How Far Should You Hit Each Golf Club? Average Distance

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Plus, learn how to find your personal carry distance

Co-authored by Samantha Fulton, BA

Last Updated: August 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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Golf Club Distances

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Finding Your Carry Distance

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Influencing Factors

If you’re looking for info on the carry distance your golf clubs should get, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together this guide to walk you through the different types of golf clubs, what scenarios they usually work best for, and what carry distance you should expect them to get based on your skill level. We’ll also cover other factors that influence carry distance, so keep reading!

Golf Club Distance Chart

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A chart depicting the carry distances of each type of golf club, organized by skill level.

Different golf clubs get different carry distances (the distance the ball travels in the air). Factors like swing speed and weather also influence carry distance, but the club you choose can have a big impact. Here are the carry distances of common golf clubs for an average golfer (90 mph or 129 km/h swing speed):

Driver: 230 yards (210 meters)
3-Wood: 205 yards (187 meters)
Hybrid: 180 yards (165 meters)
4-Iron: 165 yards (151 meters)
5-Iron: 160 yards (146 meters)
9-Iron: 120 yards (110 meters)
Pitching wedge: 110 yards (101 meters)

Section 1 of 3:

Golf Club Carry Distances Explained

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1
Driver Also known as the 1-wood, the driver is usually the longest club in a golf bag with the biggest head of any club. Golfers usually use it for the first stroke from the teeing ground. You’ll typically use your driver to get the ball as far as possible toward the green.^{[1]
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Research source} Here are the average distances for a driver club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 190 yards (174 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 230 yards (210 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 260 yards (238 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 282 yards (258 meters)
2
3-Wood The 3-wood is supposed to be a more accurate club off the tee than the driver. However, since the driver gets more distance, some golfers say the 3-wood isn’t a super useful club to carry in your bag. While it gets more accuracy off the tee, you’ll be sacrificing some distance.^{[2]
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Research source} These are the average carry distances for a 3-wood:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 170 yards (155 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 205 yards (187 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 230 yards (210 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 243 yards (222 meters)
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3
Hybrid Hybrid clubs combine the advantages of a wood and an iron club. They have shallower heads and a center of gravity closer to the back and bottom. Hybrid clubs are ideal for longer approach shots since they provide distance and accuracy. They can also be useful if you need to play out of the rough.^{[3]
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Research source} Here are the average distances for a hybrid club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 160 yards (146 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 180 yards (165 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 200 yards (183 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 230 yards (210 meters)
4
4-Iron The 4-iron is designed for distance, but it can be difficult for amateur golfers to control. It’s an ideal club for shots requiring distance and control. You’ll typically use your 4-iron for shots off the tee on shorter par 4s or second shots on par 5s. Plus, it’s a great club for strategic shot placement.^{[4]
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Research source} These are the average distances for a 4-iron club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 145 yards (133 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 165 yards (151 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 180 yards (165 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 200 yards (183 meters)
5
5-Iron The 5-iron is a bit easier to control than other irons, but it still offers considerable distance. Its moderate trajectory makes it ideal for a variety of shots, such as approach shots to the green or shots from the fairway or rough. With a little practice, the 5-iron can help you control the trajectory and spin of your ball.^{[5]
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Research source} Here are the average distances for a 5-iron club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 125 yards (114 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 160 yards (146 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 185 yards (169 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 205 yards (187 meters)
6
6-Iron 6-iron clubs are great for amateur golfers. Since they have moderate loft angles, they produce manageable ball flights. They’re ideal for approach shots to mid-sized greens and recovery shots from light rough. These clubs are highly versatile and are frequently used by new players.^{[6]
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Research source} Here are the average distances achieved with a 6-iron club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 130 yards (119 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 145 yards (133 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 165 yards (151 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 180 yards (165 meters)
7
7-Iron Like 6-irons, 7-iron clubs are great for beginner golfers. They have similarly moderate loft angles and manageable ball flights, making them an easy club to reach for if you’re an amateur. You might use your 7-iron for controlled shots in windy conditions or punch shots from under tree branches. It’s a super versatile club, just like other mid irons.^{[7]
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Research source} These are the average distances for 7-iron clubs:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 105 yards (96 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 140 yards (128 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 160 yards (146 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 176 yards (161 meters)
8
8-Iron 8-irons are short iron clubs that prioritize accuracy and control over distance. They are essential for scoring opportunities and create steep, soft-landing ball flights. They’re ideal for attacking pin positions and creating birdie opportunities.^{[8]
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Research source} Here are the average distances for 8-iron clubs:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 115 yards (105 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 130 yards (119 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 145 yards (133 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 160 yards (146 meters)
9
9-Iron 9-irons are another short iron club that are great for an accurate, controlled hit. Like the 8-iron, they are better for accuracy than distance and are perfect for scoring opportunities. They create a good amount of backspin which prevents excessive rolling on the green.^{[9]
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Research source} These are the average distances for a 9-iron golf club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 85 yards (78 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 120 yards (110 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 135 yards (123 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 148 yards (135 meters)
10
Pitching Wedge A pitching wedge is good for longer shots that don’t require height and spin. You can use this club for shots from the fairway or from the rough. It’s also ideal for bump and run chipping (when the ball carries for 70% distance and rolls for 30%) since it can fly lower and roll further.^{[10]
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Research source} Here are the average distances you can achieve with a pitching wedge club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 75 yards (69 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 110 yards (101 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 125 yards (114 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 142 yards (130 meters)
11
Gap Wedge The gap wedge is less commonly known but can prove useful for swings from certain distances. It can be used around the green similarly to the pitching wedge, but you may be able to put more spin on the ball with this club. The gap wedge is a good club to use when you’re about 100 yards (91 meters) from the hole, which is an important scoring range.^{[11]
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Research source} These are the average distances for a gap wedge club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 65 yards (59 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 95 yards (87 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 115 yards (105 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 126 yards (115 meters)
12
Sand Wedge The sand wedge is a versatile club primarily used for, you guessed it, getting your ball out of the sand. However, its heavy weight and large bounce make it ideal for a number of shots. This club allows you to get through thick rough and is good for taking chips around the green.^{[12]
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Research source} Here are the average distances for a sand wedge club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 55 yards (50 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 80 yards (73 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 100 yards (91 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 104 yards (95 meters)
13
Lob Wedge The lob wedge is one of the highest lofted clubs and has precise stopping power. It’s ideal for getting up and over obstacles like small trees or high lips in sand traps. You may also find it comes in handy for tricky shots from the edge of the rough.^{[13]
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Research source} These are the average distances for a lob wedge club:
- Beginner Golfer (80 mph/129 km/h): 40 yards (37 meters)
- Average Golfer (90 mph/145 km/h): 65 yards (59 meters)
- Good Golfer (100 mph/161 km/h): 85 yards (78 meters)
- PGA Tour (114 mph/183 km/h): 88 yards (80 meters)

