Golf Swing Speed Chart: Averages By Age, Skill, and More

Swing speed charts can tell you the average speeds by age, skill, gender, and more. You can also compare how club head speeds compare to distance.

As a PGA-certified golf coach, I know I am not alone in being a numbers and statistics geek. Many of my students are hungry to compare their numbers with their favorite pro golfers using charts, graphs, and other visual representations.

Many swing speed charts exist today. Some break down clubhead and ball speed by a golfer’s handicap, gender, age, years playing, and many other areas. What many may find surprising by some of the data is that most golfers do not swing as fast as they think nor hit the ball as far as they claim to.

My goal in this article is to share all of the latest information and statistics regarding swing speed in golf. I’ll also share other related information, such as the distance at which golfers hit the ball. Other information relevant to this topic will be shared as well.

Here is a breakdown of what you can find if you read on:

• Average Swing Speed By Age and Gender
• Average Swing Speed By Handicap
• Average PGA TOUR Club Head Speeds and Distances
• PGA TOUR Average Club Head Speeds and Carry Distance Per Club
• Average LPGA TOUR Club Head Speeds and Distances
• LPGA TOUR Average Club Head Speeds and Carry Distance Per Club
• The Fastest Swingers In Golf
• Tips To Improve Your Swing Speed

So get ready, and make sure to buckle up. Things are going to get fast!

Average Swing Speed Chart By Age and Gender

*Estimates due to a lack of participants in this age and gender group

**The data in the chart was compiled from a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) study conducted in 2019.

Club head swing speed contributes to the distance a golfer can hit a golf ball. Countless factors contribute to how fast a golfer can swing, such as age, flexibility, strength, gender, and the efficiency of their swing mechanics.

The first factor I wanted to chart concerning swing speed is age and gender. The following chart represents the average swing speeds with a driver for several different age groups and by male and female golfers within them.

Age significantly affects how much clubhead speed a golfer can produce on average. Here is the main observation about swing speed versus age and gender:

• As you age, swing speed generally gets slower

However, as you can see from the chart, age does not necessarily have to slow you down completely. Some golfers in the 50 – 59 and 60+ age groups can still swing significantly fast. It all depends on how flexible someone can stay as they age.

Check this out: What Are the Golf Club Distances for Each Club? (Charts for All Skill Levels)

Average Swing Speed Chart By Handicap

Ability Level	Driver Swing Speed Range
PGA TOUR Fastest	Cameron Champ 126.48 mph*
PGA TOUR Average	115.24 mph**
+3 – +5 HDCP	108 -110 mph on average
+1 – +3 HDCP	107 – 109 mph on average
Scratch	105 -107 mph on average
1 – 5 HDCP	100 – 105 mph on average
6 – 8 HDCP	96 – 99 mph on average
9 – 11 HDCP	93 – 96 mph on average
12 – 15 HDCP	90 – 93 mph on average
16 – 20 HDCP	85 – 92 mph on average
20 + HDCP	80 – 85 mph on average

*Data from PGATour.com as of 7/9/23  

**Data from PGATour.com as of 7/9/23

Average swing speeds by handicap data from TrackMan

Let’s look at average swing speeds by handicap level for male golfers.

A golfer’s playing ability and how efficiently they swings the club also directly impact how fast their swing speed is. When golfers understand how the swing is supposed to work and can execute those fundamentals correctly, the result is a much more efficient swing. That efficient swing will lead to an increase in swing speed.

Read on: What Driver Loft Should You Use? (Full Chart Based On Swing Speed)

Average PGA TOUR Club Head Speeds

PGA TOUR professionals are among the best golfers in the world, so many golfers look to them as guides to playing the game correctly.

Note: Even though these speeds happened on a specific date in 2024, they’re still applicable today since swing speeds don’t rise significantly over time.

