To help you understand how far you should hit a 5 iron, I, the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, will cover the average 5 iron yardages for all types of different golfers in this article. 

The 5 iron is one of the longest irons in the golf bag, meaning that it has a low loft and a long shaft. This can make it very long-hitting, but depending on your swing, you can see very different results.

How Far Does the Average Person Hit a 5 Iron?

The male average golfer hits a 5 iron around 160 yards. The average female golfer hits a 5 iron around 130 yards, which is noticeably shorter.

Many female golfers, and all golfers with slower swing speeds, will hit a 5 iron relatively short.

This is because the loft is quite low, which doesn’t suit a slow swing. 

5 Iron Distance Chart 

	Average Women	Male Beginners	Average Men	Advanced Men	Professional Golfers
5 Iron Distance:	130 yards	130 yards	160 yards	185 yards	210 yards

In this distance chart, you can find how far different types of golfers hit a 5 iron. This chart includes average women, male beginners, average men, advanced men, and professional golfers.

These numbers are meant to give you a clearer idea of golfers’ yardages.

However, the distances you will hit are very personal, so don’t over-compare yourself. 

5 Iron Average Club Head Speed

The average clubhead speed for a male golfer hitting a 5 iron is a little under 80 mph. That number is significantly higher for professional PGA Tour golfers that hit their 5 iron around 100 mph. With that said, it’s crucial to remember that every golfer has different clubhead speeds, and the range is very wide. 

Tips on Hitting a 5 Iron for Distance

If you want to increase your distance with a 5 iron, you should focus on improving your clubhead speed for the most significant results. Also, you should focus on a flatter club strike due to the lack of 5 iron loft. However, as with all golf club distances, there are many factors that impact ball speed. 

When hitting a 5 iron, it’s crucial to have great contact combined with relatively high speed. Without enough speed on a low lofted club, the golf ball won’t get in the air and stay there, resulting in short distances. 

When Should I Use a 5 Iron?

You would generally use a 5 iron when hitting into greens, either from the tee on par 3s or from the fairway on longer holes. There are other situations out on the golf course where it can be wise to use a 5 iron, such as punch shots that require a low launch. 

5 Iron Degrees of Loft 

A 5 iron has a loft between 21-27 degrees, depending on how strongly lofted your clubs are. Game-improvement irons typically have stronger lofts, meaning that a forgiving 5 iron often has a loft on the lower end of the 21-27 degree spectrum. 

5 Iron Loft – What You Should Know  

For an iron, the loft is very low on a 5 iron. This can make it long-hitting for seasoned golfers, but lower-lofted irons are challenging to hit, and can often lead to poor results on bad strikes. That’s why we recommend hybrids instead of long irons for golfers who struggle with their contact or have a slow swing speed.

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 5 iron used for?

A 5 iron is most often used for hitting into greens on longer holes, including tee shots on par 3s and second or third shots on par 4s and par 5s. When you use a 5 iron mainly depends on how long you hit it and which tee you’re playing from. 

What is a 5 iron equivalent to?

The 5 iron is one of the longest irons in the golf bag and has a loft between 21-27 degrees. 

Does a 5 iron hit further than a 7 iron?

Generally speaking, a 5 iron goes significantly farther than a 7 iron. For example, a golfer who hits his 7 iron 150 yards will often hit his 5 iron at least 170 yards. 

However, if you have a slow swing speed and struggle with solid contact, a 7 iron can actually go further than a 5 iron because the club is much easier to hit. 

Conclusion:

The 5 iron has a long shaft and a low loft. This means that it can be very long-hitting, but only if you strike the ball well enough with speed. Average male golfers hit their 5 iron around 160 yards, while average females hit it about 130 yards. Thank you for reading this article from TellMeMoreGolf.com