What is a good golf swing speed?
The average male amateur (a 14.5 handicap) swings his driver at 94 mph. PGA Tour players average 115 mph and LPGA Tour players average 96 mph.
94 mph
Driver club speed at a 14.5 handicap, with 133 mph ball speed.
115 mph
Driver club speed, 171 mph ball speed and 282 yards of carry.
96 mph
Driver club speed, 143 mph ball speed and 223 yards of carry.
This golf swing speed chart covers driver through pitching wedge: speed, launch, spin and carry for both tours, smash factor for key clubs, plus amateur averages by handicap and age. Each table names its data source directly below it.
Driver swing speed chart: how do you compare by handicap?
A scratch male golfer swings the driver at about 110 mph, a 10 handicap at 95 mph and a bogey golfer at 92 mph. These are combine test averages for amateurs, shown next to the 2023 tour averages.
| Golfer (driver) | Club speed | Ball speed | Smash factor | Launch angle | Spin rate | Attack angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour average | 115 mph | 171 mph | 1.49 | 10.4° | 2,545 rpm | -0.9° |
| Male scratch or better | 110 mph | 161 mph | 1.49 | 11.2° | 2,896 rpm | -0.9° |
| Male 5 handicap | 101 mph | 147 mph | 1.45 | 11.2° | 2,987 rpm | -1.1° |
| Male 10 handicap | 95 mph | 138 mph | 1.45 | 11.9° | 3,192 rpm | -1.2° |
| Male average (14.5 handicap) | 94 mph | 133 mph | 1.44 | 12.6° | 3,275 rpm | -1.8° |
| Male bogey golfer | 92 mph | 131 mph | 1.43 | 12.1° | 3,127 rpm | -2.1° |
| LPGA Tour average | 96 mph | 143 mph | 1.49 | 12.6° | 2,506 rpm | +2.8° |
| Female scratch or better | 90 mph | 131 mph | 1.46 | 12.7° | 2,831 rpm | -0.9° |
| Female 5 handicap | 87 mph | 125 mph | 1.45 | 12.0° | 3,027 rpm | -1.8° |
| Female 10 handicap | 83 mph | 119 mph | 1.44 | 12.4° | 3,207 rpm | -1.7° |
| Female 15 handicap | 79 mph | 111 mph | 1.41 | 13.6° | 3,287 rpm | -2.3° |
Tour rows are 2023 PGA Tour and LPGA Tour averages. Amateur rows are combine test averages by handicap.
Source: tour rows, TrackMan, Introducing Updated Tour Averages (May 2024); amateur rows, TrackMan Combine averages (September 2024): club speed, ball speed, smash, launch, spin, attack angle.
- Speed separates the handicaps more than launch does. Scratch and bogey golfers launch the driver within about one degree of each other, but sit 18 mph apart in club speed.
- Amateurs spin the driver more. The average male amateur spins it 3,275 rpm, about 730 rpm more than the PGA Tour average.
- LPGA players hit up on the driver. Their +2.8° attack angle is the only upward one in the chart, and they carry 223 yards at 96 mph club speed.
Swing speed by club: PGA Tour vs LPGA Tour chart
Club speed drops 1 to 5 mph per club through the bag. PGA Tour players go from 115 mph with the driver to 84 mph with the pitching wedge; LPGA players go from 96 mph to 72 mph.
| Club | PGA club speed | PGA ball speed | PGA carry | LPGA club speed | LPGA ball speed | LPGA carry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 115 mph | 171 mph | 282 yd | 96 mph | 143 mph | 223 yd |
| 3-wood | 110 mph | 162 mph | 249 yd | 92 mph | 135 mph | 200 yd |
| 5-wood | 106 mph | 156 mph | 236 yd | 90 mph | 130 mph | 189 yd |
| Hybrid | 102 mph | 149 mph | 231 yd | 87 mph | 125 mph | 178 yd |
| 3-iron | 100 mph | 145 mph | 218 yd | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 4-iron | 98 mph | 140 mph | 209 yd | 82 mph | 118 mph | 175 yd |
| 5-iron | 96 mph | 135 mph | 199 yd | 81 mph | 114 mph | 166 yd |
| 6-iron | 94 mph | 130 mph | 188 yd | 80 mph | 111 mph | 155 yd |
| 7-iron | 92 mph | 123 mph | 176 yd | 78 mph | 106 mph | 143 yd |
| 8-iron | 89 mph | 118 mph | 164 yd | 76 mph | 102 mph | 133 yd |
| 9-iron | 87 mph | 112 mph | 152 yd | 74 mph | 95 mph | 123 yd |
| Pitching wedge | 84 mph | 104 mph | 142 yd | 72 mph | 88 mph | 111 yd |
2023 PGA Tour and LPGA Tour season averages. The LPGA data set has no 3-iron row.
Source: TrackMan, Introducing Updated Tour Averages (May 2024).
Launch angle and spin rate by club
Through the irons, launch angle and spin rise with every club: on the PGA Tour, from 10.3° and 4,404 rpm with a 3-iron to 23.7° and 9,316 rpm with a pitching wedge.
