When we did our 2024 best golf club testing, we strongly emphasized accuracy in the irons and wedges. However, when it comes to the driver, distance is king. Very few golfers are willing to give up 10 or even five yards to get the ball a little closer to the center of the fairway. We looked at some stats from Shot Scope to see what is better for your game: distance or accuracy. The results may surprise some of you.
A look at fairways hit
The average golfer hits around 47 percent of fairways with their driver. The higher the handicap, the more likely the drive will miss to the right of the fairway (for a right-handed golfer).
Average driver distance is about 70 yards longer for the zero handicap golfer than the 25 handicap.
Let’s say, as a whole, golfers hit the fairway about half the time.
Fairway Hit and Miss Percentages by Handicap
| Handicap | Left Miss % | Fairway Hit % | Right Miss % | Bunker % | Penalty % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 hcp | 23% | 50% | 23% | 3% | 1% |
| 5 hcp | 22% | 51% | 24% | 2% | 1% |
| 10 hcp | 25% | 48% | 24% | 2% | 1% |
| 15 hcp | 24% | 47% | 25% | 2% | 2% |
| 20 hcp | 26% | 45% | 26% | 1% | 2% |
| 25 hcp | 19% | 46% | 27% | 4% | 4% |
An accurate golfer versus an inaccurate golfer
To determine if distance or accuracy is more important, we took stats on a 15-handicap golfer hitting from the rough and the fairway. We analyzed at a distance of 150 yards from the pin in a clean lie and then at 120 yards in the rough.
These statistics are calculated exclusively using approach shots on par-4 holes to provide a focused analysis of this scenario. You can see that the average 15-handicap golfer is just as likely to par the hole from 150 yards out in the fairway as from 120 yards in the rough.
However, the most important takeaway is the statistic from 120 yards in the fairway. You’ll see that hitting your tee shot 30 yards further and being in the fairway saves about a quarter of a shot.
Average Golfer (15 Handicap) – Approach Shot Statistics
| Distance to Pin | Lie Type | Proximity (ft) | Shots to Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 yds | Fairway | 75.4 | 3.7 |
| 120 yds | Rough | 84.3 | 3.7 |
| 120 yds | Fairway | 53.5 | 3.45 |
What does this mean for your game?
If you try to hit the ball further, purchase the club that goes longer or spend some time speed training to gain those extra yards: you are giving yourself a better chance of scoring lower.
Yes, you may lose some accuracy when you start hitting longer drives.
However, if you are getting extra distance (30 yards or more), it should not cost you additional strokes. If you can learn to incorporate some accuracy and get that longer drive in the fairway, you can save at least a quarter of a shot.
Thirty yards, however, is the key number.
If you can hit 30 yards further, you won’t lose strokes even if you end up in the rough .
What if you can’t hit it 30 yards further?
Shot Scope found 30 yards to be the sweet spot for making those less accurate drives worth going for. If you can’t quite get that much extra distance, a ball in the fairway is better.
If you have 150 yards to the green from the fairway or 145 yards from the rough, you’ll finish the hole in fewer shots when hitting from the fairway. The goal is to get to 120 yards. If you can get to 120 yards, then you’ll notice the difference.
How to add those extra 30 yards
If you are already a long hitter and have spent some time gaining swing speed through various methods, you’ll know that adding 30 yards is a lot.
Here are some tips to help add distance if you think it’s currently holding you back.
Put the right driver in play
Our 2024 testing showed that there are more than 15 yards of distance between the best driver for distance and the worst. If you haven’t gone for a golf club fitting or are playing a driver known for having weaker distance performance, it could cost you yards. Here are the top 37 Best Golf Drivers ranked by Distance.
Check your golf ball
Another easy way to add a few extra yards is to play a golf ball that helps with distance. When we tested golf balls in 2023, the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash and Titleist Pro V1x were the best for distance. Not far behind was the Vice Pro Plus.
Work with a professional
The general belief is that adding one mile per hour of clubhead speed can translate to two to three yards of extra distance off the tee. Therefore, if you are looking for an extra 20 to 30 yards of distance, you may need close to 10 more mph of swing speed.
That’s a big change.
However, the exact gain from adding speed depends on your current swing speed and your efficiency. Some players with faster and more efficient swings may notice two to three yards of extra distance per every mile per hour increase.
Talk to a golf fitness coach about your goals and then use a launch monitor to ensure that your launch angle and spin rates are working for you.
Final thoughts
A 15-handicap golfer has about a 50/50 chance of hitting the fairway off the tee. Take the chance and try to get 30 yards closer to the hole. If you can, it won’t cost you any shots.
If you do find the fairway, you’ll gain a quarter of a shot and it only takes a few of those to drop your handicap. To answer the initial question (distance or accuracy?), distance is the answer in this scenario.
Kevin
1 year ago
Because many, or most, of us don’t play a 2024 driver it would be really helpful to replace your “longest 37 drivers of 2024” report with a “2020-2024 drivers ranked by distance” report. That would allow me to know how many yards I might gain by buying a new driver.
Kevin
1 year ago
Per the “Top 37 Best Drivers Ranked By Distance” linked above, the shortest driver in the 2024 test was the Krank Formula Fire Pro at 240.07 yards. The longest 2024 driver was the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Triple Diamond at 255.75 yards. Going back 5 years, per the “MGS Most Wanted Driver 2019 Mid Swing Speed” article the shortest 2019 driver is the Bridgestone JGR at 227.93 yards. The longest 2019 driver was the Taylormade M6 at 244.65 yards.