Golf Club Distance Calculator
Estimate the typical carry distance for each golf club based on your swing speed or handicap.
Plan club selection for any shot.
Knowing how far you hit each club is fundamental to golf course management. Accurate yardage knowledge helps you choose the right club for each shot, avoid over-shooting greens, and plan approach strategies.
How club distances relate to swing speed: Carry distance is roughly proportional to clubhead speed, and the driver is the usual reference point:
Driver carry (yards) ≈ Swing Speed (mph) × 2.4
A 95 mph swing therefore carries about 228 yards, and a 105 mph swing about 252. Enter your speed above if you know it and the whole set is scaled to you rather than to a handicap band. If you have never had it measured, leave it blank; a launch monitor session at any decent fitter or range will tell you in five minutes.
For irons, each club carries roughly 10 to 15 yards less than the next longer club. If your 7-iron carries 150, expect about 137 from the 8-iron.
Average carry distances by skill level:
These are the figures this calculator uses.
| Club | Scratch / Low (0–5) | Mid (6–15) | High (16–25) | Beginner (26+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 285–300 yds | 245–260 yds | 200–220 yds | 160–190 yds |
| 3-wood | 255–270 yds | 215–230 yds | 175–195 yds | 135–165 yds |
| 5-wood | 235–250 yds | 195–210 yds | 160–178 yds | 120–150 yds |
| 4-iron | 215–230 yds | 185–198 yds | 155–168 yds | hybrid instead |
| 5-iron | 200–215 yds | 170–183 yds | 142–158 yds | 115–138 yds |
| 6-iron | 185–200 yds | 158–171 yds | 130–145 yds | 100–122 yds |
| 7-iron | 170–185 yds | 145–158 yds | 118–132 yds | 88–110 yds |
| 8-iron | 155–170 yds | 130–143 yds | 105–118 yds | 78–98 yds |
| 9-iron | 140–155 yds | 115–128 yds | 92–105 yds | 68–88 yds |
| Pitching Wedge | 125–140 yds | 100–115 yds | 78–93 yds | 55–75 yds |
| Sand Wedge | 95–110 yds | 80–95 yds | 62–78 yds | 45–62 yds |
The beginner column has no 4-iron on purpose. A long iron needs clubhead speed to get airborne, and below about 80 mph most players hit a 4-iron shorter than their 5-iron, which is the wrong shape for a set. A 4-hybrid does the same job and is far easier to launch.
Metric conversions: 1 yard = 0.9144 meters (approximately 0.91 m) 150 yards = 137 meters | 200 yards = 183 meters | 250 yards = 229 meters
Environmental adjustments:
- Altitude: Every 1,000 feet of altitude adds approximately 2% to carry distance (Denver at 5,280 ft = +10% carry)
- Temperature: cold air is denser, so 30°F colder costs roughly 5 to 8% of carry
- Wind: A 10 mph headwind reduces carry by ~10–15 yards with irons
- Wet vs dry: Wet grass reduces roll-out but carry distance is largely unchanged
Important note: These are carry distances (flight only). Add 10–30% for total distance including roll-out depending on ground firmness.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.
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