Last Updated on May 14, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
As a former golf teaching professional, I had to adjust my expectations of a good drive based on the player I was working with. The average driver distance for most amateur golfers is likely shorter than you think. People love to say they hit their driver 250, but unless you have a good amount of clubhead speed, the 250 mark is quite high. I’ll dive into what a good drive in golf is and give you a few tips on increasing your driver distance.
How Far Is A Good Drive In Golf
A golf drive over 240 yards is considered a good drive. Long hitters will have no trouble getting 280 yards or more but this much distance takes extra swing speed. For a short hitter to get more than 200 yards, that can be considered a great drive.
To really determine how far a good drive is, you have to break this down into swing speed groups: low average and high swing speed golfers.
Low Swing Speed Golfers
Most low swing speed golfers swing less than 85 mph. Most of these golfers play with regular or senior golf shafts, and they can hit an incredible drive with new equipment in the 230-240 range. Driving distance in this group is often quite different depending on handicap.
The better the player, the closer they hit the center of the face and the further the drive goes. Players with a handicap of less than 14 tend to have a driving distance close to 240.
Average Swing Speed Golfers
Players in the 90-100 mph range with their driver have an average distance range from 235 to 260. The average swing speed golfers are the largest group and we see big variations in driving distance here based on age group and handicap levels.
The younger golfers with lower handicaps tend to get that 260 yard range. Anyone in this group that wants longer distances should consider physical fitness and a deep dive into swing mechanics.
With 90-100 mph of swing speed, you can get great distance and leave yourself short irons into the greens.
High Swing Speed Golfers
The high-swing speed golfers have speeds closer to 110 mph. These are the players who can get distances in the 275-yard plus range. Most players in this category move beyond recreational golfers and become better players simply because of their power. Of course, you’ll have to keep the ball in play, but if you have higher swing speeds, 275 yards is achievable.
Professional Golfers
Professional golfers have an average swing speed of about 114 mph. This equates to about 295 yards of distance with the driver. Cameron Champ is the longest driver on the tour right now for the first part of the 2024 season. His average driving distance is 317 yards. Let’s remember too this is his average distance with his golf driver. That means he’s had some drives over 320 yards or further.
What does this really tell us about professional golfers?
The average male golfer hits their tee shot about 100 yards shorter than a professional. Think about having 60 yards into a green instead of 160.
It’s a big difference and can certainly lead to lower scores. Luckily, golf is sometimes a fair game, and that’s why the average golfer does not play from the same tee boxes that professional golfers do.
Women Golfers
Female golfers have a hard time generating extra yards because of a lack of clubhead speed. The range for women golfers really goes from around 175 yards to 225 yards. The professional women golfers can hit drives 280 yards or even further. Again, we see big changes here based on skill level.
As a female professional, my average drive has about 250 yards of carry. I’m short, and I struggle to generate as much clubhead speed as a big hitter. When I play with the right ball and get those 250-yard drives to roll into the 260 or 265-yard range, it certainly makes the golf course feel a lot shorter!
The honest truth I can tell you about women golfers and distance . . .
If you can hit the ball over 200 yards, you’ll have no trouble scoring low from the lady’s tees. That should be a number all female golfers strive to get to.
Does Equipment Impact How Far A Golf Drive Travels?
Golf equipment is one of the most important factors when it comes to good driver distance. I was recently testing out a few new drivers, and some helped me gain a few yards, and others encouraged me to lose a few yards.
You’ll want to consider both your golf driver and your golf ball when you look to maximize distance. Newer driver technology custom fit to work for your game will maximize launch angle, spin and total distance.
In addition, some golf balls that provide lots of greenside spin and performance limit the total distance you can get on your tee shots.
Play with a distance ball for a few rounds if you want to see how far you can hit your drives.
Also, if you have not upgraded your driver in the last 5-7 years, now is the time to see what a new one could do for your game.
Carry Distance and Total Distance – Some Numbers to Keep In Mind
Here’s one thing about driver distance that amateur players forget to keep in mind. There is a difference between the carry distance and the total distance of the driver. Carry distance is how far the driver stays in the air; the total distance is where the golf ball finishes. I’ve played with some golf balls that spin too much for my game, and when they land, they stop. I don’t want this with a driver, I want all the roll I can get.
Spin Rate Impact
The ideal spin rate for the driver tends to fall between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. You want to have enough spin to increase carry distance and provide lift. However, if spin rates get too high you’ll lose some roll after landing. Playing around with mid, low and high spin golf balls will help you get this narrowed down. Use a launch monitor to determine your spin rate and whether or not it’s within range.
Golf Ball
Golf ball construction is important. Low spin golf balls help maximize roll and distance. When the fairways are firm, and you combine that with a low-spin golf ball, you should see greater distance. As a side note, be aware that golf club distances also change based on altitude and humidity.
Growing up on Long Island, I was accustomed to the distances I would get there. I went to Denver to play and instantly hit the driver 15 yards further. When I left, it was sad to leave those yards behind!
Custom Driver Fitting
Custom driver fitting can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 dollars depending on where you go. In addition, you’ll more than likely end up with a recommendation for a $600 driver. It’s a big investment.
Here’s my take on this process.
If you are in the “range” of what a good drive is, I wouldn’t worry so much about getting a custom fitting to increase driver distance. Your current driver is likely working well for you, and your smash factor is probably quite good. However, if you find that your driver distance is lacking and your friends who swing slower are hitting it past you, there could be a problem.
At a driver fitting, it’s not just about finding a clubhead that feels and looks good; it’s more about the shaft and the spin rates.
In addition, you’ll look at things like optimized loft and even the weighting of the club head. If you’ve never done a driver fitting, it’s worth the money, but educate yourself first.
Another pro tip is always bringing your current driver with you when you go for a custom fitting. Make sure that the total distance increases before you purchase the new one.
Final Thoughts
A good drive leaves you in the middle of the fairway with a real shot at the green. If that drive is five yards shorter than a “good drive” or 10 yards longer than everyone in your group, it really doesn’t matter. If you want some tips on how to gain distance on your drives, here’s an article I wrote about some of the techniques I used. What’s your average driving distance, and are you still looking for more yards?
