials of the clubs. The drivers now are lightweight titanium and carbon, with graphite shafts, optimized for huge distance.

That alone makes an astonishing difference when we compare to the old persimmon wooden clubs and heavy steel shafts.

The golf ball changed a lot with the release of the Pro V1. Golf balls just went further than ever before. 

They spin less, they go straighter and they have advanced to a point that the ruling authorities of golf want to make them go shorter to preserve the golf courses.

If the pros hit the ball too long, they need to extend the golf courses, and there is a lkmited amount fo land available. 

The balata golf ball is significantly shorter than the current urethane covered solid core golf balls they use today on the Tour. 

You can compare how you shape up against the average golfer, the senior golfer, the pro golfer and the advanced golfer. 

The key though is to understand your own game and your distances so you can more effectively plan your game and piece together a good golf score. When you fully understand and accept your distances that you hit the golf ball, you will score better.

For the pros and the advanced players, the distance they hit each club is not a matter of ego. It's a matter of 'which club gets the job done?' and they use that.

You can too, whichever distance you hit it.

Home » New Golf Equipment Reviews » Best Golf Clubs » 3 Wood Distance — How Far Should You Hit a 3 Wood?

3 Wood Distance — How Far Should You Hit a 3 Wood?

I’m the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, and in this article I will cover how far different types of golfers hit their 3 wood. I’ll also share some tips on maximizing your distance with the club, when you should use it, and more.

How Far Does the Average Person Hit a 3 Wood?

When it comes to men, the average golfer hits a 3 wood around 210 yards . For women, that number is around 170 yards. However, as with all lower lofted golf clubs, the distance disparity is very large between skill levels . 

3 Wood Distance Chart

Here in this distance chart, you can see how far the average woman, male beginner, average man, advanced man, and professional golfer hits a 3 wood. These numbers are rough averages though, so don’t over-compare yourself. 

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3 Wood Average Club Head Speed

For average male golfers, the average clubhead speed when hitting a 3 wood is slightly over 85 mph . However, clubhead speeds vary greatly between golfers , so it’s not strange to find significantly slower and faster speeds. For example, professionals on the PGA Tour swing a 3 wood around 110 mph on average. 

Standard 3 Wood Length

The standard 3 wood length is approximately 43 inches.

Tips on Hitting a 3 Wood for Distance

To hit your 3 wood the longest way possible, it’s crucial to have sufficient clubhead speed combined with a good strike. A 3 wood is also much easier to hit from a tee, and you will typically see at least 10 yards more distance . 

If you want to increase your distance with the 3 wood, the same applies as with any other golf club. Golf club distances are a result of ball speed and smash factor , so you simply, although not easily, need to increase your swing speed and hit the sweet spot more often. 

When Should I Use a 3 Wood?

Like all fairway woods , a 3 wood is often best used for tee shots on par 4s or par 5s.

Sometimes it can also be used on really long par 3s, but that’s a rare occasion for most golfers playing the correct tees.

You can also use the 3 wood for approach shots on longer holes, and for longer hitters that would typically be second shots on par 5s. 

3 Wood Loft Degrees

The typical loft for a 3 wood is between 15 and 18 degrees . This is almost down at the driver loft, but without a high tee to support your shots. The low loft is also why the 3 wood can be difficult to hit, especially from the deck on the fairway. 

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good 3 wood distance.

For male golfers, the average 3 wood yardage is around 210 yards . Anything above that we would undoubtedly classify as good, but it’s also important to consider your age, strength, and skill. For example, senior golfers who typically hit it shorter should be very happy with a 210 yard 3 wood. 

What is a 3 wood used for?

A 3 wood is most often used for tee shots when the driver isn’t the best pick . This could be a shorter par 4 or par 5 when hitting driver is unnecessary. The 3 wood can also be used for approach shots on par 5s, but this is usually only the case for long-hitters. 

How far should you hit a 3 wood?

While there is no such thing as how far you should hit a golf club, the average distance for male golfers hitting a 3 wood is 210 yards.

