Benchmark Drive Distance

Question
I have just started golf (no handicap yet) but need to know per club what should be the average benchmark to strive to for a 46 yr old, 6ft1" 270 pounds (ex rugby player)

Answer
Hi there and apologies for the delay... As far as distance goes, it is pretty subjective, and it all depends on how you hit the ball.  I know most people hate answers like this, but let me tell you something.  If you are a big strong guy and making decent "contact" and hitting balls miles in the air and but you dont think you hit it far, there is a reason for that.  When you have hit some easy swings and the balls goes just as far or sometimes farther, there is a reason for that.  So bottom line is, there are tons of determining factors for distance.  So if you are asking what your driving distance should be compared to a senior tour level player of your build, thats one thing... but as a beginner, distance is truly irrelevant, you have to believe me on that.

That having been said, let's say you are a 10 handicap.  The I can give you some distances you should be hitting on an average shot provided that you know how to hit on a decending blow, that you have low spin rate on your driver, and you make pretty good contact in a sweeping motion off the turf with your woods.  I am also assuming average flexibility for your age, which actually, is a lot more relevant than strength.

D1: 250-260 yds in the air
3W off turf: 220-230 in air
5i: 185 in air
7i: 150
9i: 130
SW: 90

Just keep in miind that the shorter hitting pros on tour hit maybe 10 yards farther than all those distances I gave you, in case you were thinking I was cheating you.  However, they hit those distances about 90+% of the time they strike a ball, not every other time or every 3rd time.  They also control the spin, flight and take advantage of conditions. Even with those hyped up driving distances, even Tiger would be happy with a 280 yard drive in the air straight down the middle.  Keep in mind also, PGA fairways play like most of your greens on public courses.  Balls roll over 20-30 yards... I play in southern FL, so when I hit a drive over 300 yards, that is over 350 in AZ or NV, easily.

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