Golf Iron Distances Chart (Club-by-Club)
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There are five different types of clubs you can use on the golf course. They include woods, wedges, putters, hybrids, and irons. Despite there being no restriction on the types of clubs you can select, most golfers use distance as their selection criteria. Keeping this in mind, what are the different golf iron distances?
Golf iron distances can range from 95 yards to about 200 yards, and even higher for professional golfers using the best players irons on the market. For example, elite PGA male golfers can achieve a golf iron distance of up to 220 yards. However, several factors come into play when determining how far you can hit the ball, making it essential to consider these when selecting which golf irons to include in your bag.
I suggest you keep reading below to get the most out of this article, but if you’re short on time, here’s a quick golf iron distance chart:
| Golf Club | Casual Golfer | Average PGA Golfer |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Iron | Men: 180 yards Women: 140 yards | Men: 230 yards Women: 200 yards |
| 4-Iron | Men: 170 yards Women: 120 yards | Men: 220 yards Women: 180 yards |
| 5-Iron | Men: 160 yards Women: 110 yards | Men: 210 yards Women: 170 yards |
| 6- Iron | Men: 150 yards Women: 100 yards | Men: 200 yards Women: 160 yards |
| 7-Iron | Men: 140 yards Women: 90 yards | Men: 190 yards Women: 150 yards |
| 8-Iron | Men: 130 yards Women: 80 yards | Men: 180 yards Women: 140 yards |
| 9-Iron | Men: 120 yards Women: 70 yards | Men: 170 yards Women: 130 yards |
Stick around to discover the distances you can achieve with golf iron clubs and the factors that influence how far you hit the ball.
What Are The Golf Iron Distances?
Typically, you will use golf irons when you are about 200 yards to the hole. If you’re a beginner, check out the most forgiving irons to help straighten out your shot.
Additionally, you can use three categories of irons, each with varying capabilities.
Below is a breakdown of each category’s capability to help you get the right combination for your next game.
Average Distances for “Short Irons”
These clubs are best for when you are closest to the hole. This is because their design only allows for height and spin instead of distance.
Clubs considered “short irons” are your 8-iron and 9-iron.
The table below shows the average distances you can achieve, depending on your skill level.
| Golf Club | Casual Golfer | Average PGA Golfer |
|---|---|---|
| 8-Iron | Men: 130 yards Women: 80 yards | Men: 180 yards Women: 140 yards |
| 9- Iron | Men: 120 yards Women: 70 yards | Men: 170 yards Women: 130 yards |
The 8-iron is ideal for chip and approach shots, while the 9-iron is more suited for shots where you want more height.
In addition, you should include these clubs in your golf bag if you are playing a short par three game. This is because these games require you to make accurate shots over a short distance.
Average Distance for “Mid Irons”
Clubs under this category are your 5,6, and 7-irons. The “mid irons” are ideal for hitting the ball at a higher trajectory, and you will find them in use for the second shot at par four or par-five holes.
In addition, modern mid irons now feature a graphite shaft, which gives you greater distance since the club is easier to control.
Here are the golf mid iron distances you can expect:
| Golf Club | Casual Golfer | Average PGA Golfer |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Iron | Men: 160 yards Women: 110 yards | Men: 210 yards Women: 170 yards |
| 6- Iron | Men: 150 yards Women: 100 yards | Men: 200 yards Women: 160 yards |
| 7-Iron | Men: 140 yards Women: 90 yards | Men: 190 yards Women: 150 yards |
Average Distance for “Long Irons”
Long irons get their name from their long shafts and feature your 3 and 4-iron clubs. Their design allows you to hit the ball over long distances with a lower launch angle. Typically, most golfers use long irons when on the rough or fairway.
Additionally, they can be helpful when you want to get out of tight spots, such as when you have trees over your ball trajectory.
Below are the average distances you can expect when using golf “long irons”:
| Golf Club | Casual Golfer | Average PGA Golfer |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Iron | Men: 180 yards Women: 140 yards | Men: 230 yards Women: 200 yards |
| 4- Iron | Men: 170 yards Women: 120 yards | Men: 220 yards Women: 180 yards |
Long irons can be challenging to use if you are an average player since they are less accurate. As such, you will not find them in regular use by casual players. Furthermore, golfers no longer rely on the 3-iron, instead opting for the 3-hybrid club that achieves greater distances.
5 Factors that Impact Your Golf Iron Distances
You need to have the lowest number of shots to win a golf game. Therefore, you should maximize your golf iron distances on every shot.
We’ve listed several factors below that can prevent you from reaching your furthest golf irons distances:
1. Your Fitness Level
You need to be at a peak fitness level to achieve greater golf iron distances. This involves working on your flexibility and generating enough muscle power for your shots.
For example, most pro golfers practice yoga to develop their core muscles and improve flexibility. As such, they can execute the turns and extensions necessary for the perfect shot.
Furthermore, you need to have the correct balance to achieve greater golf iron distances.
Most amateur golfers waste their energy preventing themselves from falling. As such, the energy they transfer from the club to the ball is not sufficient to achieve the distance they require.
2. You are Using the Wrong Golf Irons
Depending on your golf technique, there is a huge variety of golf irons to choose from. As such, you need to select the type that best matches your skill level. For example, cavity back irons offer you a larger sweet spot on the clubface, allowing you to hit the ball further.
Similarly, you can choose between three categories of golf clubs according to your skill level. These are player irons for elite players, game improvement irons for average players, and super game improvements irons for amateurs.
3. Your Golf Iron Shaft Length is Wrong
Your golf iron shafts need to be the appropriate length if you want to achieve longer distances with your shots.
Most golf shops feature a golf club size guide to help you select the best set of golf irons for your height. For example, if you are 5ft 6 inches, your golf iron shaft length should be 0.5 inches shorter than the standard length of 44.5 inches.
4. Your Swing Speed is Low
Your swing speed also plays a crucial part in how far you will hit the ball. Typically, the faster your swing speed, the greater your golf iron distance.
This statement only remains true if you hit the ball correctly, meaning you should always strike the ball with the sweet spot of your clubface.
5. Your Gender
Finally, your gender can also be a determining factor in your golf iron distances. From the tables above, you will notice around a forty-yard difference between male and female golfers.
This gap is closing because better equipment and training methods are now reducing gender differences.
