7 Iron Distance — How Far Should You Hit A 7 Iron? (Average Distance)
-
Patrick Corley
- 11/04/2023
Have you ever wondered how far you should be hitting your irons? Today, we will talk about iron distances and use the 7-iron as a guide for how far golfers from beginners through PGA Tour pros hit these particular clubs. And, Tell Me More Golf will give you some tips to max out your iron yardages without sacrificing accuracy.
How Far Does The Average Person Hit a 7 Iron?
The average distance with a 7 iron shot is approximately 128-158 yards. This 7 Iron Distance number encompasses the millions of amateur golfers. We will leave that range in place as the average distance because the numbers are different for men, women, seniors, and juniors.
In addition, the distance will depend on clubhead speed and smash factor (the measure of hitting the sweet spot).
Women golfers and high-handicap amateurs tend to have slower swing speeds which means they are not able to compress the golf ball as much as lower handicap golfers and those with higher swing speeds.
In comparison, the average PGA Tour player hits their 7 iron between 172-215 yards with a clubhead speed of 90 MPH on average. On the LPGA Tour, the average seven iron clubhead speed is 76 MPH and a total 7 Iron Distance of 141 yards.
Professional golfers often create a distance chart so that they can keep track of any trends or changes. They want to know the golf club distance expectation and are consistently working with launch monitors to measure clubhead and ball speed.
Recommendation:
When you watch or play with PGA Tour and LPGA Tour professionals, it is certainly impressive to watch how far they hit the golf ball with various clubs. What you can take away from these players is that they are not hitting a seven iron as hard as they can. They are trying to repeatedly hit the ball the same distance because one of the keys to their low scores is being able to predict how far the ball will go, be it from the fairway or rough.
Often times the difference between par or birdie and bogey or worse is just knowing how far each club is going to travel.
Go to your local driving range with the intention of figuring out how far you hit each of your irons. A 7 iron is a good club to start with. Try and focus on making a golf swing with a good tempo and take note of your carry distances. Work your way through your golf bag from long irons through your lob wedge (if you have one).
SUBSCRIBE for FREE GOLF TIPS from our EXPERT INSTRUCTORS!
Standard 7 Iron Length
The standard 7 iron length is approximately 37 inches.
Tips On Hitting A 7 Iron Golf Club
Those with slower swing speeds or short hitters should focus on finding the center of the clubface or sweet spot. This is the best way to hit a 7 iron or any other iron. No matter what your skill level might be, the best tip that anyone can take to hit their irons better is to first focus on finding the sweet spot, whatever the distance.
Here are some drills that professional golfers, lower-handicappers, and long hitters use to help maximize consistency. You can apply these tips to improve your game as well.
Drills/Tips:
1) Grab your seven iron. Put a line of five golf balls on tees about one foot apart. Setup to the first ball as if you were going to hit a regular shot. Take a full swing and hit it. You want to keep hitting the remaining four golf balls without stopping. This helps build tempo and rhythm while guiding you to find the sweet spot of the club.
2) Using your 7 iron again, pick a target that would be a full swing distance away. And then, pick a target on the same line that is about halfway to the original target. Hit one golf ball to the halfway mark and then one golf ball to the full swing distance. This drill will help you get used to controlling your 7 Iron Distance.
3) With your seven iron or any mid-iron (6,7, or 8). Hit ten golf balls trying to hit five high and five low. If you are struggling to hit the change the trajectory, focus on your ball position. If you are not able to hit the ball high, you may be trying to help get the ball into the air. Let the club do the work. If you are not able to hit the ball low, you need to try different ball positions. Try moving it further back in your stance. This drill will also help you find the sweet spot and identify some areas for improvement.
SUBSCRIBE for FREE GOLF TIPS from our EXPERT INSTRUCTORS!
When Should I Use A 7 Iron?
Use a 7 iron when you are a 7 iron distance away from the hole. Once you have used some of the information in this article to identify how far you hit this club, you will know what a “stock” 7 iron distance would be.
The 7 iron has a lot more purposes than most people realize. For example, around the greens, you can replace your sand wedge or gap wedge for the purpose of getting the ball on the green and letting it roll out to the hole. The loft angle on a seven iron lets you make a putting-like motion and is a great shot option when you have enough green between you and the hole.
A 7 iron can be a great club to warm up with. It can help you loosen up while also giving you confidence in your swing heading into your round. Most golfers just grab their driver and start swinging. In short, do not do this. Instead, work on your rhythm and tempo for the day with your trusty seven iron.
Frequently Asked Questions: Iron Averages
How far should a 7 iron carry?
The average 7 iron distance, for most golfers, carries between 120-158 yards. On the golf course, you should try to keep your 7 iron shots within the range that you generally hit the golf club. In other words, learn your 7 Iron distances and write them down. Use that on the course as a guide when making club selections. Focus more on consistent distance and direction versus trying to hit the club farther.
How far does the average person hit a 7 iron?
The average golfer hits a 7 iron about 138 yards. That is just an overall average of golfers. All golfers of all skill levels should be less worried about how far they can hit the club and should work towards consistency in distance control. Tiger Woods has said many times that one of the focuses of his tournament preparation is understanding exactly how far his ball is going to travel. Hitting it pin high consistently will lead to lower scores.
Can you hit a 7 iron 200 yards?
Personally, yes I can hit a 7 iron 200 yards. Of course, I run the risk of ruining my back by swinging too hard. This is a great reminder to keep driving home the point that it is not about hitting every club as far as possible. My 7-iron is for shots between 175-184 yards from the hole.
Bryson DeChambeau hits his seven iron 205 yards with a normal swing. As the longest hitter on tour, you can see that hitting this club 200 yards or more takes some strength and skill. The goal is not to crush your irons. The goal should be to continue to find the sweet spot on the club. This gives you the best chance to hit the club straight and repeat the results you are looking for. As you focus on finding the sweet spot, you will start to notice some gain in distance simply because you are hitting the club the way it was designed to be hit.
Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com
The seven iron is often a favorite club in the bag for golfers. It is one of the clubs you know you can hit well time after time. And, as I said above, the long hitters can crush a 7 iron well over 200 yards. Long drivers like Kyle Berkshire can hit their 7 irons close to 300 yards. Consistency, not distance is the way to get better. Your seven iron distance can be your friend as you keep working to get better.
Tell Me More Golf believes that every golfer can get better. Whether you are a beginner, a junior, high or low-handicapper, we have the answers to all of your questions. Keep up with our team of experts for the latest information on a variety of topics designed to help you get better and have more fun on the course.
SUBSCRIBE for FREE GOLF TIPS from our EXPERT INSTRUCTORS!
