20 replies to this topic

[Kyle_Bourgeois]

Does anybody know some accurate statistics which show the average distance for irons?

Thanks,
KB

[DON SVO]

from an OEM standpoint, it depends on the manufacturer and model of club. After that, custom loft angles can change it more. Here's mine...


4i - 24* - 205
5i - 27* - 190
6i - 31* - 180
7i - 35* - 165
8i - 39* - 150
9i - 43* - 140
PW - 47* - 130

[juststeve]

The average distance between clubs tends to be correlated with swing speed.  The faster you swing the club the larger the gaps.  

As to the average distance a particular iron flies it is a lot further on the internet than anywhere else.

Steve

[redlabel]

juststeve, on 23 March 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

The average distance between clubs tends to be correlated with swing speed. The faster you swing the club the larger the gaps.

As to the average distance a particular iron flies it is a lot further on the internet than anywhere else.

Steve

Your response made me chuckle, thanks.

[DON SVO]

juststeve, on 23 March 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

The average distance between clubs tends to be correlated with swing speed.  The faster you swing the club the larger the gaps.  

As to the average distance a particular iron flies it is a lot further on the internet than anywhere else.

Steve

Two things... ball speed and loft angle. A Mizuno 8 iron (39* loft) has only one thing in common with a Callaway Diablo Edge 8 iron (35* loft): the number on the sole.

To the OP: generally 12 yard distance gaps are what most players would like to see. I feel most players would be OK with 12 yard gaps. If you have a 120 yard PW, then...

9 - 132
8 - 144
7 - 156
6 - 168
5 - 180
4 - 192
3 - 204

Unfortunately it doesn't hardly ever worh that way right off the Golfsmith rack

[Cloran]

This is a good topic. I don't think simple math is all that exact. There are still alot of variables... in my swing anyhow, lol... so I'm going to get on a Trackman asap. That way I'll have a more exact understanding of my gaps.

[flipmode]

I have a 10 yard gap between every iron. My PW starts at 110, 9=120 and so on. Unfortunately, I'm a pretty short hitter.

[GoinLow]

There's no for sure way to know the gap distance until you go and get fitted. A lot of amateurs tend to have a steeper swing that they can get away with 'adding 10 yds' for each club pw-8iron. Once you start getting into mid-irons and long irons you'll find distance is more difficult to consistently gauge. Getting fit is the key to knowing your yardage gaps.
-Chris

Edited by GoinLow, 23 March 2010 - 08:52 AM.

[Kyle_Bourgeois]

juststeve, on 23 March 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

  

As to the average distance a particular iron flies it is a lot further on the internet than anywhere else.

Steve

ahh, so true.

[Hstead]

Cool topic. I have about 14 yards between each club. My teacher used a Trackman to measure how far I hit my 60* and then how far I hit my 3 wood and came up with the following gaps. I think it was actually 13.75 yards and then we adjusted the clubs to fill each gap. So, I hit the 60* around 90 yards, then the 56* about 104, Gap 117, PW 130, 9I 144, 8I 157, 7I 170, 6I 183, 5I 197, 4I 210, Hybrid 226, 3 Wood 255.

[DON SVO]

Cloran, on 23 March 2010 - 08:15 AM, said:

This is a good topic. I don't think simple math is all that exact. There are still alot of variables... in my swing anyhow, lol... so I'm going to get on a Trackman asap. That way I'll have a more exact understanding of my gaps.

It'll never be an exact fit for anyone... there's obviously going to be variables that affect each shot beyond just the loft and swing speed. Shafts, altitude, weather conditions, etc.

Example: I played at a rather wooded course on a windy day... we were eating a 15-20 mph headwind coming into the green. However, because of the tree cover we had, my "toss some grass in the air" routine said that there was only 5-10 mph of wind in our face, the flag confirmed the mild wind at the green too. The pin was 160 yards out and back-center, so I opted for a full 7 iron to get middle of the green. I figured 10mph wind on a 165yd 7 iron would net a 150-155 yard shot that would end up close to center and below the hole. I hit that 7 iron solid, I was afraid I was gonna fly the green... the ball landed 5 yards short of the green, which was 15 yards short of my estimated target and barely 140 yards. When the ball cleared the tree line it was exposed to the real wind conditions and got ballooned. For fun, I hit a second shot with my 6 iron, againa  full swing. That shot airmailed the green by 10 yards, because it wasn't above the tree line nearly as high and long as that 7 iron.

