How Fast Does a Golf Ball Go

The speed at which a golf ball travels can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the speed of the golfer’s swing, the type of club used, the aerodynamics of the ball, and the conditions of the course.

Professional golfers can hit a golf ball at speeds of up to 170 mph (274 km/h) with a driver, while amateurs generally hit the ball at slower speeds. The average swing speed for male golfers is around 93 mph (150 km/h) and for female golfers, it is around 62 mph (100 km/h).

However, the actual speed of a golf ball as it travels through the air is also affected by air resistance and spin. Generally, a golf ball will travel at speeds between 100 and 170 mph (160 and 274 km/h) after it is hit by a golfer.

TGolf Ball Speed by Club Type and Distance (in mph)

Club Type	Average Speed	Max Speed	Carry Distance (yards)	Total Distance (yards)
Driver	160-170	180+	240-280	260-320
3 Wood	145-160	170+	215-245	235-295
5 Wood	135-150	160+	195-225	215-275
3 Iron	120-140	160+	170-200	190-240
6 Iron	100-120	150+	150-180	170-220
9 Iron	70-90	130+	115-140	130-170
Pitching Wedge	60-80	120+	95-120	110-150
Sand Wedge	50-70	100+	70-100	90-120
Lob Wedge	40-60	90+	50-80	70-100
Putter	5-10	20+	Less than 10	Less than 10

Golf Ball Speed by Golfer Skill Level and Launch Angle (in mph)

Golfer Skill Level	Average Speed	Max Speed	Launch Angle (degrees)	Spin Rate (rpm)
Professional	160-170	180+	10-14	2200-2800
Low Handicap	140-160	170+	12-16	2500-3000
Mid Handicap	120-140	160+	14-18	3000-3500
High Handicap	90-120	140+	16-20	3500-4000

Golf Ball Speed by Gender and Ball Type (in mph)

Gender	Average Speed	Max Speed	Ball Type	Compression
Male	120-150	170+	Distance	70-100
Female	70-100	130+	Soft	50-70

Golf Ball Speed by Age and Swing Tempo (in mph)

Age Range	Average Speed	Max Speed	Swing Tempo (seconds)	Swing Path (degrees)
Under 18	100-120	150+	1.8-2.2	2-6
18-35	120-140	170+	2.0-2.4	3-7
36-50	110-130	160+

Golf Ball Speed by Wind Conditions and Club Type (in mph)

Wind Conditions	Driver	Irons	Wedges
Calm	160-170	100-120	70-90
Headwind	140-160	90-110	60-80
Tailwind	180+	120-140	80-100
Crosswind	150-170	90-120	60-80

Golf Ball Speed by Altitude and Ball Type (in mph)

Altitude (feet)	Distance Ball	Soft Ball
Sea Level	120-150	70-100
5,000	130-160	80-110
10,000	140-170	90-120

Golf Ball Speed by Swing Speed and Ball Type (in mph)

Swing Speed (mph)	Distance Ball	Soft Ball
Under 80	90-110	60-80
80-100	110-130	70-90
100-120	130-150	80-100
Over 120	150+	90-110

Golf Ball Speed by Temperature and Club Type (in mph)

Temperature (°F)	Driver	Irons	Wedges
Below 50	140-150	80-100	50-70
50-60	150-160	90-110	60-80
60-70	160-170	100-120	70-90
Above 70	170+	120-140	80-100

Golf Ball Speed by Club Head Speed and Launch Angle (in mph)

Club Head Speed (mph)	Launch Angle (degrees)	Ball Speed (mph)
80	10	60-70
90	10	70-80
100	10	80-90
110	10	90-100
120	10	100-110
130	10	110-120
140	10	120-130
150	10	130-140

Golf Ball Speed by Spin Rate and Club Type (in mph)

Spin Rate (rpm)	Driver	Irons	Wedges
Low	160-170	100-120	70-90
Medium	150-160	90-110	60-80
High	140-150	80-100	50-70

Golf Ball Speed by Swinging Tempo and Ball Type (in mph)

Swinging Tempo	Distance Ball	Soft Ball
Slow	80-100	50-70
Moderate	100-120	70-90
Fast	120-140	90-110
Very Fast	140+	110+

Golf Ball Speed by Compression Rating and Club Type (in mph)

Compression Rating	Driver	Irons	Wedges
70-80	140-150	80-100	50-70
80-90	150-160	90-110	60-80
90-100	160-170	100-120	70-90
100-110	170+	120-140	80-100