Average Driver Swingspeeds – COMPLETE GUIDE by Age, Handicap etc.

Jack Nicklaus didn’t have his swingspeed tested until 1998 by which time he was 58 years old and his record breaking 18 major winning career was well behind him.

But in modern golf, driver swing speed has become almost as important to players as their actual driving yardages simply because a higher swingspeed – or club speed as it is also called – typically means more distance.

With launch monitors now commonplace at driving ranges and golf clubs across the world, golfers are increasingly aware of their swingspeed numbers and want to know how they stack up against both their peers and the pros they watch on TV.

Comparisons across the entire population of male amateur golfers is a great starting point but a much better measure for most is how we are matching up against those closest to us in playing standard or age group.

So let’s take a deep dive into the data of how fast the average amateur male golfer should swing broken down by handicap and age.

And as an added bonus we’ll take a look at how this all stacks up against the best pros on the PGA and LIV Tours as well as the club speed world record holder!

Key takeaways

• Lower handicap players consistently produce higher driver swing speeds, with scratch golfers averaging 110 mph compared to the average male amateur of handicap 14.2 at 94 mph
• Each 1 mph increase in swing speed can add up to 3 yards (2.7 metres) of distance according to Trackman data. Stats also show that increased distance directly correlates to lower scores
• Age significantly impacts swing speed, with median speeds dropping an estimated 20 mph from a peak for golfers between 17 to 29 year olds to players over 60 years old
• PGA Tour average driver swing speeds have increased from 112.37 mph in 2007 to 115.91 mph in 2024, showing the growing emphasis on speed in professional golf

Average Driver Swingspeed by Handicap. Speed It Up to Get Lower!

The standard and simplest measure to compare regular amateurs with each other is of course handicap.

So when it comes to judging how your average driver swingspeed matches up with others seeing how the averages range across different handicap categories is a logical and great place to start.

As a whole lower handicaped male golfers have faster driver swingspeeds than higher handicappers and according to Trackman they vary by handicap as follows:

• Scratch or better: 110 mph
• 5 handicap: 101 mph
• 10 handicap: 95 mph
• 14.2 handicap: 94 mph (Average male amateur)
• 20 handicap: 92 mph (Bogey golfer)
• 25+ handicap: 60 to 80 mph

Club/swing speed is the key factor for determining a golfer’s ‘potential’ distance and Trackman, arguably the leader in golf launch monitor technology, estimates that each 1mph increase can add up to 3 yards (2.7 metres) of distance.

And their data shows a clear pattern – lower handicapped players consistently produce higher driver swingspeeds on average.

There are exceptions to all rules of course and the Internet and regular amateur discussions on this topic are awash with stories of high handicapped golfers who produce high driver swingspeeds.

But the link between higher club speeds and lower handicaps is clear and when you further note the average driver swingspeed on the PGA Tour is over 115 mph the evidence for that connection becomes yet more unarguable.

Club/Swing Speed Matters But It Is a Balancing Act

And why does swing speed matter?

Put simply it is because analysis by the golf stats gurus is also crystal clear that increased hitting the ball further off the tee, that comes from higher driver swingspeeds, directly impacts scoring.

According to Professor Mark Broadie, the pioneer of the strokes gained metrics, a 20-yards increase in driving distance saves approximately:

• 2.3 strokes for the 100-scoring players
• 1.6 strokes for 90-scoring golfers, and
• 1.3 strokes for 80-scoring players.

It is vital however that amateur golfers understand is that while the link between higher swingspeeds and lower handicaps (via increased distance) is obvious they should not be pursuing ever-increasing club speeds above all else.

And that is because what ultimately determines driver distance is not solely about increased swing speed.

For example, when you consider that the average swingspeed on the LPGA Tour is almost identical to that of the average male amateur (96 mph vs 93.4 mph) you may expect because of this that they will hit the ball similar distances.

But while the average man drives the ball around 225 yards typically the top pros in the women’s game average a total distance of 260 yards. That’s an enormous 35 yards extra with close to the driver swingspeed.

So if you are really serious about hitting the ball further you will need to marry increased swingspeed with all the other elements that determine driver distance which we look at an in-depth look at here.

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• The Stack System
• Fit for Golf (Use discount code GOLFINGFOCUS20 for 20% off annual subscriptions!)