A tour 7-iron launches at 16.1° with 7,124 rpm; an LPGA 7-iron launches higher, at 18.5°, with less spin, 6,630 rpm.
| Club | PGA launch | PGA spin | PGA attack angle | LPGA launch | LPGA spin | LPGA attack angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 10.4° | 2,545 rpm | -0.9° | 12.6° | 2,506 rpm | +2.8° |
| 3-wood | 9.3° | 3,663 rpm | -2.3° | 11.6° | 2,595 rpm | -0.8° |
| 5-wood | 9.7° | 4,322 rpm | -2.5° | 12.3° | 4,320 rpm | -1.6° |
| Hybrid | 10.2° | 4,587 rpm | -2.4° | 13.9° | 4,504 rpm | -1.9° |
| 3-iron | 10.3° | 4,404 rpm | -2.5° | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 4-iron | 10.8° | 4,782 rpm | -2.9° | 13.9° | 4,608 rpm | -1.7° |
| 5-iron | 11.9° | 5,280 rpm | -3.4° | 14.6° | 4,966 rpm | -2.0° |
| 6-iron | 14.0° | 6,204 rpm | -3.7° | 16.7° | 5,904 rpm | -2.3° |
| 7-iron | 16.1° | 7,124 rpm | -3.9° | 18.5° | 6,630 rpm | -2.5° |
| 8-iron | 17.8° | 8,078 rpm | -4.2° | 20.8° | 7,413 rpm | -2.8° |
| 9-iron | 20.0° | 8,793 rpm | -4.3° | 23.5° | 7,605 rpm | -3.2° |
| Pitching wedge | 23.7° | 9,316 rpm | -4.7° | 25.2° | 8,465 rpm | -3.2° |
2023 PGA Tour and LPGA Tour season averages. Peak height runs 30 to 35 yards on the PGA Tour and 25 to 27 yards on the LPGA Tour, through the whole bag.
Source: TrackMan, Introducing Updated Tour Averages (May 2024).
How much distance does each mph of swing speed add?
Each extra 1 mph of club speed is worth up to about 3 yards with the driver, and each extra 1 mph of ball speed up to about 2 yards.
Up to 3 yd
Driver distance gained for each added mph of club speed.
Up to 2 yd
Driver distance gained for each added mph of ball speed.
About 20 yd
Same club speed, better strike: a 0.10 smash gain is worth about 20 yards.
Source: TrackMan, What is Club Speed? (September 2024), What is Ball Speed? (September 2024) and What is Smash Factor? (September 2024).
A launch monitor that shows smash factor lets you check that number on every swing.
Average driving distance by age and handicap
Male amateurs averaged 224.1 yards per drive in 2025, and women averaged 175.7 yards, according to the Arccos 2026 Driving Distance Report. These are on-course totals (carry plus roll) from nearly 10 million driver tee shots.
| Men's handicap | Average drive | Men's age group | Average drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 to 4.9 | 244 yd | 15 to 19 | 240 yd |
| 5.0 to 9.9 | 234 yd | 20s | 237 yd |
| 10.0 to 14.9 | 223 yd | 30s | 235 yd |
| 15.0 to 19.9 | 212 yd | 40s | 230 yd |
| 20.0 to 24.9 | 199 yd | 50s | 219 yd |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | 194 yd | 60s | 206 yd |
| 30+ | 181 yd | 70s | 190 yd |
2025 rounds, men's driver tee shots on par 4s and par 5s, total distance (carry plus roll).
Source: Arccos, Annual Driving Distance Report, 2026 Edition (May 2026).
What is a good smash factor for each club?
Smash factor is ball speed divided by club speed. Aim for close to 1.50 with the driver and about 1.25 with a pitching wedge; the tour averages in between are the realistic target for each club.
| Club | PGA Tour smash | LPGA Tour smash |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 1.49 | 1.49 |
| 3-wood | 1.47 | 1.47 |
| Hybrid | 1.47 | 1.44 |
| 5-iron | 1.41 | 1.42 |
| 7-iron | 1.34 | 1.38 |
| 9-iron | 1.29 | 1.30 |
| Pitching wedge | 1.24 | 1.25 |
Source: table, TrackMan, Introducing Updated Tour Averages (May 2024); amateur averages below, TrackMan, What is Smash Factor? Combine averages (September 2024).
Is 1.45 a good driver smash factor? Yes: that is the male 5 and 10 handicap average. The average male amateur sits at 1.44, and male scratch players match the PGA Tour at 1.49.
What launch angle and spin should your driver have?
For a 94 mph swing with a level (0°) attack angle, the optimized driver launch is 13.6° with 2,772 rpm of spin. Faster swings launch lower: the PGA Tour averages 10.4° and 2,545 rpm.
- Hit up with the driver. Hitting up on the ball (a positive attack angle) is the key to driver distance. The average male amateur hits down at -1.8°.
- Amateur drivers spin above the optimum. At 3,275 rpm, the average male amateur spins about 500 rpm more than the 2,772 rpm optimized figure for the same speed.
- Slower swings launch higher. LPGA players launch 2.2° higher than PGA players with almost identical spin, and carry 223 yards.
