Golf ScoutSwing speed and distance chart: how far does each speed go?
Each extra mile per hour of driver club speed adds about 2.84 yards. With a well-struck, well-launched drive, 80 mph carries about 179 yards, 90 mph about 215, 100 mph about 252 and 110 mph about 289. Trackman puts the average male golfer at 94 mph.
Driver swing speed and distance chart
| Club speed | Ball speed | Carry | Total | 7 iron | Wedge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 mph | 100 mph | 140 | 167 | 116 | 92 |
| 75 mph | 107 mph | 160 | 184 | 125 | 99 |
| 80 mph | 114 mph | 179 | 202 | 135 | 107 |
| 85 mph | 122 mph | 197 | 219 | 145 | 114 |
| 90 mph | 129 mph | 215 | 237 | 154 | 121 |
| 95 mph | 136 mph | 233 | 254 | 164 | 129 |
| 100 mph | 143 mph | 252 | 274 | 175 | 137 |
| 105 mph | 150 mph | 271 | 293 | 186 | 145 |
| 110 mph | 157 mph | 289 | 310 | 196 | 152 |
| 115 mph | 164 mph | 305 | 327 | 205 | 159 |
| 120 mph | 172 mph | 321 | 346 | 216 | 167 |
Driver carry and total in yards from Foresight Sports' optimised launch table, the middle of each range. Ball speed is club speed × 1.43. The 7-iron and pitching wedge totals come from the USGA's 2023 averages for golfers with that driver distance.
The carry and total columns are what's possible at each speed with the best launch (10° to 14°) and spin. Most golfers hit it a little shorter, which is why the USGA's measured average male drive, 226 yards, is shorter than the 251 yards this chart gives the average golfer's 94 mph.
What swing speed is normal?
Trackman publishes average driver club speeds from its combine tests:
| Golfer | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch or better | 110 mph | 90 mph |
| 5 handicap | 101 mph | 87 mph |
| 10 handicap | 95 mph | 83 mph |
| 15 handicap | 94 mph (14.5) | 79 mph |
| Bogey golfer | 92 mph | |
| Tour average | 115 mph (PGA Tour) | 96 mph (LPGA Tour) |
Driver club speed. Source: Trackman.
So a male club golfer at 90 to 100 mph is in the middle of the pack, and a woman at about 80 mph. Seniors usually swing slower; the club distances for seniors guide has a chart for lower speeds.
Iron swing speed and distance
Iron club speeds are lower than driver speeds. Foresight Sports gives typical figures for a slower and a faster swinger, whose driver speeds are 94 and 112 mph:
| Club | Slower: speed | Carry | Faster: speed | Carry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 iron | 82 mph | 169 | 94 mph | 191 |
| 6 iron | 80 mph | 156 | 92 mph | 181 |
| 7 iron | 78 mph | 147 | 88 mph | 166 |
| 8 iron | 76 mph | 140 | 86 mph | 152 |
| 9 iron | 74 mph | 126 | 85 mph | 139 |
| Pitching wedge | 72 mph | 117 | 84 mph | 127 |
Iron club speed and carry in yards. Source: Foresight Sports.
The guides for each iron go into more detail: 5 iron, 6 iron, 7 iron, 8 iron and 9 iron.
Ball speed and distance
Ball speed is club speed times smash factor, a measure of how well you hit the middle. The USGA measured an average smash factor of 1.43 with a driver, 1.37 with a 7 iron and 1.21 with a pitching wedge. It found each extra mile per hour of ball speed is worth about 2 yards of driver distance, and each mile per hour of club speed about 2.84 yards.
That gives two ways to add distance. Faster club speed is one; a better strike is the other. At 90 mph, raising your smash factor from 1.35 to 1.43 adds 7 mph of ball speed, worth roughly 14 yards, without swinging any harder.
How to find your swing speed
A launch monitor measures it directly: club fitters and ranges with launch monitors can tell you in a few swings. Hit 10 drives and take the middle value, not the fastest. Then put it in the swing speed calculator to see your driver, 7-iron and wedge estimates, and compare them with how far you really hit those clubs on the course.
Try the swing speed calculator
Related guides
- How far should you hit a driver?
- How far should a senior golfer hit each club?
- What is the average driver distance by age?
Sources
Golf Scout doesn't measure swing speed, but it does record how far you really hit each club from the shots you mark, which is the number you play to. Get Golf Scout on the App Store, free for iPhone and Apple Watch.