If you're looking for a golf club distance chart in metres, use the numbers below as a starting point rather than a target you have to hit. Golf club distances vary a lot with swing speed, strike quality, club loft, weather and the individual clubs you play.
For scoring, the most useful number is your reliable carry distance with each club — not the longest shot you've ever hit.
Golf club distance chart in metres
These are broad guide ranges for many adult amateur golfers. Your own numbers may sit above or below them, and that is completely normal.
| Club | Typical distance (metres) |
|---|---|
| Driver | 200 – 250 |
| 3 Wood | 180 – 220 |
| 5 Wood | 170 – 205 |
| 4 Iron | 160 – 190 |
| 5 Iron | 150 – 180 |
| 6 Iron | 140 – 170 |
| 7 Iron | 130 – 160 |
| 8 Iron | 120 – 150 |
| 9 Iron | 110 – 140 |
| Pitching Wedge | 90 – 120 |
| Sand Wedge | 65 – 95 |
A 5-iron might therefore sit around 150–180 metres for many golfers, while a 7-iron may sit around 130–160 metres. The important part is knowing where your normal carry falls inside — or outside — those ranges.
How far should I hit a 7-iron?
For many amateur golfers, a well-struck 7-iron may carry somewhere between 130 and 160 metres, but there is a very wide range in the real world.
Modern 7-irons also vary significantly in loft. One golfer's 7-iron can be several degrees stronger than another golfer's, so comparing the club number alone can be misleading.
Why golf club distances vary
Golfers often compare distances with friends, but there are several reasons why two players might hit the same club very different distances.
Some of the biggest factors include:
- Swing speed
- Quality and location of strike
- Loft and design of the club
- Golf ball
- Launch and spin
- Temperature, wind and altitude
Even the season can make a difference. In warmer conditions the ball can travel a little further, while colder conditions can reduce carry distance.
Carry distance vs total distance
When you're building a distance chart for your own bag, focus first on carry distance: how far the ball travels through the air before it lands.
Total distance depends heavily on what happens after the ball lands. A driver on a firm fairway might run a long way, while a 7-iron landing on a soft green may stop almost immediately.
Carry is therefore the more dependable number when you're deciding whether you can clear a bunker, water hazard or the front edge of a green.
Don't measure your very best shot
This is something I see quite often when golfers talk about their distances.
Someone might say:
"I hit my 7-iron 155 metres."
But when we look at a proper group of shots, their reliable carry might actually be closer to 140 metres.
It is easy to remember the one perfect shot that travelled further than normal. For course management, your repeatable number is much more useful than your personal record.
How to find your real golf club distances
One of the best ways to learn your true club distances is by using a launch monitor or golf simulator.
Hit a useful sample of shots with each club and look at:
- Carry distance
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin
- How tightly the shots group together
Do not blindly average obvious mishits with your normal shots, but do not throw away every shot that is shorter than your best one either. The aim is to identify the distance you can reasonably expect on the course.
I have covered the process in more detail in how to measure your golf club distances and explained what launch monitors actually measure.
Why knowing your distances improves your scores
Understanding your distances can make a big difference to your scoring.
When you know how far each club typically carries, you can:
- Choose clubs more confidently
- Avoid repeatedly coming up short
- Plan around hazards
- Improve your course management
- Give yourself more realistic targets
Often golfers do not need to hit the ball further. They need to understand their distances better.
Improve your distance control
If you're unsure about your club distances, spending some time practising or getting feedback can help.
Working with a coach or using a launch monitor can give you a much clearer understanding of how far each club in your bag actually goes. You can read more about golf lessons and coaching at Golf 360, or about golf club fitting if you suspect your clubs are not helping.
If you would rather take the guesswork out of measuring the shot you face on the course, a rangefinder or GPS is the simplest solution.
FAQs
How far should I hit my 7-iron?
For many amateur golfers, a 7-iron may carry roughly 130 to 160 metres, although swing speed, strike and the actual loft of the club can move that number well outside the range.
How far should I hit a 5-iron?
A broad guide for many amateur golfers is around 150 to 180 metres. Your reliable carry distance is more important than matching a generic chart.
Should I measure carry distance or total distance?
Know both if you can, but carry distance is usually the more useful starting point because it tells you whether the ball can clear hazards and reach the part of the green you are targeting.
What is the best way to measure golf club distances?
Use a launch monitor or simulator and hit a useful sample of shots with each club. Look for your repeatable carry distance rather than relying on the single longest shot.
If the 7-iron is the club you particularly want to pin down, I have written separately about how far you should hit a 7-iron.
Happy golfing,
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder – Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