Why is 3 wood hard to hit?

The reason why a 3 wood is so challenging to hit is the low loft combined with a long shaft . The hitting surface is also significantly smaller than on a driver. If you don’t have enough clubhead speed and attempt to hit a 3 wood, chances are that you won’t be able to keep the golf ball airborne , resulting in a poor shot. 

Is 3 wood good for beginners?

We would not say that a 3 wood is good for beginners, simply because it’s too challenging to hit and requires too high clubhead speed . However, amateurs who can strike the golf ball reasonably well can definitely benefit from a 3 wood, even if they’re not a fast swinger . 

Conclusion:

The 3 wood is a challenging club to hit, and the low loft means that the distance disparity between golfers is very large. The average male golfer hits a 3 wood around 210 yards , while females hit it around 170 yards.

Patrick Corley

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Golf Club Distances w/ Chart | Averages for Am & Pro Players

Last Updated on July 25, 2021

Distance is critical in golf. As golfers, we're always striving for more distance off the tee and consistent yardage gaps between the rest of our clubs.

In this guide, we'll break down how far amateur golfers of various skill levels and swing speeds hit each of their clubs to give you an idea of how you stack up. We've also included PGA and LPGA carry distance averages to see how you compare with the pros.

After that, we'll cover what factors affect your golf club distances and explain how to find out how far you hit each club.

Golf Club Distances Table

The table below shows how far golfers of various skill levels and swing speeds hit each club. 

We've included PGA and LPGA carry distance averages of professional golfers that TrackMan gathered . 

For amateur male golfers, we've split them into groups of "short," "mid," and "long" hitters. All distances refer to carry distance (distance until the ball first hits the ground) rather than total distance (carry and roll).

While TrackMan gathered extremely accurate data for LPGA and PGA carry distance averages, good data for amateurs is harder to come by. 

There's a massive gap in skill-level and swing speeds among amateur golfers. Golfers of various handicaps also achieve their handicaps in a variety of ways. A 5-handicap golfer could be a super fast swinger in their athletic prime or a senior golfer who has lost distance over the years.

For our amateur short, mid, and long hitting male amateur distances, we relied on the limited available large sample data and what we've seen personally from loads of amateur golfers.

Because these yardages are for golfers of all ages, junior, middle-aged, and especially senior golfers may find themselves with distances closer to the "Short Hitting Male Amateurs" column. Most young adult to middle-aged male golfers should carry the ball to at least the "Mid-Length Male Amateurs" distances, while faster swingers of these ages can reach the distances in the "Long Male Amateurs" column.

Lastly, aside from LPGA professionals, we didn't include other female golfers in our distance table. There's even less data available for amateur female golfers than for male amateurs. We've also found a more considerable disparity in how far female recreational players hit the ball. Basically, we weren't confident we could provide any accurate/valuable information for female amateurs' distances.

What Affects Distance in Golf

There are a lot of factors that influence your golf club distances.

Club speed is the most significant factor in determining distance .

To illustrate this, look at the correlation of club head speed vs carry distance for PGA Tour players in the scatter plot below:

Assuming all other things are equal, more swing speed means more energy that can be transferred from the club to the golf ball, resulting in higher ball speed. Higher ball speed means the ball will travel a further distance.

Factors like impact location on the club face, club path, spin rate, and launch angle also play a large part in how far a ball travels.

Impact Location Golf Iron and Driver Sweet Spot

An impact out of the "sweet spot" of your irons or woods will lead to a higher smash factor than strikes that are too low, too high, off the toe, or off the heel.

Smash factor is a calculation of how well you converted club speed into ball speed (Smash Factor = Ball Speed / Club Speed).

In particular, strikes out of the heel and low strikes can kill distance with the driver.

If you struggle to consistently hit the ball with or near the sweet spot of your club face, you'll have issues with the consistency of your yardages.

Spin Rate and Club Path

Spin rate plays a large role in how far you'll hit the ball and the shapes of your shots.

A lot of golfers put too much spin on the ball with their driver either because of too much club loft, poor strikes (bad impact location), or poor club face control (the direction the club face is aimed relative to your swing path).

