New Data Shows How Much Driving Distance Golfers Lose as They Age

There has been so much talk about a “rollback” on golf balls, but thankfully, for now, it won’t affect most amateurs.

If anything, we could all use more distance given the averages of driving distance between males and females. In a study, it was found that males hit their driver 216 yards on average, and females hit theirs 148 yards. In most amateur golf, there wouldn’t be any reason to extend 7,000-yard courses because of the average golfer. 

However, now there is new and updated data from Arccos, a shot-tracking application. Last year they recorded over 184 million shots across 3.5 million rounds to be able to study driving distance with a solid sample size. The data they gathered took into effect age and handicap to categorize each group according to their average driving distance.

This is what Arccos found in their study:

The average golfer can’t hit it 250 yards, it is more in the low 200s. It is interesting to note not even the scratch golfers can hit it even that close to 300 yards, as they are 27 yards off.  I think this backs up the importance of playing the right tees.

If you are out with your friends, there isn’t any point in playing 6,700+ yard courses if you are hitting it in the low 200s. You definitely won’t have many opportunities to use your short irons on approach shots. Instead, you will be using long irons, hybrids, and woods. 

On the bright side, as you can see on the chart above, there is a gradual increase in driving accuracy as you age. Also, with the development of speed training, instruction, and equipment improvement, the chances of both distance and accuracy going up in the next 5 years are greater.

Do yourself a favor if you are out on the course and play the right tees, by doing this, you will have more fun and score better.

Cover Image Via Pexels & Pxhere & Arccos