How Far Does The Average PGA Tour Player Hit His 7-Iron?

It will probably come as no surprise to learn that tour pros don't just hit their woods a long way

Collin Morikawa
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Michael Weston
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published

It’s no secret that Tour professionals hit the ball a long way. You only have to watch a few minutes of PGA Tour coverage to see players hitting drives well over 300 yards, time and time again.

We have a tendency to wax lyrical when the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy knock one past the 350-yard marker – often longer – and hit short irons straight at the flag from 180 yards. This is the modern game: smash it long and wedge it close.

They play a different game to the mere mortals like us, and the amateur golfer who is happy to hit a drive somewhere in the region of 250 yards. In fact, Arccos data via the USGA and R&A in March 2022 revealed that the average male golfer – with a handicap – hits their total drive around 215 yards.

Even though we might play a different game to the pros, it’s always interesting to look at the stats to see how we compare. The latest numbers released by Trackman are actually quite alarming. For example, the average carry distance for a PGA Tour pro with a driver in their hand in 2023 was 282 yards. 

PGA Tour player hit’s huge drive – it’s old news. How about their irons? Well, unsurprisingly, they hit those quite long, too. Sure, lofts might have become stronger – so today’s 7-iron might be more like an old 5-iron in certain cases – but the stats are still quite astonishing.

So, how far do you hit your 7-iron, that trusty club that you can find a nice soft fade with? 130 yards? Longer? Maybe it’s more like somewhere between 140 and 150 yards?

A closer look at the 2023 stats, according to Trackman, reveals that the total carry distance for a 7-iron on the PGA Tour was 176 yards, with 92mph club speed and 123mph ball speed.

The idea of this article is not to encourage you to get down the range so you can start trying to crunch your 7-iron close to 180 yards – it’s merely a bit of insight.

That said, we can offer plenty of tips on how to improve your iron shots, and you can always learn a few iron play secrets from the best players in the world. 

Michael Weston
Michael Weston
Contributing editor

Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. As a multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the men's European Championships, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers, and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's now a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including six world number ones, and has attended and reported on many Major Championships and Ryder Cups. He's a member of Formby Golf Club. 

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