Golf-FAQ.com

how far should you drive a golf ball

by Sid Wiegand Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The short answer to this question is yes, 200 yards is a good driver distance for an average recreational player.

Full Answer

How far does the average golfer drive the ball?

The average distances an amateur golfer drives a ball is 200 yards. A pro golfer on the PGA tour hits the ball further, with an average distance of 270 yards off the tee. It’s no surprise that golfers can be a very competitive bunch of people. Many golfers like to see who can hit the ball the furthest.

What is considered a good shot distance in golf?

What shot distance is considered a good golf drive? Driving a golf ball 220 yards or more is a good distance which places you in the top 25% of players. A ball travelling 220 yards is further than the average of 195 to 205 yards that an average recreational player will hit a golf ball.

How far is a 220 yard golf ball?

A ball travelling 220 yards is further than the average of 195 to 205 yards that an average recreational player will hit a golf ball. When it comes to professional golfers, the 280+ yard mark falls in the “good range”. To get an accurate distance, female golfers can deduct 50 yards from the measurements discussed.

How far do pro golfers hit the ball off the tee?

A pro golfer on the PGA tour hits the ball further, with an average distance of 270 yards off the tee. It’s no surprise that golfers can be a very competitive bunch of people.

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How far does the average person drive a golf ball?

219 yardsThe average driving distance across all ages of golfers is 219 yards. Golfers under the age of 30 typically hit the ball the longest (238 yards) and distance declines by around 10 yards every ten years. Swing speeds normally decrease as you age and that's where the decrease in yardage comes from.

What is a good distance to hit a golf ball?

A 9-iron should hit a golf ball 80 to 90 yards for a beginner, 125 to 135 yards for an average player and 135 to 145 yards for a professional player. For each number that the iron decreases, add about 10 to 15 yards to the distance.

How far does the average male drive a golf ball?

216 yardsIn 2019, the average distance for male amateur golfers was just 216 yards. This data was collected across 1141 shots of players with varying handicaps. It's unsurprising to see that lower handicap players have longer average driving distances when breaking it down by handicap.

How far should a beginner drive a golf ball?

Going the Distance? How Far Should Beginners Hit A Golf Ball?CLUBBEGINNER MEN (21+ handicap)BEGINNER WOMEN (29+ handicap)Avg. distance (Yards)Longest distance (Yards)Driver176.6207.1Source: R&A / USGA Annual Distance Driving Report

Why do my drives only go 200 yards?

The main reasons why the average golfer isn't able to hit 200 yards is due to poor technique, rapid swing, insufficient knowledge and lack of practice.

Is 280 yards a good drive?

Here's an interesting fact: While PGA Tour pros hit their drives anywhere from 280 yards to 320 yards on average, and LPGA Tour pros hit their drives from 230 to 270 yards on average, most recreational golfers, according to Golf Digest, average somewhere around 195-205 yards with their drivers.

How do I increase my golf driving distance?

5 Top 100 Teacher-approved tips to boost your driving distanceIncrease the speed of the backswing. ... Stay back longer during the downswing. ... Proper shoulder tilt at address. ... Make harder practice swings. ... Use your wrists.

How do you hit a 250 yard drive?

1:307:49ANYONE Can Drive the Golf Ball 250+ Yards! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe don't want it in the palm. So nice and simple if i was going for a full routine. Imagine myMoreWe don't want it in the palm. So nice and simple if i was going for a full routine. Imagine my playing partners are hitting in front of me grab the golf club get used to it being in those fingers.

Do golf drivers lose distance over time?

Yes, drivers can lose distance over time. Admittedly, that timeframe can be greatly reduced if you're a tour pro like Bryson DeChambeau, who has the fastest swing on the PGA Tour this year at 133 miles per hour.

Is 170 yards a good drive?

It is natural for golfers to want to know how far they should be hitting a golf ball, especially when they first start out....Golf club distance chart for beginners.Club TypeMenWomenDriver`200-230-260150-175-2003-Wood180-215-235125-150-1805-Wood170-195-210105-135-1702-Iron170-195-210105-135-1709 more rows•Aug 13, 2019

How far should a beginner hit a 6 iron?

Estimated beginner driver golf club distance chartClubMenWomen5-iron140-160-18080-110-1406-iron130-150-17070-100-1307-iron120-140-16065-90-1208-iron110-130-15060-80-1109 more rows

Do new drivers hit the ball further?

Newer drivers have newer technology that helps give golfers more distance but it depends on the year it was made in terms of drastic differences in length. A 20 year-old driver will have less distance than a new driver. Ball speed and driver faces are two factors that have changed over time.

What is the average distance a golfer can drive the ball?

Average level golfers with a handicap of 13-20 usually drive the ball right around the 200-yard mark.

How far can a low handicapper drive the ball?

Low handicappers of less than 6 drive the ball about 240 yards on average, which is not as far as you may have thought. However, this number is distinctly further than high handicappers (21+) as they clock in at around 175 yards. That extra 65 yards that the low handicapper enjoys makes for a huge advantage on the course.