The point I'm trying to make is that there is no standard 'gap' with the manufacturers these days because loft differs from maker to maker and even from model to model. What I prefer (and others might agree with) is an understanding of what each club is going to do when you swing it, IDEALLY. If you can consistently hit your 9 iron ~130 yards and your 8 iron ~140 yards, which club are you going to use off a flat lie/no wind shot to a center pin that's 138 yards out? What if your 9 is 130 but your 8 is 150?

once your distances become really consistent, ask a good clubfitter to change up a few loft angles to tighten/open the gaps. Until then just keep swinging until you're comfortable with what your equipment will do

[CarloGolfer]

Kyle_Bourgeois, on 23 March 2010 - 10:03 AM, said:

juststeve, on 23 March 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

  

As to the average distance a particular iron flies it is a lot further on the internet than anywhere else.

Steve

ahh, so true.

classic

[mission_scratch]

Going into my 2nd serious season of golf, I should know my distances, however I roughtly know them. which is a shame, and a reason I need to get out and calculate them. but here in Oklahoma with the wind, its hard to do so.  but I need to get a better Idea. ill work with my irons this week and next and try to get them more dialed in and get distances.

[DON SVO]

mission_scratch, on 23 March 2010 - 03:01 PM, said:

Going into my 2nd serious season of golf, I should know my distances, however I roughtly know them. which is a shame, and a reason I need to get out and calculate them. but here in Oklahoma with the wind, its hard to do so. but I need to get a better Idea. ill work with my irons this week and next and try to get them more dialed in and get distances.

Knowing my irons by distance and typical shot shape is by far my biggest 'tick', so-to-speak. I have my distances on well struck shots down squarely enough that I am pretty effective at adjusting for wind, height differential and lie. I know I am more comfortable playing a gentle 200 yard draw with my 4 iron as opposed to a dead-nuts straight laser beam with my 9 iron. it's nothing drastic, but I have my stock shot for each distance.

As nerdy as it sounds, Jim Furyk wrote an awesome article for Golf Digest a few months back on iron selection and how to be effective with variables and adjusting for the true distance. I play with almost an inch of choke on my irons. This allows me to choke an inch lower to kill some distance or let up to the butt-end for more. When I am on at the course, it's very effective.

Now, just to tackle that 'consistency' issue, LOL

[mission_scratch]

DON SVO, on 23 March 2010 - 05:35 PM, said:

mission_scratch, on 23 March 2010 - 03:01 PM, said:

Going into my 2nd serious season of golf, I should know my distances, however I roughtly know them. which is a shame, and a reason I need to get out and calculate them. but here in Oklahoma with the wind, its hard to do so. but I need to get a better Idea. ill work with my irons this week and next and try to get them more dialed in and get distances.

Knowing my irons by distance and typical shot shape is by far my biggest 'tick', so-to-speak. I have my distances on well struck shots down squarely enough that I am pretty effective at adjusting for wind, height differential and lie. I know I am more comfortable playing a gentle 200 yard draw with my 4 iron as opposed to a dead-nuts straight laser beam with my 9 iron. it's nothing drastic, but I have my stock shot for each distance.

As nerdy as it sounds, Jim Furyk wrote an awesome article for Golf Digest a few months back on iron selection and how to be effective with variables and adjusting for the true distance. I play with almost an inch of choke on my irons. This allows me to choke an inch lower to kill some distance or let up to the butt-end for more. When I am on at the course, it's very effective.

Now, just to tackle that 'consistency' issue, LOL

How did you get your distances down ? did you just go to the course and write down the shots and distances and Irons you uses? etc. I just cant seem to get a good way to getting accurate distances. maybe go out to the course when its slow and hit a few shots from same distances etc. I am going out this saturday for a practice round, I am going to note each shot and how far they go.. Maybe that will get me on the right track.

[redlabel]

mission_scratch, on 23 March 2010 - 06:27 PM, said:

DON SVO, on 23 March 2010 - 05:35 PM, said:

mission_scratch, on 23 March 2010 - 03:01 PM, said:

Going into my 2nd serious season of golf, I should know my distances, however I roughtly know them. which is a shame, and a reason I need to get out and calculate them. but here in Oklahoma with the wind, its hard to do so. but I need to get a better Idea. ill work with my irons this week and next and try to get them more dialed in and get distances.