If you feel you're hitting the ball well but should be getting a few more yards, work with a club-fitter to see if your driver has too much loft. The ideal spin rate depends on your club speed , but too much spin will cost you yards.

Slices and hooks are caused by the club face being aimed too open ( slice ) or too closed ( hook ) relative to the club path. This can lead to both too much spin and the ball's spin axis being too strongly left-to-right or right-to-left.

If your club face is open (aimed right) relative to your club path, this can both cause too much spin and will cause the ball to spin too left-to-right on its spin axis . You'll lose a lot of yards from a slice as the ball travels left-to-right rather than straight.

Launch Angle

For each club, there is an optimal amount of spin and an optimal launch angle. Launch angle is the angle of a golf ball's initial ascent relative to the ground.

Launching the ball too high or too low will cost you distance.

While launch angle problems could be due to your swing, they can also be caused by playing the wrong clubs for your swing. If you feel like you're hitting the ball too high or too low, work with a club-fitter to dial in your clubs.

Factors Out of Your Control

There are also factors out of your control that can affect distance, like temperature and altitude.

Every 10 degrees that the temperature rises can easily lead to a couple of yards of additional ball flight with a driver.

If you drive the ball 240 yards at sea level, you will carry it around 255 yards in Denver's mile high altitude.

How to Find Your Distances

If you're looking to better understand how far you hit each club, we'd recommend purchasing a launch monitor or finding a range with a launch monitor.

To get accurate distances, you'll also want to make sure that you're hitting the same golf balls you normally play on the course.

Many golf ranges have cheap, inconsistent, or even balls purposefully made not to fly as far as normal golf balls.

Your typical range ball can easily cost you 10+ yards with the driver, while a limited flight range ball can lose you 30+ yards of distance with driver compared to a premium golf ball.

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How Far Should You Hit A 3 Wood? (Complete Overview)

If you want to play golf at a scratch level, you will want to carry your 3 wood 220 yards plus.  If you are simply trying to reach the single digit handicap level, a carry distance of 200 yards is a quality distance.  If you are only trying to break 100, simply hitting in the air and carrying it at least 150 yards gets you headed in the right direction.

A high percentage of golfers carry a 3 wood.

It can be a very important club not only off the tee on short or narrow par 4s and 5s, but also from the fairway or rough when trying to reach a par 5 in two or after a poor driver leaving you a lot of ground to cover with your approach shot.

The golfer that is able to carry their 3 wood a quality distance will have an advantage over the golfer that struggles to barely carry their 3 wood even 180 yards.

Did you know the following? The average PGA Tour player carries a 3 wood 243 yards with a clubhead speed of 107 miles per hour. The average LPGA Tour player carries a 3 wood 195 yards with a clubhead speed of 90 miles per hour. Source: https://blog.trackmangolf.com/trackman-average-tour-stats/

So how far should an amateur golfer carry their 3 wood? Do they need to hit is as long as a PGA Tour player?

How Far Should You Hit A 3 Wood?

My Journey: Early on as a junior golfer, the 3 wood was my favorite club. If you are playing golf courses too long for your game, the 3 wood becomes much more important as you are hitting it as the 2nd shot on many par 4s and 5s. As your game improves, the 3 wood becomes less important and hit less frequently. In today’s game you will see the professional use the 3 wood off the tee less than 20 years ago. However, attacking par 5s and getting around the green in 2 is a major part of today’s professional game and has been made clear by analytics that distance and proximity to the pin are vital in the game.

Quick Recap:

• Scratch Level – Carry a 3 wood 220 yards plus.
• Single Digit Handicap – Carry a 3 wood 200 yards.
• Break 100 Level – Carry a 3 wood 150, but more important hit is solid each time.

Golf is a great game.  The good news is that we can compete again each other using the handicap system, but golfers are always looking to improve.

One of the fastest ways to improve is to increase your swing speed and overall distance.  Distance dominates the game of golf now and it is a great strength to have.