What is the average driving distance for amateur golfers?

The average driving distance for amateur golfers is 216 yards across all handicaps and age groups, as reported by the USGA in their 2020 distance insights report. 56% of amateur golfers drive the ball between 200-250 yards, and only 31% drive the ball over 250 yards.

What is the best angle to hit a golf ball?

The driver is the one club in your bag that you want to ‘hit up’ with while swinging. Since the ball is on a tee, an upward angle is the most effective for getting the most distance out of your driver. Two simple tricks that you can try on the practice range are teeing the ball up a little bit higher and playing the ball a little further forward in your stance. Both of these tips can help make it easier for you to ‘hit up’ on the golf ball.

How to improve driving distance in golf?

Here is another tip that is counterintuitive but can greatly improve driving distance. Loosen your grip pressure! Gripping the club too tight prevents the wrists and hands from swinging with their full range of motion and hinders the golf swing’s follow-through.

How much distance can you lose in a year after turning 40?

As a round number, golfers can expect to lose about one yard of distance each year after turning 40. Remember, though, do not let these numbers discourage you as they are just averages. What is so great about the game of golf is that most folks can play it their entire lives.

How much driving distance do you lose in golf after 40?

Golfers can expect to lose about one yard of driving distance each year after turning 40. Interestingly, there is not much difference in driving distance in the 20’s and 30’s age group.

How many yards does a pro golfer drive?

Here's an interesting fact: While PGA Tour pros hit their drives anywhere from 280 yards to 320 yards on average, and LPGA Tour pros hit their drives from 230 to 270 yards on average, most recreational golfers, according to Golf Digest, average somewhere around 195-205 yards with their drivers.

How many irons are there in a golf club?

The average yardages for each golf club depends, and it varies widely from golfer to golfer. One person's 5-iron distance is another person's 3-iron distance is another person's 7-iron distance. This is the most important fact to take away from this article: There is no wrong golf club distance, there is only your distance.

How do you know if you are a long or short hitter?

You'll quickly get an idea of whether you are a "long" hitter or "short" hitter by simply playing golf and comparing yourself to those you play with. (There's also an easy but time-consuming method of calculating your own, personal golf club yardages.) There's no shame in being a short hitter, and being a long hitter doesn't guarantee anything, and certainly not a lower score.

Why are there a greater gap between women and men golfers?

There is a greater gap, percentage-wise, between the longer- and shorter-hitting women golfers than there is between the longer- and shorter-hitting men golfers because better women players tend to be significantly longer than weaker women players.

Does hitting the ball far matter?

And of course, hitting the ball far doesn't matter at all if you can't also hit it straight or then get the ball onto the green.

How far can a pro golfer drive a golf ball?

The average distances an amateur golfer drives a ball is 200 yards. A pro golfer on the PGA tour hits the ball further, with an average distance of 270 yards off the tee.

How far should I aim for a golf ball?

I always tell new players to aim for (110 yards for females) and (160 yards for males).

How to measure golf distance?

How To Measure Your Golf Distance. The best way to measure your golf distance is to use a GPS measuring device, smart watch GPS or a laser rangefinder. These devices will show a golfer how many yards their ball has travelled as well as the distance an object is from their current location on the course.

What is the best way to measure golf ball distance?

If you’re after a more convenient way of measuring your golf ball distance, a GPS smart watch is the perfect option. Some golfers don’t wish to carry around heavier GPS equipment which makes a watch an ideal alternative.

What is the most used wedge in a set of golf clubs?

A pitching wedge is the most used wedge in a set of golf clubs.

How many yards should you hit a golf club?

You should hit your golf clubs within 20 yards of the average for that particular club type. This means you should hit a driver at least 200 yards to be considered a good golf player. Furthermore, a 7 Iron shot should send the ball flying at least 120 yards.

What is considered a good golf drive?

What shot distance is considered a good golf drive? Driving a golf ball 220 yards or more is a good distance which places you in the top 25% of players. A ball travelling 220 yards is further than the average of 195 to 205 yards that an average recreational player will hit a golf ball.

How to know what distance to stand from the ball?

Now that you know that the proper distance to stand from the golf ball is relative to a golfer’s swing, how do you know what distance is right for you? An easy place to start is the contact point on your clubface. If you find yourself hitting shots on the toe, move closer to the ball. If you are hitting shots of the heel, move farther away. I use Dr. Scholl’s foot powder spray to see where the face is being contacted because it works better than tape, which tends to skew spin on the shot.

Why do you change your distance from the ball?

Another reason to change your distance from the ball is to help you change the shape of your swing. I use distance from the ball as a drill to change swing shapes like this: If someone is TOO flat and swinging TOO far in front on the downswing, I move them in closer.

How to tell if your arm is hanging from the ball?

To check your distance, stand at address in your normal posture and take your regular grip. Now remove your right hand from the club. If it is hanging directly in tandem with your left, your arms are under your shoulders. If your arm is hanging closer to your body, you’re one who stands a little farther away from the ball, and if your arm moves farther away from your body then you’re one who stands a little closer to the ball.