PGA TOUR Fastest 10 Driver Swing Speed Averages

RANK	PLAYER	AVG SWING SPEED	AVE DRIVING DISTANCE
1	Cameron Champ	126.48	314.6 (6th)
2	Brandon Matthews	126.38	322.2 (2nd)
3	Will Gordon	125.2	310.5 (21st)
4	Kyle Westmoreland	124.94	312.5 (13th)
5	Wyndham Clark	123.46	314.5 (8th)
6	Cameron Young	123.22	318.9 (3rd)
7	Brent Grant	122.86	310.1 (22nd)
8	Rory McIlroy	122.81	327.6 (1st)
9	Lucas Herbert	122.32	301.5 (83rd)
10	Taylor Montgomery	122.14	304.0 (58th)

*Compiled through Rocket Mortgage Classic, 7/2/23

• Tour Pro Golfer Average Swing Speed – 115.24        
• Tour Pro Golfer Average Driving Distance – 299.40

PGA TOUR Slowest 10 Driver Swing Speed Averages

RANK	PLAYER	AVG SWING SPEED	AVE DRIVING DISTANCE
180	Zach Johnson	108.39	291.3 (157th)
181	Austin Cook	108.35	282.3 (185th)
182	Chez Reavie	108	287.9 (173rd)
183	Paul Haley II	107.91	282.4 (184th)
184	Kelly Kraft	107.32	284.4 (178th)
185	Brendon Todd	107	282.9 (181st)
186	David Lingmerth	106.34	277.2 (188th)
187	Ryan Armour	105.92	282.5 (183rd)
188	Ryan Moore	105.72	283.9 (180th)
189	Brian Stuard	103.58	270.7 (189th – Last)

*All data from PGATour.com

**Compiled through Rocket Mortgage Classic, 7/2/23

Fast Swing Speed Does Not Always Equal Longer Drives

As you may have noticed, some of the PGA TOUR pros in the top 20 in swing speed with the driver are outside the top 20 in average driver distance. This is because of a stat called Smash Factor, which measures the efficiency of a swing.

Smash Factor is calculated by dividing the ball speed by the clubhead speed. Additionally, where the ball comes in contact with the clubface matters quite a bit as well.

Here are some examples of players with fast swing speeds who are outside the top 20 in driving distance.

PLAYER	Swing Speed	Driving Distance
Will Gordon	125.20 (3rd)	310.5 (21st)
Brent Grant	122.86 (7th)	310.1 (22nd)
Lucas Herbert	122.32 (9th)	301.5 (83rd)
Taylor Montgomery	122.14 (10th)	304.0 (58th)
Kurt Kitayama	122.03 (12th)	306.2 (45th)
Adam Schenk	121.93 (15th)	304.8 (52nd)
Callum Tarren	121.89 (16th)	308.9 (26th)
Kevin Tway	121.82 (17th)	308.3 (32nd)
Thomas Detry	121.31 (19th)	307.3 (34th)

Swing Speed and Driving Distance Matters, But You Can Win Without Them

Of those short knockers in the bottom 10 on the PGA TOUR this season in swing speed, and many of whom are very near the bottom in driving distance, all but two have a PGA TOUR victory on their resume.

PLAYER	PGA TOUR WINS	AVG SWING SPEED	AVE DRIVING DISTANCE
Zach Johnson	12 (2 Majors)	108.39 (180)	291.3 (157th)
Austin Cook	1	108.35 (181)	282.3 (185th)
Chez Reavie	3	108.00 (182)	287.9 (173rd)
Brendon Todd	3	107.00 (185)	282.9 (181st)
David Lingmerth	1	106.34 (186)	277.2 (188th)
Ryan Armour	1	105.92 (187)	282.5 (183rd)
Ryan Moore	5	105.72 (188)	283.9 (180th)
Brian Stuard	1	103.58 (189)	270.7 (189th – Last)

PGA TOUR Average Clubhead Speed and Carry Distance Per Club

Club	Clubhead Speed (mph)	Carry Distance (yards)
Driver	113	275
3 Wood	107	243
5 Wood	103	230
Hybrid (15 -18 degrees)	100	225
3 iron	98	212
4 iron	96	203
5 iron	94	194
6 iron	92	183
7 iron	90	172
8 iron	87	160
9 iron	85	148
PW	83	136

*Data compiled from TrackMan’s 2017 PGA TOUR Data Points

I use data from TrackMan all the time with my students as a reference for what peak performance stats look like.

