Golf ScoutHow far should you hit an 8 iron?
Most male club golfers hit an 8 iron 130 to 150 yards. On our chart that's about 158 yards at scratch, 141 at a 10 handicap and 122 at 20. PGA Tour players carry it about 164 yards.
8-iron distance by handicap
| Club | Scratch | 5 hcp | 10 hcp | 15 hcp | 20 hcp | 28 hcp | 36 hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-iron | 172 | 163 | 153 | 143 | 133 | 114 | 101 |
| 8-iron | 158 | 149 | 141 | 132 | 122 | 104 | 93 |
| 9-iron | 145 | 137 | 129 | 121 | 112 | 96 | 85 |
Typical total distance in yards, carry plus roll, on a still day at sea level. The same figures as the club distance chart.
England Golf's iGolf puts the typical male amateur's 8 iron at 130 to 150 yards, in line with the 5 to 20 handicap columns.
8-iron carry distance
The table above is total distance: where the ball stops. For an approach, the number that matters more is carry, where it lands, because the ball has to clear whatever is in front of the green.
With an 8 iron the difference is small but real. How much it rolls depends on the green: very little on a soft one, more on a firm one. Foresight Sports' launch tables give these carries:
- A slower swinger (94 mph with the driver) swings the 8 iron at 76 mph and carries it 140 yards.
- A faster swinger (112 mph with the driver) swings it at 86 mph and carries it 152 yards.
A common approach is to pick the 8 iron by its carry when there's a bunker or water short of the flag, and by its total when the front is open and the ball can run up.
What loft is an 8 iron?
From about 32° to 39°. PING's G730 8 iron is 32°. Titleist's run from 33° in the T350 to 39° in its 620 blades, with the T100, a players' iron, at 37°. In each of these sets, the 8 iron is 4° or 5° stronger than the 9 iron and 4° weaker than the 7.
On our chart the gap down to the 9 iron is 11 yards at a 15 handicap, and the gap up to the 7 iron is 11.
When to use an 8 iron
- Medium approach shots, the middle of the 130 to 150-yard range for most club golfers.
- Par 3s of around 132 yards for a 15 handicapper, where a tee peg lets you strike it cleanly.
- A low chip. From just off the green with lots of green to work with, it rolls further than a 9 iron.
Pro 8-iron distance
Trackman data puts the average PGA Tour 8 iron at about 164 yards of carry, from 89 mph of club speed with about 8,100 rpm of spin. That's 12 yards more carry than Foresight's faster swinger, from 3 mph more club speed.
Women and beginners
England Golf's iGolf says women typically hit 15 to 25% shorter than men. Applied to the 15-handicap column, that's about 99 to 112 yards. Beginners hit it shorter: our chart gives 93 yards at a 36 handicap. See club distances for women and for beginners.
Finding your own 8-iron number
On the range, a launch monitor will tell you your carry. On the course, note where your 8 irons finish against the distance you had, over 10 shots or more, and leave out the mishits. If you know your 7 iron, the 7 iron guide and the club gapping calculator will show whether your 8 iron sits where it should.
See every club for your handicap
Related guides
- How far should you hit a 9 iron?
- How far should you hit a 6 iron?
- How far should a beginner hit each golf club?
Sources
Golf Scout gives hazard distances for reach and carry, so you know whether your 8 iron clears the bunker in front of the green. Get Golf Scout on the App Store, free for iPhone and Apple Watch.