Can recreational golfers improve their scoring?

I’m totally convinced the majority of recreational golfers can make the quickest and biggest improvement in our scoring if we will just dedicate the time to learn good chipping technique and to practicing that technique with a purpose.

Do you putt with a lighter club or putter?

In employing this technique, however, realize that the club you are “putting” with weighs much less than your putter, so you want to grip the club much lighter to make the club feel heavier. It takes just a little practice to see what different clubs will do with this putt/chip technique.

Can golfers chip the ball well?

I’ve always admired golfers who can really chip the ball well. Through my years in golf, I have seen players of all handicaps who are excellent chippers, and all tour professionals are masters of chipping it close. But for such a simple little stroke and challenge, chipping seems to be a part of the game that eludes many of us.

How to know how close to stand to the ball?

Guideline. "Golf Digest" offers a simple solution for determining how close to stand to the ball. It all begins with taking a good stance at address. Place your feet shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly flexed and a natural bend at your hips. This places you in a balanced, athletic position.

Where to put a golf club on the ground?

Place the butt of the club on the tip of your thumb. That space -- from the top of your thumb to your belt buckle -- represents how far your body should be from the end of the club. From that position you can simply place the club on the ground behind the ball to achieve the proper stance.

How does standing from the ball affect your swing?

How far you stand from the golf ball at address will affect your swing. Standing too far away can force you to reach out with the club, with your arms completely straight and your elbows locked -- ruining any chance of a nice, easy swing.

Who said he rarely sees anyone stand too close to the ball?

Tom Watson, one of golf's all-time greats, told "Golf Digest" that he rarely sees anyone stand too close to the ball. Two other golf legends, Byron Nelson and Johnny Miller, have made similar statements, according to Watson.

What is the biggest lie in golf?

The first question, the answer to which Max Homa calls the “biggest lie in golf”, is something every golfer should know. Just because you have hit a drive 280 yards one time does not mean you hit your driver 280 yards. That goes all the way down the bag. Take more club than you think, because there’s no pride in leaving 99 out of 100 shots short ...

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Is Instagram a good golf guide?

Instagram. It’s not perfect, because it assumes a few things: That you’re hitting the ball consistently well, without much curve and with a driver that’s fit to your swing. But nevertheless, it can provide a good guidepost for golfers.

Do golfers want to hit the ball longer?

As soon as golfers accomplish the act of hitting the golf ball, they want to hit further. It’s only natural and in some ways, inescapable. But while many golfers want to hit the ball longer, there are often two related questions that sometimes escape them: How far do they hit it?

How far away is a golfer from the butt?

For a golfer who is 6′ and up, this distance usually ends up around 7 inches from thigh to the butt of the club. For golfers around 5’4″-5’10”, it is around 6 inches. And golfers who are 5’2″ and under end up standing around 5 inches away, from thigh to club.

Where does the handle of a golf ball rest?

Here again we see the arms extending out just beyond vertical towards the ball. The handle rests straight down from the front edge of the shoulders.

What is the speed of a golf ball?

Some of the longest hitters on tour are somewhere in the 170 mph – 190 mph ball speed range (which requires a minimum swing speed of about 115mph). As you can see from this infographic from DECADE Golf, it’s also directly correlated to making money as a pro golfer:

How to hit golf shots that go far?

If you want to hit golf shots that go as far as possible, increasing your ball speed is the most critical metric to keep track of. Think of it as a measure of efficiency. My number one recommendation is to work on improving your impact location, which is an easy (and useful) addition to your practice sessions. On top of that, increasing your swing speed through physical training is another way to get it done. Combine the two, and you’ll be blowing your drives by your buddies very soon!

How Does Ball Speed Change By Impact Location?

Modern golf clubs have done an excellent job of providing forgiveness on off-center strikes. However, no matter how good the technology is, there is still a penalty for missing the sweet spot (center of gravity). I’ll show you a couple of examples from my own clubs to illustrate how strike location can alter your ball speed (and a few other important parameters for distance).

Why do golfers lose ball speed?

While there are endless variables based on strike location and the kind of golf clubs you are using, off-center strikes result in lower ball speed and a lack of distance. While that should come as no surprise to you, many golfers don’t know how much they are losing because they likely don’t know their impact tendencies and haven’t experimented with a launch monitor (yes, I’ve turned into quite the golf geek with my lab at home).

Why is it important to focus on ball speed?

While your swing speed is very critical – golf ball speed is a better measurement of how efficiently you transferred the energy of your swing to the ball.

How to add distance to golf game?

How can you do it? In my opinion, having a laser-sharp focus on increasing your golf ball speed is the way to get it done.

How many yards does a golf ball increase?

Long story short, when it comes to distance, golf ball speed is the king. An increase of 1 mph in ball speed can lead to roughly 2 yard s of increase in distance with your driver. A lot of times, those gains can come without adding any speed to your golf swing.

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