• Related Post: How far should you hit a 5 iron?
• Related Post: How far should you hit a 7 iron?

Did you know that the average driver distance of a scratch golfer is 251 yards?  To reach more about playing golf at the scratch level, check out this link: How to become a scratch golfer

Here is a quick reference chart for many of the common golf clubs found in a bag:

How long does it take to become a scratch golfer?

If you are someone looking to hit your 3 wood  further, consider the different factors that influence distance with every club in the bag.

Factors That Influence Distance

Clubhead speed.

• Launch Angle

Clubhead speed is the single most important item of the 4 factors above.  The good news is that clubhead speed can be increased through the proper training and speed training protocols.  Products like SuperSpeed Golf have provided plenty of increases for many golfers over the past 3-5 years.  The product works!

Check current price on SuperSpeed Golf, here!

Even if the golfer optimizes their center face contact and has the ideal spin rate and launch angle for their swing speed, if the swing speed isn’t at a certain level the golf just won’t carry far enough.  

Gone are the days of being stuck at your current swing speed or feeling like, “I am just not a long hitter!”  

My own personal story around overspeed training saw my driver increase from around 101 miles per hour to a max of 117 miles per hour with an average of right in the 112 mile per hour range.  My carry distance with the driver is now right around 270 with a 3 wood carry distance in the low 240s!

If you want extra distance with your 3 wood, start some speed training and then work on optimizing the next 3 areas!

Ball speed is a result of the swing speed and center face hits.  Without one or the other, you are going to struggle to have a quality ball speed.  For comparison, the average on the PGA Tour is 158mph ball speed with the 3 wood.  While the LPGA Tour is 132mph.  Golfers at this level are able to maximize their ball speed by striking the ball solid.

Amateur golfers can work on hitting the center of the face by getting feedback from impact tape or certain sprays that can be used to see where you are striking the ball.  At the end of the day, the best practice is hitting plenty of golf balls and of course being aware of where you are striking the ball on the clubface.

Where should the golf ball hit the clubface?

Have you ever hit the shot that felt like it carried forever?  Or the shot that balloons and struggles to get past 200 yards?  Both of these are a result of spin rate.  In the first example, you have an optimum spin rate, more than likely somewhere in the 2000-3000 RPM range.  In the 2nd example, the spin rate was more than likely 4000 RPM or higher.  Excess spin reduces your carry distance!  While you need some spin to help the ball carry, too much spin destroys your distance. 

Do I need to carry fairway woods?

Spin rate will be impacted by your angle of attack and the shaft in your golf club.  Making sure you have the right equipment and that you are striking the ball correctly will help get the ideal spin rate.

Everyone wants to spin the ball with the wedges and make the ball dance, but with your driver and 3 wood, where distance matters, you want a spin rate in the 2000 RPM range for most swing speeds.

There is an optimum launch angle for every swing speed and spin rate combination.  With the driver, the recent advice has been to tee it high and let it fly to get an optimum launch angle with a lower spin rate.  The 3 wood is a bit more tricky as half the shots with it might come out of the fairway or rough and requires a negative angle of attack to ensure the ball flies in the air and clean contact is achieved.

TIP: Seek Feedback Through A Launch Monitor

My number one recommendation for all four of these categories is to get a device like the Skytrak Launch Monitor, which can provide immediate feedback on every shot you hit during your practice sessions.  This helps the golfer make adjustments in the swing or the equipment he or she is using.

I highly recommend the Skytrak Launch Monitor.  There are two other quality options at a similar price point linked below.

Here are the top 3 Launch Monitor options to check out:

• SkyTrak Launch Monitor
• FlightScope Mevo+ Launch Monitor
• Mevo Launch Monitor

The data you can get after every shot includes the following:

• Ball and Club Speed
• Carry and Total Distance

In addition to this key information you will also see a shot tracer to help you control your clubface and swing path and develop a stock shot to finally play the consistent golf you seek!  

What is the most important part of the golf swing?

How To Hit Your 3 Wood Further?

The number one tip is to swing faster.  How do you accomplish this?  Through training!  

