Here is the short version: a typical amateur hits a driver 204 to 285 yards (187 to 261 m), a 7 iron 132 to 178 yards (121 to 163 m) and a pitching wedge 90 to 141 yards (82 to 129 m), from a 25 handicapper up to scratch. The full chart for every club is below, in yards and metres.
These numbers are typical ranges from real on-course data, not targets you have to hit. The most useful thing you can do with them is compare your gaps, not your ego.
Club distance chart by handicap (yards)
Shot Scope P-Avg: GPS-tracked on course, best and worst 10 percent of shots removed. Distances are where the ball finished (carry plus roll).
| Club | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 285 | 261 | 259 | 236 | 225 | 204 |
| 3 wood | 256 | 239 | 225 | 212 | 196 | 179 |
| 5 wood | 232 | 215 | 203 | 190 | 179 | 167 |
| 7 wood | 218 | 200 | 190 | 179 | 171 | 163 |
| 4 iron | 223 | 201 | 199 | 186 | 169 | 151 |
| 5 iron | 200 | 183 | 187 | 169 | 162 | 143 |
| 6 iron | 185 | 172 | 171 | 162 | 151 | 137 |
| 7 iron | 178 | 164 | 161 | 154 | 146 | 132 |
| 8 iron | 166 | 153 | 150 | 146 | 138 | 122 |
| 9 iron | 155 | 139 | 140 | 136 | 129 | 108 |
| Pitching wedge | 141 | 126 | 127 | 121 | 108 | 90 |
Club distance chart by handicap (metres)
The same Shot Scope figures, converted by us and rounded to the nearest metre.
| Club | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 261 | 239 | 237 | 216 | 206 | 187 |
| 3 wood | 234 | 219 | 206 | 194 | 179 | 164 |
| 5 wood | 212 | 197 | 186 | 174 | 164 | 153 |
| 7 wood | 199 | 183 | 174 | 164 | 156 | 149 |
| 4 iron | 204 | 184 | 182 | 170 | 155 | 138 |
| 5 iron | 183 | 167 | 171 | 155 | 148 | 131 |
| 6 iron | 169 | 157 | 156 | 148 | 138 | 125 |
| 7 iron | 163 | 150 | 147 | 141 | 134 | 121 |
| 8 iron | 152 | 140 | 137 | 134 | 126 | 112 |
| 9 iron | 142 | 127 | 128 | 124 | 118 | 99 |
| Pitching wedge | 129 | 115 | 116 | 111 | 99 | 82 |
Sources: Shot Scope data published by MyGolfSpy (driver April 2026, fairway woods June 2025, irons October 2025) and Golf Monthly (pitching wedge July 2026).
A few quirks in the data (left as published)
- The 10 handicap column is longer than the 5 handicap column in places (5 iron, 9 iron, pitching wedge). That is how Shot Scope published it. Different groups of golfers, different equipment. We have not "tidied" it.
- A second Shot Scope 3 wood table from May 2025 gives slightly different numbers (for example 261 yards for scratch and 215 for a 15 handicap). Allow a few yards either way.
- Wedges. Shot Scope's 52, 56 and 60 degree data includes chips and pitches, so it does not reflect full-swing distances. We have left those out of the chart.
Hybrids by handicap
Shot Scope published hybrids for four handicap groups (P-Avg, yards, with metres in brackets):
| Club | 0 | 5 | 15 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 hybrid | 219 (200) | 207 (189) | 195 (178) | 161 (147) |
| 4 hybrid | 209 (191) | 199 (182) | 188 (172) | 149 (136) |
Source: Shot Scope data via MyGolfSpy.
What tour players carry
For comparison, Trackman's tour averages. These are carry, not total, so they are not directly comparable with the table above.
| Club | PGA Tour carry | LPGA carry |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 282 yd (258 m) | 223 yd (204 m) |
| 3 wood | 249 yd (228 m) | 200 yd (183 m) |
| 5 wood | 236 yd (216 m) | 189 yd (173 m) |
| Hybrid | 231 yd (211 m) | 178 yd (163 m) |
| 4 iron | 209 yd (191 m) | 175 yd (160 m) |
| 5 iron | 199 yd (182 m) | 166 yd (152 m) |
| 6 iron | 188 yd (172 m) | 155 yd (142 m) |
| 7 iron | 176 yd (161 m) | 143 yd (131 m) |
| 8 iron | 164 yd (150 m) | 133 yd (122 m) |
| 9 iron | 152 yd (139 m) | 123 yd (112 m) |
| Pitching wedge | 142 yd (130 m) | 111 yd (101 m) |
Source: Trackman tour averages (table dated 2023, published May 2024).
