How Far Do You Hit Your Driver? Are you Sure...?

It’s amazing when people come into the shop and want to get fitted for a club, the first question we always ask is, “How far do you normally hit your driver?”

Invariably, the answer almost always seems to be 300 yards. Not to say there aren’t people out there who hit the ball 300 yards, but I think it would be instructive to know how far the average tour player hits the ball. 

I think these numbers will shock most people because what we usually see on TV is Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods….or most of the “flat belly’s” hitting drives 300+ yards on a regular basis.

So without offending the customers past or present who to this day will usually tell me my launch monitor is off because they made 10 swings and averaged 225 yards, here is the most current PGA Tour average  "carry" distances: 

• Driver             269 yards (With roll out about 288 yards) 
• 3-Wood          243 yards 
• 5-Wood          230 yards
• Hybrid            225 yards
• 3-Iron             212 yards
• 4-Iron             203 yards
• 5-Iron             194 yards
• 6-Iron             183 yards
• 7-Iron             172 yards
• 8-Iron             160 yards
• 9-Iron             148 yards
• PW                136 yards

So you see, not even the Tour Pro’s average 300 yards off the tee, and they play the best equipment, are in better shape, have the best instructors, latest technology, and play golf for a living.

I hope you find this at least somewhat of a surprise, and the next time someone asks you how far you hit your driver….it’s OK to say, “Oh about 225…”

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