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Average Driver Clubhead Speed by Age. Maintenance is Key

Looking at average driver swingspeeds by handicap is all very well but golfers often play most regularly with their age group peers.

And given age is one of the most common factors affecting driver swingspeed understanding its’ impact helps set realistic expectations and goals.

Par4Success – a Golf Digest Top 50 Golf Fitness Trainer – comprehensive study of over 600 junior, regular and senior golfers over a 4 year period is the best publicly available data on driver club speed by age and provides valuable insights.

Here are their estimated median driver swing speeds for different age groups:

• 17 to 29 year olds: 113 mph
• 30 to 50 year olds: 103 mph
• 50 to 60 year olds: 99 mph
• 60+ year olds: 93 mph

However the smallness of the sample size and the almost identical 113mph median swing speed recorded for 17 to 29 years compared to PGA Tour pros – who average 115 mph – suggests that these numbers are high and are not a perfect benchmark for those looking to compare their swingspeed with players of a similar age.

Further given that Par4Success used Flightscope launch monitors for their testing, which give a 3-4mph higher swing speed measurement in comparison to Trackman, Golfing Focus would put forward the below estimated median driver swing speeds for different age groups as potentially more realistic.

What helps though, and makes sense when put alongside Golfing Focus’ deep dive into average driving distances across age groups, is that these numbers back up the statement that golfers lose swing speed and therefore distance as they age.

That the average golfer is statistically most likely to swing at their fastest up to the age of 29 fits the data collected from tens millions of golf shots analysed by Arccos users that show 20 to 29 years olds average the highest driving distances.

What’s encouraging also is that decline in swing speed is typically gradual until the age of 60 before it then starts to accelerate.

Further given the expanding availability of training programs and systems specifically targeted at helping golfers maintain swing speed and therefore distance as they age there is a lot of help out there to ensure you keep up with your peers.

The Evolution of Average Club Speeds on the PGA Tour

It is often not a the best idea but amateur golfers can’t help but compare themselves with the pros.

And given the pro game as seen a remarkable evolution in driver swing speeds over the past decade in particular the same is true when it comes to average driver club speeds on the PGA Tour.

The current PGA Tour average driver swing speed is around 115.91 mph according to the latest Shotlink stats and this represents a significant increase from previous eras.

Let’s look at how these numbers have changed:

• 2007: 112.37 mph
• 2012: 113.02 mph
• 2017: 113.85 mph
• 2021: 114.42 mph
• 2024: 115.91 mph

What these numbers clearly show is that the best pros in the world have been focusing on increasing their driver swing speed consistently over the years.

The straight forward reason behind this is that more swing speed is a gateway to let them drive the ball further – and more distance means lower scores.

Unlike us regular amateurs the top pros are consistently striking the ball near the sweet spot of their driver and therefore are experts at maximising the transfer of the swing speed they generate into ball speed which is the single biggest determing factor in the distance a golf ball actually carries.

PGA Tour players are therefore well aware that whatever work they do to increase their driver swing speed will pay dividends.

And as a result you are as likely to find them in the gym or using speed training programs, with a focus on generating more club speed, as you are on the range.

Even more telling is the distribution of driver club speeds among Tour players:

• 2010: 55 players (29%) averaged over 115 mph
• 2024: 113 players (61%) averaged over 115 mph

While distance continues to be such a big factor in the modern game this trend is likely to continue.

And when you look at the average driver club speeds of the some of the very best, and including even veterans such as Adam Scott, it is no surprise that they are well above that 115 mph baseline mark!

PLAYER	AVERAGE DRIVER SWING SPEED
Rory McIlroy	123.6 mph
Scottie Scheffler	119.21 mph
Adam Scott	119.31 mph
Bryson DeChambeau	132.25 mph
Xander Schauffele	123.05 mph
Ludvig Aberg	119.34 mph
Max Homa	118.88 mph
Brooks Koepka	120.61 mph

Long Driving Pros Take Speeds To The Extremes!

For a bit fun finally for those wondering how fast the long driving pros swing the club here’s Sam Attanasio setting a driver club speed world record of 172.5 mph in November 2024!

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Before You Go …

Driver swing speed is the key factor for determining a golfer’s ‘potential’ distance.

So to check out how far you ‘should’ be hitting the ball with the driver club speed you have in our next article

How Far Should Your Driver Swingspeed Go? 60 To 120 Mph Guide

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