Notice how evenly the tour gaps run through the irons, about 10 to 12 yards each. That consistency is what you are chasing, far more than the raw distance.
A second opinion: Arccos
Arccos's 2020 on-course data gives median distances (the middle shot) that run shorter than Shot Scope's trimmed averages:
| Club | Scratch | 10 handicap | 20 handicap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 iron | 176 yd (161 m) | not published | 152 yd (139 m) |
| 7 iron | 159 yd (145 m) | 148 yd (135 m) | 140 yd (128 m) |
| Pitching wedge | 122 yd (112 m) | 114 yd (104 m) | 104 yd (95 m) |
Where Shot Scope and Arccos differ, the truth for "typical" is somewhere in between. Our 7 iron guide explains why the two datasets disagree.
How to use this chart properly
- Find your row, not your dream. Compare yourself with your current handicap first, then your goal handicap.
- Measure carry on a launch monitor. On-course totals include roll, which changes with conditions. Carry is what gets you over the bunker. Hit 10 to 15 balls per club, drop the best and worst couple, and average the rest.
- Check your gaps. Look for two clubs within 5 metres of each other (one is spare) or a hole of 20 metres or more (you need a club there).
- Look at the spread. A club with a tight spread is worth more than a longer one you cannot control.
- Recheck each season. Distances change with fitness, weather and new gear. Winter in Melbourne and summer in Brisbane are not the same golf ball flight.
For individual clubs, see average driver distance by handicap, 7 iron distance by handicap and club distances for a 15 handicap. Launch monitor targets by handicap are on our handicap targets page.
How Pickle Shot helps
This chart is basically the idea behind Pickle Shot. Pick a goal handicap, and Pickle Shot will show what a golfer at that level typically hits with each club, then map your own launch monitor sessions against it, gaps, spread and all. It is pre-launch, built for the Rapsodo MLM2 Pro first, with more hardware planned (see launch monitors). Early access opens to the waitlist first.
Know every number in your bag. Join the Pickle Shot waitlist.
Questions
How far should I hit each golf club?
It depends on your speed and strike, but typical amateur figures from Shot Scope run from a driver of 204 yards (187 m) and a pitching wedge of 90 yards (82 m) for a 25 handicapper, up to a driver of 285 yards (261 m) and a pitching wedge of 141 yards (129 m) for scratch. The full chart is on this page.
How far should I hit my pitching wedge?
Shot Scope's 2026 data puts the average amateur pitching wedge at 118 yards (108 m), ranging from 90 yards (82 m) for a 25 handicapper to 141 yards (129 m) for scratch.
How far should I hit a 3 hybrid?
Shot Scope's hybrid data gives P-Avg figures of 219 yards for scratch, 207 for a 5 handicap, 195 for a 15 handicap and 161 for a 25 handicap, or roughly 147 to 200 metres.
How big should the gap be between clubs?
In Shot Scope's amateur data the gap between neighbouring irons varies from about 7 to 17 yards (6 to 16 m), and Trackman's PGA Tour carry averages show gaps of roughly 10 to 12 yards through the irons. Even, predictable gaps matter more than the actual distances.
Are these carry or total distances?
The handicap chart uses Shot Scope's P-Avg, which is measured by GPS on the course, so it is where the ball finished, carry plus roll, with the best and worst 10 percent of shots removed. The tour numbers from Trackman are carry.
Sources
- MyGolfSpy, Driver distance chart 2026 update (Shot Scope data)
- MyGolfSpy, Fairway wood distance chart by handicap (Shot Scope data)
- MyGolfSpy, Hybrid distance chart by handicap (Shot Scope data)
- MyGolfSpy, Iron distance chart for every handicap (Shot Scope data)
- Golf Monthly, How far amateurs hit a pitching wedge (2026)
- Golf Monthly, How far the average amateur hits a 3 wood (May 2025)
- Arccos, Smart Distances and handicap (Apr 2020)
- Trackman, Introducing updated tour averages (May 2024)
Pickle Shot is independent and not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Rapsodo or any launch monitor maker. Product details change, so check the maker's site before you buy.