Source: TrackMan, What is Launch Angle? (September 2024), What is Spin Rate? (September 2024) and TrackMan, Introducing Updated Tour Averages (May 2024).
To check these numbers on every swing you need a launch monitor that shows launch, spin and attack angle. See the launch monitors that measure these numbers.
Why do my irons launch too high?
Tour players hit down on every iron: -3.9° with a PGA Tour 7-iron. A scooping strike adds loft at impact, and launch angle follows that loft.
Two of the training aids we carry work on that strike directly. One trains the impact position, the other shows where the club meets the ground.
Golf Impact Bag
- Trains forward shaft lean and a square face at impact
- Built to stop scooping, casting and a collapsing lead wrist
- Ships unfilled: pack it with old towels or clothes
The Divot Board
- Shows exactly where the club contacts the ground
- Instant feedback on low point and swing path
- Works indoors, at the range or at home
Pair either one with a launch monitor and watch two numbers: launch angle and spin on your 7-iron.
How do you increase swing speed?
One method is overspeed training: swinging lighter and heavier sticks at full effort, a few times a week, and measuring the result. Track club speed before and after so you know the training is working.
How do you measure swing speed without hitting a ball?
Use a radar with a no-ball mode. The PRGR Black Pocket, Swing Caddie SC200 Plus and FlightScope Mevo Gen2 all read club speed on a practice swing. Train in the backyard or living room with no ball or net.
| Feature | PRGR Black Pocket | Swing Caddie SC200 Plus | FlightScope Mevo Gen2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-ball mode | Swing without a ball | Practice Swing Mode | Swing Training mode |
| Shows with no ball | Club speed only | Swing speed | Club head speed |
| Shows with a ball | Club speed, ball speed, smash factor, carry and total distance | Swing speed, ball speed, smash factor, carry distance | 20 club and ball parameters, including launch angle and spin rate |
| Sensor | Doppler radar | Doppler radar | Doppler radar plus camera (Fusion Tracking) |
| Power | Battery powered | 4 AAA batteries, up to 20 hours | Rechargeable, up to 6 hours |
| Price | $199.99 | $279.99 | $1,299.00 |
Source: PRGR (SuperSpeed Golf), Voice Caddie and FlightScope product pages (October 2026).
PRGR Black Pocket
- Swing without a ball for a club speed reading
- With a ball: ball speed, smash factor and distance
- Pocket-sized and battery powered
Swing Caddie SC200 Plus
- Practice Swing Mode tracks swing speed without a ball
- With a ball: carry, ball speed and smash factor
- 4 AAA batteries, up to 20 hours
FlightScope Mevo Gen2
- Swing Training mode builds club head speed with no ball
- Works with your own clubs, The Stack or SuperSpeed clubs
- Full ball flight with launch angle and spin rate
Pair the radar with a speed trainer. SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro ($199.99) are light, medium and heavy weighted sticks, used 10 to 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week. SuperSpeed reports an average 5% speed gain in 6 weeks. FlightScope lists SuperSpeed weighted clubs among the clubs you can use for Mevo Gen2 swing training.
Speed only helps if the strike holds up. Check your smash factor as the speed climbs. A 0.10 drop in smash costs about 20 yards, enough to erase several mph of new speed.
Which launch monitors measure club speed, launch angle and spin?
To compare yourself to this chart you need club speed, ball speed, launch angle and spin on every swing. These three launch monitors show all four, at three price points. On the MLM2PRO, measured spin needs RPT balls and a Premium membership.
| What it shows | Garmin Approach R10 | Rapsodo MLM2PRO | Foresight GC3S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | Radar | Radar plus two cameras | Cameras (photometric) |
| Club speed | Yes | Yes, measured | Yes, permanent club data license |
| Ball speed | Yes | Yes, measured | Yes |
| Launch angle | Yes | Yes, measured | Yes |
| Spin rate | Yes | Measured with RPT balls and Premium membership | Yes |
Every GC3S we sell carries a permanent club data license, so club speed and smash factor need no subscription.
Source: Garmin, Rapsodo and Foresight Sports product pages, the Rapsodo Premium Membership page and our GC3S product page (October 2026).
Garmin Approach R10
- Club head speed, ball speed, launch angle and spin
- More than a dozen metrics in real time
- Up to 10 hours of battery
Rapsodo MLM2PRO
- Measures club speed, ball speed, launch and attack angle
- Spin rate and spin axis measured with RPT balls and Premium membership
- R-Speed mode (Premium membership) tracks swing speed without a ball
Foresight GC3S
- Camera-based ball data: speed, launch and spin
- Club data, including club speed and smash factor
- Package includes a Bushnell Pro X3 LINK rangefinder
Compare the launch monitors we carry by sensor, metrics and room size on our launch monitor comparison, or browse all golf launch monitors.
Related guides
- How Foresight launch monitors measure your swing
- Rapsodo MLM2PRO review (2026)
- PRGR launch monitor review
- Best golf launch monitors under $3,000
- How golf training aids improve your game
- Shop golf training aids
Prices checked October 6, 2026.