Above, I have pulled out the club head speed and carry distances for each club, on average, on the PGA TOUR.

TrackMan notes that these AVERAGE stats from 2017 have mostly stayed the same over the last six years. The top players on the PGA TOUR have gotten faster and carry the ball longer, but, on average, the chart above still holds close to today’s average.

Average LPGA TOUR Club Head Speeds

The LPGA does not keep data on swing speed. However, the average swing speed with the driver hovers around 95 mph, per TrackMan. As we noticed in the statistics above for the PGA TOUR, there is somewhat of a correlation between swing speed and driver distance, but not necessarily always.

The current top drivers on the LPGA Tour shake out as follows:

LPGA TOUR Fastest 10 Driver Distance Averages

Rank	PLAYER	AVE DRIVING DISTANCE	SWING SPEED ESTIMATE
1	Xiaowen Yin	280.96	115
2	Emily Kristine Pedersen	279.42	115
3	Natthakritta Vongtaveelap	278.07	114
4	Bailey Tardy	277.87	114
5	Madelene Sagstrom	277.48	114
6	Maude-Aimee Leblanc	277.45	114
7	Manon De Roey	277.42	114
8	Polly Mack	277.25	113
9	Perrine Delacour	276.88	113
10	Yan Liu	276.85	113
	TOUR AVERAGE	250.000 (estimate)	95

Driving Distance Averages from LPGATour.com

Swing Speed Estimates Via TrackMan

Data compiled through 7/9/23

As noted previously, TrackMan is a go-to source for swing and club data for many coaches and players. I use data from TrackMan with my students all the time. For my female students, as well as slower-swinging male students, one of my go-to charts is TrackMan’s 2017 LPGA TOUR Data Points.

LPGA TOUR Average Clubhead Speed and Carry Distance Per Club

Club	Clubhead Speed (mph)	Carry Distance (yards)
Driver	94	218
3 Wood	90	195
5 Wood	88	185
7 Wood	85	174
4 iron	80	169
5 iron	79	161
6 iron	78	152
7 iron	76	141
8 iron	74	130
9 iron	72	119
PW	70	107

Compiled data from TrackMan

As noted previously, TrackMan notes that these AVERAGE stats from 2017 have mostly stayed the same over the last six years. The top players on the LPGA TOUR have gotten faster and carry the ball longer, but, on average, the chart above still holds close to today’s average.

The Fastest Swing Speeds in Golf

In 2012, Ryan Winther set the world record for swing speed at 167 mph, and that swing produced a ball speed of 225 mph.

Recent long-drive phenom, Kyle Berkshire, has come close to Winther’s record, recording a swing speed of 160. Berkshire does however have the highest ball speed ever recorded at 236.8 mph…Say What?!?

More from Golf Span: The 10 Best Drivers for Slow Swing Speed

Tips To Improve Your Swing Speed

Swing speed and distance have become one of the most talked about topics in the game over recent years. It seems that everyone in golf has a need for speed! There is no denying that swing speed is a hot topic in golf.

Golfers are always looking for tips and tricks to improve their swing speed. I will break down my tips for you in two different ways. The first is the more traditional ways we, as instructors and coaches, point students toward when working on improving their swing speed.

The second will come from my friend, Michael Romatowski, founder and creator of the revolutionary Mach 3 Golf Speed Training System. Mike’s system is really helping 1,000’s of golfers get faster with their swing.

Traditional Tips For Getting Faster Swing Speeds

Some of the more traditional tips for golfers to help them increase their swing speed include the following:

• Train Your Body to Get Faster- If you can increase your flexibility and mobility, reaching faster swing speeds will be more realistic. How a golfer moves their body, in terms of how much they can rotate their hips and upper torso, will play a big part in their production of swing speed. Getting yourself into the habit of stretching your body regularly will help your ability to swing faster.
• Equipment can make a difference- Having the right equipment for you can make a big difference in your ability to swing faster. Some of the critical things you need to consider in terms of equipment include:

• The overall weight of the club- The lighter the club, the faster you can swing it. That is straight-up science, folks.

