Get accurate yardages for every club in your bag with our launch monitor-based golf club distance calculator. Unlike generic calculators, ours factors in strike quality, ball flight, and trajectory to give you realistic carry and total distances.
How to use:
- Enter your driver speed (club head or ball speed)
- Set your strike quality – this affects both distance and consistency ranges
- Choose ball flight and trajectory – these also impact your distances
- Get your personalised yardage card – perfect for taking to the course
Golf Club Distance Calculator
Get personalized yardages for every club in your bag
My Yardage Card
Break X Golf Distance Calculator
Why this calculator is different: Built by PGA-qualified coach Will Shaw using real launch monitor data. Shows realistic carry vs. total distances, accounts for how strike quality affects consistency, and includes trajectory effects that matter on the course. Check here for the model assumptions.
How to Practice Distance Control
Knowing your maximum distances is only half the battle – great distance control is one of the easiest paths to hitting your shots closer to the target and lowering your handicap.
You can improve your distance control in two simple ways:
Optimise your strike
Every 1/4 inch away from the sweet spot reduces energy transfer, ball speed and carry distance. Most golfers who struggle to know their carry distances struggle with a poor strike. To practice this, focus on making a crisp downward strike with your irons, and a smooth sweep with your woods and driver.
You can also clean your clubs and check your club face after each shot to see where you strike it on the club face.
Practice with a focus on distance
Most golfers just focus on direction at the range and don’t consider distance control. They are then surprised when they head out on the golf course and have little idea how far their shots travel.
Simple games like the Ball Striker Challenge below allow you to focus on developing a great strike and distance control and help you track your ability to consistently hit the ball within a target window.
The Break X Golf app also offers driving range games that test your accuracy and distance control, and provide you with on-course skills games to help you transfer your ability onto the golf course.
What Affects Your Golf Club Distances
Understanding the key factors that influence your distances helps you make better club selections and improve your game:
Primary Distance Factors:
- Club head speed – The biggest factor. Every 1 mph increase adds ~2-3 yards
- Strike quality – Center hits can add 10-15 yards vs. mishits on the same swing
- Attack angle – Hitting up on driver (+3°) vs. down (-3°) can change distance by 20+ yards
- Equipment fit – Wrong shaft flex or lie angle can cost you 10-20 yards per club
Environmental Impact:
- Temperature – Every 10°F change affects distance by ~2 yards
- Altitude – Every 1,000 ft elevation adds ~2% distance (golf altitude calculator)
- Wind – 10 mph headwind reduces driver distance by ~12 yards
- Course conditions – Firm fairways add 15-25 yards of roll vs. soft conditions
The biggest mistake golfers make: Assuming their distances are consistent. Most amateurs have 15-20 yard variations with the same club due to strike quality alone.
Model Assumptions
Our calculator is built on professional launch monitor data and real-world testing, but like all models, it makes certain assumptions:
- Club speed progression: We assume each club swings ~2mph slower than the previous club (based on tour averages)
- Strike patterns: Your strike quality affects both maximum distance and consistency ranges across all clubs
- Ball flight effects: Draws typically add 2-4% distance, while fades reduce it by ~3%
- Trajectory impact: Low trajectory helps wedges and short irons significantly, while high trajectory reduces roll across all clubs
- Roll percentages: Driver ~6% roll, irons ~1.5% roll, wedges minimal roll (varies with conditions)
- Environmental conditions: Assumes standard conditions (sea level, 70°F, no wind)
Bottom line: This model closely matches real-world distances for most golfers, but your actual yardages may vary based on equipment, course conditions, and individual swing characteristics. Use these numbers as a starting point and adjust based on your on-course experience.
Happy golfing – Will @ Break X Golf