Golf Club Distance Chart
A golf club distance chart shows roughly how far the ball carries with each club. For a typical amateur man, that's somewhere around 200-230 yards with a driver, 130-150 with a 7 iron and 90-120 with a pitching wedge. But these are rough ranges, and your own numbers are the only ones that really count.
Use the chart below as a starting point, then build your own.
Typical amateur carry distances
| Club | Amateur men (yards) | Amateur women (yards) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 200-230 | 140-170 |
| 3 wood | 180-210 | 120-150 |
| 5 wood / hybrid | 165-195 | 110-140 |
| 4 iron | 155-180 | 100-130 |
| 5 iron | 150-170 | 95-125 |
| 6 iron | 140-160 | 90-115 |
| 7 iron | 130-150 | 85-110 |
| 8 iron | 120-140 | 80-100 |
| 9 iron | 110-130 | 70-90 |
| Pitching wedge | 90-120 | 60-80 |
| Sand wedge | 60-90 | 40-65 |
| Lob wedge | 40-70 | 30-50 |
These are carry distances on a full, solid swing in calm weather: how far the ball flies before it lands. Total distance, including roll, is longer, especially with the driver. If the difference is new to you, read carry vs roll in golf.
Treat the ranges loosely. Plenty of golfers hit shorter or longer than this, and that's fine. Tour professionals carry a 7 iron much further, often well beyond 170 yards.
Why your distances are different
- Swing speed: the biggest factor. Faster club speed means more ball speed.
- Strike quality: a shot from the centre of the face goes noticeably further than one off the toe or heel. See sweet spot of a golf club.
- Club lofts: modern game-improvement irons often have stronger lofts, so a "7 iron" from one set may go as far as a 6 iron from another. More in what is loft in golf?
- Weather: wind, cold air and rain all cut distance. Warm air and altitude add it.
- Ground: firm fairways add roll; soft, wet ones kill it.
- The ball: different balls launch and spin differently.
The gaps matter more than the numbers
Beginners worry about how far they hit, but good golfers care more about the gaps between clubs. Ideally each iron goes about 10 to 15 yards further than the next one down. If two clubs go the same distance, one of them is wasting a place in your bag. If there's a 30-yard jump somewhere, you'll keep finding yourself between clubs.
How to build your own chart
- Hit 10 balls with each club at a range or on a launch monitor, if you can.
- Ignore the best and worst couple of shots.
- Write down the average carry, not the longest one. Your best-ever 7 iron isn't your 7 iron distance.
- Note a "stock" half and three-quarter swing for your wedges, too.
- Update it every season, as your swing changes.
Then trust it. A lot of amateurs come up short on approach shots because they pick the club for their best strike rather than their usual one. More on that in how to choose the right golf club.
How Mashy's clubs compare
Mashy is a pitch & putt game, so there's no driver or woods: just irons, wedges and a putter. Its full-swing carries sit at the strong end of the amateur men's ranges above.
| Club | Mashy carry (yards) |
|---|---|
| 7 iron | 150 |
| 8 iron | 138 |
| 9 iron | 126 |
| Pitching wedge | 112 |
| Sand wedge | 88 |
| Lob wedge | 66 |
The gaps are tidy: 12 yards between each iron, then wider steps through the wedges. Less power on the swing meter gives a shorter shot, and wind, which is shown on a wind indicator, will push or hold up the ball. Some Pro Shop irons, such as Forged Blades and Gold Tour Irons, add extra carry.
Frequently asked questions
How far should a beginner hit a 7 iron?
Many beginner men carry a 7 iron somewhere between 100 and 140 yards, and many beginner women between 70 and 110. Those numbers grow as the strike becomes more consistent. A clean, centred strike matters far more than swinging hard, so focus on contact before worrying about distance.
How far do pros hit each club?
Tour professionals hit the ball much further than amateurs. Many male tour players carry a 7 iron well over 170 yards and drive it around 300 yards. Their consistency is the bigger difference, though: they know their carry distances to within a few yards for every club.
Is a golf distance chart carry or total distance?
Most charts, including this one, show carry distance, which is how far the ball flies before it first lands. Total distance includes the bounce and roll afterwards. Carry is more useful for choosing clubs, because it tells you whether the ball will clear a bunker, a pond or the front edge of the green.
How many yards apart should golf clubs be?
A gap of about 10 to 15 yards between neighbouring irons is a common target. The gap is often a little larger between the longer clubs and smaller between wedges. If two clubs go the same distance, or there's a much bigger jump somewhere, it may be worth changing your set.
How far do the clubs go in Mashy?
In Mashy a full swing carries 150 yards with the 7 iron, 138 with the 8 iron, 126 with the 9 iron, 112 with the pitching wedge, 88 with the sand wedge and 66 with the lob wedge. Setting less power gives a shorter shot, and wind changes the distance.