Section 2 of 3:

How to Find Your Personal Carry Distance

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Get a launch monitor or rangefinder. These are special tools that will help you determine your carry distance (the distance a golf ball travels in the air) for different clubs.^{[14]
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Research source} A launch monitor measures ball speed, spin rate, launch angle, and carry distance, while a rangefinder measures the distance from a golfer to a target on the course.
Note the distance each ball carries as you work your way through your clubs. This will give you a good sample to figure out your average carry distance with the different clubs you have.^{[15]
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You can do this by copying your results into websites like GraphPad. This will help you get rid of swings that are either abnormally long or abnormally short. Without the outliers, you’ll be able to get a more precise average distance.
Add up all the swings for an individual club, leaving out your outliers. Then, divide the result by the number of swings you did (excluding outlier swings). Repeat this process with each club in your golf bag. This should give you an idea of your average carry distance for each of your clubs.
Now that you know your carry distances, you can use them to decide which club you should use when you’re golfing. This information can help you avoid guessing or messing up on the course.^{[16]
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Section 3 of 3:

What other factors affect how far you hit with each club?

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This is one of the most important factors when it comes to golf stats and carry distance. A higher swing speed allows your club to transfer more energy into your golf ball, which in turn increases the ball speed and carry distance. On the other hand, a lower swing speed would result in a smaller carry distance.^{[17]
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Wind can hurt or help your carry distance. There’s not a clear way to calculate how much different wind speeds impact your distance, and it can influence different clubs in different ways. In general, a headwind (wind blowing against your ball) will cause a shorter carry distance, and a tailwind (wind blowing behind your ball) will create a longer carry distance. Both types can also impact how much bounce and roll you see in your ball.^{[18]
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Altitude influences air density, which can impact your carry distance. Golf balls generally fly farther at higher elevations since the air is thinner, so there’s less drag. This means the ball moves through the air easier, giving you a greater carry distance.^{[19]
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