• The type of shaft you use- The shaft matters in golf. From the length, to the flex, and where the kick-point is, all of these things equate to your ability to swing at your maximum speed.

• The head of the club- Golf equipment technology has made massive gains over the last two decades. The clubheads on today’s drivers can offer maximum forgiveness and create a “trampoline effect” with the ball coming off the face. Test different drivers, and you may be surprised at what gains you can make by simply having the right club.

Non-Traditional Tips For Getting Faster Swing Speeds

I have recently become a massive fan of a speed training program called the Mack 3 Golf Speed Training System. It was developed by Michael Romatowski. Mike is a multi-certified personal trainer, golf fitness expert, and post-rehab exercise specialist. I have spent a lot of time talking with Mike recently; he was a recent guest on my Quite Please Golf Podcast. You can listen to that episode here.

What is the Mach 3 Speed Training System?

Mach 3 is a year-round speed training protocol that has produced an average gain in clubhead speed for program participants of 11.5 miles per hour. The tools used in Mach 3 are dynamic and unique, allowing golfers to experience the sensation of “Speed Out in Front,” which is the hallmark of Mach 3.

Some of the critical points of Mach 3 that I like include:

• It’s Open To All – The Mach 3 program is for golfers of all ages, genders, and playing abilities.

• It’s Fun & Safe – Workouts are fun, non-exhausting, safe, and athletic in nature.

• It’s Accessible to All – Speed training workouts can be held indoors or outdoors.

• It’s Optimized – Train for golf without “bulking up” and using natural golf body motions.

The overarching theme of Mach 3 is the “Speed out in front” concept. “Speed out in front” means that a golfer needs to become much more target-oriented when swinging. Anything after impact and up to the end of your swing is “out in front.”

Because the golf swing is such a fast movement, taking roughly only 1.25 seconds, it is essential to think in your mind to be a few steps ahead. Golfers often think of the ball and impact with the ball as the finish line when, in reality, it is only the mid-way point. If you focus on the ball as the ultimate goal, you will move slower into it at impact.

Mach 3 trains golfers to think of the finish line of the swing as being the top of your finish. You become hyper-focused on the target, the finish of the swing, and getting all of your energy, momentum, and speed “out in front” and past the point where the ball is at impact…well past it.

Mach 3 will help any and all golfers that give this concept a try. As mentioned earlier, program participants’ average gain in clubhead speed is around 11.5 miles per hour. That is significant!

Final Thoughts

If you’re a golfer seeking to improve your game, understanding the insights a golf swing speed chart can provide is invaluable. These charts break down swing speeds by various factors such as age, gender, and skill level, offering a wealth of data that helps golfers understand where they stand. My extensive experience as a golf coach has shown me that these statistics are crucial for those aiming to improve their performance. Surprisingly, many golfers discover they don’t swing as fast or hit as far as they initially thought.

The charts reveal that factors like age, gender, and skill level profoundly impact your swing speed and, subsequently, your driving distance. However, it’s important to note that age doesn’t necessarily have to slow you down. Many golfers in the 50 – 59 and 60+ age brackets can still generate impressive swing speeds, particularly if they maintain good flexibility and employ proper swing mechanics.

To boost your swing speed, you can rely on tried-and-true methods and cutting-edge techniques. On the traditional side, improving your body’s flexibility and selecting the right equipment can make a significant difference. For instance, lighter clubs and the right shaft type can notably increase your swing speed. On the innovative front, training systems like the Mach 3 Golf Speed Training System have helped thousands of golfers achieve faster swings by focusing on functional training tailored to golf performance.

To wrap up, a golf swing speed chart is an essential tool for anyone serious about upgrading their golf game. Combining this data with top tips for improving your swing speed can set you on the path to becoming a more formidable golfer. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to fine-tune your skills, a strategic approach backed by sound data can help you reach new heights in your golf career. Stay tuned for the latest updates and trends in golf statistics and training techniques.

More from me on Golf Span: How to Increase Swing Speed: 10 Tips