How Far Do Scratch Golfers Hit Their Drives?
Driving distance numbers from our data partner shows how far male and female scratch players hit their drives...


Becoming a scratch player is the pinnacle of golfing achievements for most handicap golfers.
Getting to this kind of level requires a player to be pretty sharp in every department - and it helps to be long off the tee, too.
On the PGA Tour, we're used to seeing players average around 300 yards (it was actually 300.2 yards in 2024), with the best female players in the game averaging approximately 270 yards.
It's often said that there is a huge difference in ability between a scratch golfer and a tour professional - so what does this look like in terms of driving distance?
We asked our official data partner, Shot Scope, to run some numbers - and these are displayed in the table below.
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Male | Female |
Performance Average (yards) | 285 | 252 |
'Performance Average' removes outliers, such as a significant mishits that don't travel very far, so it gives a true representation of the distance a well struck golf shot travels.
Fifteen yards might not sound like a big difference (closer to 20 for female scratch players), but we're still talking at least one club less into a lot of greens.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
And the reality is that when a tour pro needs to find a few extra yards - maybe to set up a better eagle opportunity on a par 5 or a short par 4 - they generally have an extra gear or two in the locker.
What this data doesn't give us is a breakdown of distances by age. For example, a 60-something scratch golfer (they do exist!) might 'only' average 250 yards off the tee, whereas a 30-year-old zero-handicapper might average 290 yards.
Still, it gives us an interesting idea of how far scratch golfers drive the ball compared to tour players.
How Far Do Average Golfers Hit Their Drives?
If this has got you wondering how you, the average club golfer, compare, then here are some further statistics, which have also been supplied by Shot Scope.
For clarity, the 'Performance Average' has been listed for both male and female golfers.
Handicap | Distance (yards) |
0 | 285 |
5 | 261 |
10 | 259 |
15 | 236 |
20 | 225 |
25 | 204 |
Handicap | Distance (yards) |
0 or better | 252 |
1-5 | 235 |
6-10 | 226 |
11-15 | 199 |
16-20 | 188 |
21-25 | 178 |
26+ | 166 |
Getting to scratch isn't a simple matter of hitting longer drives, although if you feel this area of the game is preventing you from lowering your handicap, we can offer you lots of driving tips.
And although equipment can only help you so much, it might be worth reviewing the best drivers for distance to help you add a few extra yards off the tee.

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
13 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The US Open
The US Open is known for its ability to humble even the world’s biggest names, and some high-profile players are once again heading home early after two rounds Oakmont
-
US Open Golf Betting Tips: Post-Cut Odds And Predictions
An eventful two rounds have taken place at Oakmont Country Club and, with scoring a struggle, there is value to be had over the weekend of the US Open
-
Follow These 8 Rules To Keep Double Bogeys Off Your Scorecard
Joel Tadman runs through the 8 rules golfers need to follow if they want to keep double bogeys off their scorecard, with the help of data from Shot Scope
-
Golf's Putting Precipice: At What Distance Is A 3-Putt More Likely Than A 1-Putt?
We all would like to improve our proximity to the hole, but at what distance is a 3-putt more likely than a 1-putt? This data reveals the putting precipice...
-
Do You Drive The Ball Further Than Other Golfers In Your Country (And What About Other Nations Too)?
Thanks to the latest Shot Scope Data, we can now reveal which country has the longest amateur driving distance average. See the full top-10 leaderboard here...
-
How Far Does The Average Amateur Golfer Hit Their 3-Wood?
Hitting a 3-wood is a valuable skill in golf, but how far does the average amateur golfer hit this versatile club? The latest Shot Scope data reveals all...
-
Do You Play Par-3s Better Than The Average Amateur Golfer? Compare Using The Latest 2025 Data....
Amateur golfers can make or break their round based on par-3 scoring, but how well does the average player navigate these tricky tests? This data reveals all...
-
How Far Does The Average Amateur Golfer Hit Their 4-Iron?
The 4-iron is a versatile ally to amateur golfers, helping to escape trouble and eat up distance, but how far does the average golfer hit this useful club?
-
How Often Would An Amateur Golfer Hit The 12th Green At Augusta National?
The stunning 12th hole at Augusta National is an iconic Masters test, but have you ever wondered how you might fare against the famous par 3 at Amen Corner?
-
How Far Does The Average Female Club Golfer Hit Their Driver?
We've looked at the data... Find out if you are hitting your driver an average distance