Golf Glossary
Golf club distance chart (gapping)
In short
A golf club distance chart lists how far you hit the ball with each club on average, ideally as carry, the distance the ball flies in the air. Gapping describes the even distance steps between the clubs in your bag. With your own chart you choose the right club on the course faster and with more confidence.
What is a golf club distance chart?
On the course you face the same question on almost every shot: which club gets the ball the distance I need? A distance chart answers that question in advance. It contains the average distance of a normal full shot for each of your clubs.
The chart is personal. Two golfers with the same 7-iron often hit it different distances, because their swing speed, strike quality and launch angle differ. Charts from the internet therefore only give a rough idea.
A good chart shows not only your average distance but also the range, meaning how short and how long your decent shots finish. Many golfers carry their numbers on a small card in the bag or on their phone. As the rules of golf allow a maximum of 14 clubs, the chart also helps you fill those 14 slots sensibly.
Gapping in golf: why even distance steps matter
Gapping means there is a useful distance step between two neighbouring clubs. With irons this is often about 10 to 15 metres. The step comes mainly from loft, the angle of the club face. In many iron sets neighbouring irons differ by about 3 to 5 degrees of loft.
Two typical problems show up in almost every chart. At the long end, distances often bunch together. Many amateurs hit a 4-iron and a 5-iron almost the same distance because they lack the speed for long irons. A hybrid can add distance and height here.
At the short end there is often a big gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. With a 25-metre gap you have no comfortable full shot for in-between distances. A gap wedge closes it. Even steps mean fewer half shots and more confidence.
Example: golf club distance chart with rough guide values
The chart below shows rough example carry distances for a male amateur with average swing speed. They are not targets. Your own club distances may be well above or below these figures. Women, seniors, juniors and beginners usually hit shorter.
- Driver: 160 to 200 metres
- 3-wood: 150 to 180 metres
- Hybrid: 140 to 165 metres
- 5-iron: 135 to 155 metres
- 6-iron: 125 to 145 metres
- 7-iron: 115 to 135 metres
- 8-iron: 105 to 125 metres
- 9-iron: 95 to 115 metres
- Pitching wedge: 85 to 105 metres
- Gap wedge: 75 to 90 metres
- Sand wedge: 60 to 80 metres
- Lob wedge: 45 to 65 metres
For comparison: according to TrackMan averages, PGA Tour players carry a 7-iron about 160 metres (176 yards) and a driver about 258 metres (282 yards). Very few amateurs reach numbers like that.
How to measure your own distance chart
The most reliable way is a launch monitor such as TrackMan, which shows carry and total for every shot. Work through it step by step:
- Warm up first with a few easy swings.
- Hit about ten balls with each club using your normal playing swing, not full power.
- Remove obvious mishits such as topped or fat shots from the analysis.
- Note your average carry distance plus your shortest and longest good shot.
- For wedges, also record partial swings, for example a half and a three-quarter swing.
- Repeat the session on two or three days and take the average.
On the course you can check your numbers with a rangefinder. Update the chart when you buy new clubs, change your technique or the season changes.
Carry or total: which number belongs in the chart
Carry is the most important number for your distance chart. It is the distance the ball travels in the air, and it is what matters when you play over water, over a bunker or straight onto the green.
Total distance also includes roll. That part varies a lot: on a firm, dry fairway the ball rolls much further than on wet grass. For the driver, total is still useful, for example to judge whether a fairway bunker is in reach.
Also consider the conditions when you measure. Cold air and cold balls reduce distance, and so does a headwind. Range balls often fly differently from your usual course ball, so measure under comparable conditions where possible.
Fixing gaps and overlaps in your chart
Once your chart is complete, look at the steps. An example: your 5-iron carries 140 metres on average, but your 6-iron 138 metres. The two clubs almost completely overlap, so one of them takes up a slot in the bag without giving you a new distance. It often makes sense to replace the 5-iron with a hybrid, which flies higher and is easier to hit.
A second example: your 46-degree pitching wedge carries 95 metres, your 56-degree sand wedge only 70 metres. There are 25 metres missing between them. A gap wedge of about 50 or 52 degrees fills that gap.
With many irons the loft can be adjusted by a few degrees in a workshop. Whether that makes sense is best decided in a club fitting with launch monitor data.
Common mistakes with a distance chart
The most common mistake is using your best shot as the benchmark. If you base your chart on that one perfect 7-iron, you will usually come up short on the course. Work with your average.
Other typical mistakes:
- Writing down total instead of carry and then finding the bunker in front of the green.
- Making the chart once and never updating it.
- Measuring at full power but swinging with control on the course.
- Copying numbers from the internet or from playing partners.
- Ignoring conditions such as wind, temperature or changes in elevation.
Try it at Golf Lounge
You can build your own distance chart on the TrackMan Range at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg. At each of the 32 hitting bays on two levels, a TrackMan monitor shows carry, total, launch angle and ball speed, among other values, after every shot. With the TrackMan Range app you also have the numbers on your smartphone. The range is covered and heated, so you can measure all year round. Three irons are ready at every mat. A chart covering your whole set needs numbers from your own clubs. The team will give you details on equipment when you book.
Frequently asked questions
How far should I hit a 7-iron?
That depends heavily on swing speed and strike quality. Male amateurs with average speed carry a 7-iron roughly 115 to 135 metres. Women and beginners usually hit it shorter. According to TrackMan, PGA Tour players average about 160 metres of carry. The only reliable number is your own measured average.
What does gapping mean in golf?
Gapping describes the distance steps between the clubs in your bag. The aim is even steps, with irons often about 10 to 15 metres. That way you have a suitable full shot for every distance. If two clubs overlap or there is a big gap, a hybrid, a gap wedge or a loft adjustment can fix it.
How many metres should there be between two irons?
As a rule of thumb, about 10 to 15 metres between irons. Golfers with high swing speed tend to have bigger steps, those with a smoother swing smaller ones. More important than a fixed number is that the steps are even. The steps often shrink in the long irons, where a hybrid frequently helps.
Should I write carry or total in my chart?
Mainly carry. It shows how far the ball flies in the air, which is decisive for shots over hazards or onto the green. Total distance including roll varies a lot depending on the ground. For the driver you can note both numbers to judge fairway bunkers better.
As of: October 2026