Knowing my irons by distance and typical shot shape is by far my biggest 'tick', so-to-speak. I have my distances on well struck shots down squarely enough that I am pretty effective at adjusting for wind, height differential and lie. I know I am more comfortable playing a gentle 200 yard draw with my 4 iron as opposed to a dead-nuts straight laser beam with my 9 iron. it's nothing drastic, but I have my stock shot for each distance.

As nerdy as it sounds, Jim Furyk wrote an awesome article for Golf Digest a few months back on iron selection and how to be effective with variables and adjusting for the true distance. I play with almost an inch of choke on my irons. This allows me to choke an inch lower to kill some distance or let up to the butt-end for more. When I am on at the course, it's very effective.

Now, just to tackle that 'consistency' issue, LOL

How did you get your distances down ? did you just go to the course and write down the shots and distances and Irons you uses? etc. I just cant seem to get a good way to getting accurate distances. maybe go out to the course when its slow and hit a few shots from same distances etc. I am going out this saturday for a practice round, I am going to note each shot and how far they go.. Maybe that will get me on the right track.

I go to one of the local junior high football fields and hit balls onto the field. They're 120 yards long and I just start out with my wedges and keep backing up. They're marked in 5 & 10 yard increments and usually a little chalk is left from the previous year as well. I have a 30" stride so know that 12 steps is 10 yards. I will hit 10 or 12 and take out the 2 long and short and then I use the rest for the average distance and have a range of long and short. If I have time I'll also do this for each club while choking up 1/2" and 1" and it will pretty much cover every distance. I don't always hit the club the right distance but I'm always confident I have the right club for the shot. Once you know the distance between clubs it's easy to check it with a few clubs each year.

This year I will be redoing the whole set with my i15's.

[Cloran]

I really need to get on Trackman. I also have a heck of a time getting my distances based on the range that I go to. The balls go from smooth-to cracked-to descent-to someones leftover Top Flite XL 2000- then back to bald... Combine that with cold temps, wind, and hitting off mats and I tend to be pretty screwed up. Also, there are no targets at my range between 160 yards and 205 yards... that's a VERY big gap to hit into and guess how far you are actually hitting it. Not to mention it's almost impossible to get the dumpy balls to fly farther than 220 or so, even with a dead flush driver.. which would go 260-270 on the course. Frustrating.

[mission_scratch]

Redlabel... Very nice.. I will actually do that very same thing this weekend.  I never though of doing that. I have a friend who lives right next to a High School and the softball/football fields are open to the public. usually noone there at certain times.. I will definantly give this a shot.. Thanks

[redlabel]

It works pretty well and was how it could be done before the lasers and gps units.

Have fun and hope it works for you.

[DON SVO]

mission_scratch, on 23 March 2010 - 06:27 PM, said:

How did you get your distances down ? did you just go to the course and write down the shots and distances and Irons you uses? etc. I just cant seem to get a good way to getting accurate distances. maybe go out to the course when its slow and hit a few shots from same distances etc. I am going out this saturday for a practice round, I am going to note each shot and how far they go.. Maybe that will get me on the right track.

For a lot of my iron shots, I learned the distances by playing. We have a local 9 hole course that slows down pretty hard about 2 hours before dark... I sorted my new iron set by simply playing 5 balls off the tee for a round and recording the distance. I hate basing distance off of range balls because that'll drive you bonkers... Hit 10 shots flush as can be, mix in 3 balls that have been hit a few thousand times, 4 relatively fresh balls and 3 brand new ones and I'm pretty sure that consistency doesn't exist.

On a well struck shot, I have my distances within 5 yards. Again we go back to the consistency, LOL, because that doesn't always include accuracy.

[xamilo]

Take into account the lofts of some clubs are very different. Some people brag about their distance with a PW for example, and you measure them and are no higher than 44º compared to your maybe 47º, or stuff like that.

My numbers (with lofts are as follows):

D10.5º: 245yd
3W 15º: 230yd
7W 19.5º: 210yd
4I 24º: 200yd
5I 28º: 190yd
6I 31º: 180yd
7I 35º: 170yd
8I 38º: 160yd
9I 41º: 150yd
PW 45º: 140yd
GW 50º: 120yd
SW 55º: 100yd
LW 60º: 80yd