How Far Does The Average PGA Tour Player Hit His 4-Iron?

The trusty 4-iron can be a PGA Tour player's secret weapon when playing a second shot into a par-5 or pin-seeking on a long par-3, but how far do they hit it?

Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy hitting long iron shots on the PGA Tour
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Barry Plummer
By
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No matter how many times I tune in to watch PGA Tour coverage throughout the season, witnessing the power and athleticism of top tour professionals never fails to impress me.

The complete data geek inside me is fascinated by the comparison between the performance of elite and amateur golfers, like how far PGA Tour players hit their 7-iron in comparison to the average club member or how many 3-foot putts they miss in a standard round.

Not every PGA Tour pro will carry a 4-iron, depending on which clubs make the cut in their golf bag, but those that do can hit it with some serious force...

How Far Does The Average PGA Tour Player Hit His 4-Iron?

According to the latest 2023 Trackman data, the average PGA Tour pro carries their 4-iron a whopping 209 yards. That is aided by an average 140mph ball speed and a 98mph clubhead speed.

When you compare to how far an amateur golfer hits the same iron, the range (depending on handicap index) sits somewhere between 146 yards and 187 yards. A 5-handicapper averages around 175 yards with their 4-iron, which is 34 yards less than a PGA Tour player.

An 18-handicapper registers around 156 yards on average, 53 yards less than those teeing it up on the PGA Tour, highlighting the significant gulf in power between amateur and professional golfers.

Rory McIlroy preparing to hit a long iron off the tee at the Genesis Scottish Open

long irons can be notoriously hard to hit for amateur golfers, but the power and distance generated by PGA Tour professionals make them a great option in the right circumstances...

(Image credit: Getty Images)

But, as I mentioned above, this is just an average. It's worth finding out how far you hit your 4-iron and seeing how you directly compare - even if only for a little fun and to marvel at the quality of the best players in the game.

It might even inspire you to ramp up your own practice, in an effort to slightly close the gap and play better golf. There are plenty of great tips and drills for how to hit long irons available at Golf Monthly, directly from our highly-experienced Top 50 Coaches, so what are you waiting for? Let's get those reps in and find those precious extra yards on the course.

Barry Plummer
Barry Plummer
Staff Writer

Barry Plummer is our Staff Writer, joining in January 2024 after seven years as a PE Teacher. He now writes about instruction, working closely with Golf Monthly's Top 50 Coaches to provide hints and tips about all aspects of the game. As someone who came into golf at a later age, Barry is very passionate about supporting the growth of the game and creating opportunities for everyone to access it. A member at Sand Moor Golf Club in Leeds, he looks forward to getting out on the course at least once a week and making up for lost time in the pursuit of a respectable handicap.

Barry is currently playing:

Driver: Ping G425

Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 4 Hybrid

Irons: Mizuno JPX 921 4-PW

Wedges: TaylorMade RAC 60, Callaway Jaws MD5 54

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

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