The average distance for each golf club: your complete guide

One of the most important aspects of golf is understanding which club to use and when, and knowing the average distance of each golf club in your bag is a huge part of this. 

Understanding club distances can help you approach your shots properly and free you up to focus on perfecting other areas of your game, like your swing.

In this golf club distances guide, we’ll explain the average distance for each golf club type, what affects those distances, and how you can use this information to make better decisions during your round. Whether you’re aiming for the fairway, attacking a green, or getting out of a tricky bunker, having a clear appreciation of what each club is designed to do will help you play smarter golf.

Why knowing your distances matters

Every round of golf involves making dozens of decisions, like what club to use, where to aim, and how much power to apply in your swing. Knowing the average distance for each golf club will help with these decisions and shape how you approach a shot. For example:

1. Improving your accuracy: As you can confidently select the right club for each shot.
   
   
2. Helping to avoid hazards: Knowing your distances will make you less likely to overshoot or come up short.
   
   
3. Supporting your improvement: Understanding where you're losing distance can highlight key areas to work on.

What are the average distances by golf club type?

Before we get into things, it’s important to note that the distances quoted below are general averages for experienced male and female amateur golfers. Pros will likely be able to hit further, while beginners may fall shorter. Your own distances will vary based on your swing speed, technique, equipment, and skill level.

Driver

Male: 200-230 yards
Female: 150-180 yards

Drivers are designed for hitting long distances off the tee, with the lowest loft (usually between 8°–12°) and the longest shaft in the bag. They’re the ideal club for long par-4s and par-5s.

3-Wood

Male: 180-215 yards
Female: 125-160 yards

Used most often on the fairway or off the tee on tight holes, the 3-wood has slightly more loft than the driver and provides good distance but with more control.

5-Wood & 7-Wood

5-Wood - Male: 170-195 yards
5-Wood - Female: 150-170 yards

7-Wood - Male: 150-170 yards
7-Wood - Female: 130-145 yards

Woods with higher lofts are excellent for long fairway shots or when you need to get the ball airborne more easily.

Irons

3-Iron
Male: 180 yards
Female: 130 yards

4-iron
Male: 170 yards
Female: 120 yards

5-iron
Male: 160 yards
Female: 110 yards

6-iron
Male: 150 yards
Female: 100 yards

7-iron
Male: 140 yards
Female: 90 yards

8-iron
Male: 130 yards
Female: 80 yards

9-iron
Male: 120 yards
Female: 70 yards

Irons are used for a variety of shots – from tee shots on short par-3s to precise approach shots. Loft increases as the iron number goes up, meaning shorter distance but higher ball flight and better control.

Wedges

Pitching Wedge (PW)
Male: 110-120 yards
Female: 60-80 yards

Gap Wedge (GW)
Male: 90-110 yards
Female: 50-70 yards

Sand Wedge (SW)
Male: 80-100 yards
Female: 40-60 yards

Lob Wedge (LW)
Male: 60-80 yards
Female: 30-50 yards

Wedges are scoring clubs that help set up your putts. They’re perfect for short approaches, chips, bunker shots, and pitches. Their higher loft helps stop the ball quickly on the green, assisting with precision placement.

Putter

We’re not giving distances here, as that’s not what putters are about. Once you’re on the green, putters help you roll the ball into the hole, ideally with a smooth, controlled stroke.

What affects how far you hit with each club?

Even if you use the exact same clubs as another player, the distance per golf club you achieve compared to others will vary, depending on:

• Swing speed: The faster your swing, the more energy is transferred to the ball. Faster swing speeds generate more distance, especially with longer clubs like a driver or 3-wood.
  
  
• Strike quality: Clean, centred contact with the clubface on the “sweet spot” is vital for achieving maximum distance. Mishits lose both power and accuracy.
  
  
• Club loft: Lower lofted clubs, like a driver or 3-iron, send the ball further with a shallower trajectory. Higher lofted clubs, like wedges, give more height and spin but reduce distances. Read more about loft and lie.
  
  
• Shaft type: Shafts come in varying flex ratings, like regular, stiff, and extra stiff. A shaft that suits your swing speed can help you generate more distance. Too stiff or too flexible, and you’ll lose both distance and precision.
  
  
• Weather and course conditions: In the UK, wind and rain can be frequent companions on the course. Wet fairways limit roll, while cold air can reduce carry distance. A dry summer fairway might give you 10–15 extra yards.
  
  
• Ball type: Some golf balls are designed for distance, others for control. If distance is your focus, choose balls with lower spin and higher compression.

How to measure your own distances on the course

Average figures can give you general guidance on what distances to aim for and can help you understand which club to reach for in different situations. But tracking and recording your own distances can help you better understand and improve your own game.

By measuring and keeping a record of your distances, you can get a clear handle on what kind of lengths you’re achieving. You’ll also understand whether or not you’re consistent and if you’re underperforming with a particular club type. We recommend you:

• Try a launch monitor: Now cheaper and more portable than ever, a launch monitor can track your hits, analysing carry distance, ball speed, spin rate, and more. Once expensive items of kit used mostly by professionals, launch monitors are common aids amongst amateur players today.
  
  
• Use a rangefinder: Rangefinders can help you accurately measure distances on a course, allowing you to understand how far you are from the target area you want to hit along the fairway, but also allowing you to measure how far your ball has travelled once it’s landed.
  
  
• Keep notes on the course: Once you’re measuring your distances, keep note of them. Try to record your distances, plus what type of shot you took and what club you used.
  
  
• Go to the driving range with your notebook: As well as noting distances when you’re on the course, you can take recordings of repeated swings with different clubs at the driving range. With multiple measurements, you’ll be able to make your own golf club distance chart, from which you can work out your averages and your consistency.

How to hit further out on the course

Knowing which club to reach for in each situation is vital, but when it comes to maximising the distances you’re hitting, whether driving or using a wedge, there’s plenty you can do to practice and improve. 

Read our 10 top tips for boosting your drives and our fundamental guide on how to hit the ball further. You can also take a look at our explanation of the four most common golf shot shapes to further improve your distances and overall game.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

With so much variation in golf and so many shot types deployed over the course of the average round, accidents can happen. That’s why you may want to consider protecting yourself and your gear with specialist golf insurance.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.