We hear a lot about distance in golf these days, it’s why championship layouts are being continually stretched beyond their limits as the best players in the world are now hitting the ball further than ever before.
Underlining this trend, Augusta National was 6,985 yards long in 2000, but a quarter of a century later, Rory McIlroy secured the Green Jacket on a layout that measured 7,555 yards.
Tiger Woods completed his own Career Grand Slam in the Millennium year at St Andrews on an Old Course that was 7,115 yards long. When the Open Championship returns to the iconic venue in 2027, the venerable course will have been expanded to 7,445 yards.
Much attention will be placed on the carries that these top golfers are capable of with their drivers, but that same trend runs through each club in the bag.
Everyday amateurs would love to gain a few yards too – as it might just be the difference between getting to single figures, or routinely shooting in the 80s rather than the 90s. Data has shown what average players can expect to achieve when it comes to distance.
How Far Should You REALLY Hit Your 7 Iron?
We recently explored the factors that may prevent you hitting the ball a little further, but instead of looking at the driver, Golfshake’s Equipment Expert, Ryan Rastall has now focused on the 7-iron.
How far should you hit this club? In a new video, which you can watch below or directly on YouTube, Ryan explains how different lofts, shafts, swing speeds and techniques can all influence your distance and consistency.
You will see Ryan deploy a Wilson Staff Model Blade 7 iron (34°) fitted with a 120g Dynamic Gold X100 shaft to demonstrate the impact of speed on both your performance and the potential distances you can hit. He hits shots at 65mph, 75mph, 85mph and 95mph, using TrackMan data to illustrate just how far you could be hitting your 7 iron – and to explain how what you’re doing at impact is affecting both the distance of your shots and the trajectory of your ball flight.
Do you hit your 7-iron far enough? It’s time to find out..
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