What is the best training option?  SuperSpeed Golf!   The three speed sticks that come with the purchase of the SuperSpeed System have a club that is 20% lighter, 10% lighter and 5% heavier.  The protocols are simple to follow and take 15-30 minutes per training session and you train every other day.  

Golfers can expect to see a 5-8% increase as early as the first session and the speed will become more permanent after about 30 days of training.  Stick with the training for a continued increase in swing speed, which will come at about a 1-2 miles per hour increase every several months.  The thought process or science behind this approach is known as overspeed training.  

3 Wood vs Driver Distance

The idea is that you are training both your mind and your body to swing faster than you normally do.  The mind and body start to adapt to this new speed as the mind builds confidence in doing this safely and the body trains to move faster.

The SuperSpeed System will help you experience additional speed through every club in the bag and you will soon find yourself hitting the ball further, hitting the ball closer and making more putts. 

• 3 Wood vs 5 Wood
• 5 Wood vs 3 Hybrid

The analytics are pretty clear in golf!  The further you hit your driver, the shorter approach shot you have left.  The shorter approach shot, results in a closer proximity to the pin on average.  With the final outcome being more made putts because you are putting putts closer to the hole. 

The make percentage on the PGA tour from 8 feet is significantly better than 15 feet.  The bottom line is that you need shorter putts to make more putts and this starts on the tee by hitting your driver further!

MAJOR KEY: Understanding How Far You Hit Each Club

I would highly recommend each golfer create a distance chart like the sample below:

This might be the most important information you can use to help you play quality golf.  I have heard so many stories and have seen it first hand where golfers completely over estimate how far they hit each iron.

I have seen one too many times the golfer that thinks they can carry their 3 wood or 5 wood over a hazard to reach a par 5, only to have the golf ball come up way short of the green.  Too many golfers overestimate how far they hit every club in their bag, but especially their driver and fairway woods.  Having accurate information might hurt the ego, but it can help you manage your game!

Complete Post: How Can I Improve My Distance Control?

How can you create your own chart?

Best option: i would highly recommend a launch monitor.

These portable devices can be used at the driving range, golf course or set up in your home net or golf simulator.  These devices are game changers not only on being able to map your bag and know your distances, but they also provide quality feedback after on every shot and provide the following information:

• Carry Distance
• Total Distance

This information will help you map your bag, decide on which clubs are best for your game, develop a stock shot and much more.  I love using my SkyTrak 365 days a year in my golf simulator setup.

Best swing path for irons?

The process for mapping your bag can looking something like this:

• Hit 5 shots with each club in your bag.
• Log the carry distance and total distance for each shot.
• Eliminate any outlier numbers (poor hits or low spin rates).
• Take the average and create a map of your bag.

If you visit any PGA Tour event you will see plenty of golfers utilizing their launch monitors.  While most can’t afford a Trackman, there are some very affordable options in the 500-2000 dollar range.  I own the SkyTrak and think the world of it.  

Here are the top 3 options to check out:

Final thoughts: have fun.

Whether you are trying to score better through improving the short game or gaining extra distance, make sure you have fun on your journey!  The exciting news that golfers can gain distance is a game changer for many.  We have seen some of the golfers as they reach 50 actually dive into speed training and improve their driver distance!

Wish you hit the ball further?  Here are two great resources:

• SuperSpeed Golf – Read our Full Review
• Gain 30-40 yards in 30 Days – Swing Man Golf

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

• Rain or Shine Golf
• Rain or Shine Golf Financing Offers
• Rain or Shine Golf Packages

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

• George Gankas
• Bobby Lopez
• Shawn Clement
• Mike Malaska
• Jim Venetos
• Monte Scheinblum

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

• How to Break 100
• How to Break 90
• How to Break 80
• How to Break 70

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

• Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
• How to Build a Golf Simulator?
• What is the Best Golf Simulator?
• Golf Simulator Accessories?
• How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
• Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
• How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
• Why Build A Golf Simulator?
• What Space is Needed?
• Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
• How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
• Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.

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