Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Answer: There is some variation as to how fast a golf ball travels for an average player which largely depends on the golf club.
For instance, with a three-wood golf club, you can reach a clubhead rotation speed of 94 and a ball speed of 137 feet per second. With a four-iron, you can expect the clubhead rotation speed to be around 83 resulting in a ball speed of 121 feet per second.
For a seven-iron golf club, the clubhead rotation speed is even further reduced to 79 while the ball speed should be around 109 feet per second.
The maximum velocity (it’s a matter of physics) for a golf ball should be around 250 feet per second or around 170 miles per hour. There is also an average speed for a golf ball hit by a tour pro which is around 180 miles per hour.
Hitting a golf ball hard and true is key to a good round, as long as it lands where you want it to. The velocity of the golf ball largely depends on the club’s speed and the impact when it hits the ball.
Other factors include how streamlined your swing is and how accurate your aim is to have the best control over the club’s speed. The golf ball itself is also important as the higher the quality, the better the impact.
In this guide, we will look at how fast a golf ball travels, the factors that affect its speed, and how to increase that speed.
How Fast A Golf Ball Travels
There is some variation as to how fast a golf ball travels for an average player which largely depends on the golf club.
For instance, with a three-wood golf club, you can reach a clubhead rotation speed of 94 and a ball speed of 137 feet per second. With a four-iron, you can expect the clubhead rotation speed to be around 83 resulting in a ball speed of 121 feet per second.
For a seven-iron golf club, the clubhead rotation speed is even further reduced to 79 while the ball speed should be around 109 feet per second.
The maximum velocity for a golf ball should be around 250 feet per second or around 170 miles per hour. There is also an average speed for a golf ball hit by a tour pro which is around 180 miles per hour.
To this extent, the USGA and R&A have implemented limits on the golf balls. Their mass should not exceed 1.620 ounces and their diameter will not be less than 1.680 inches.
A golfer’s handicap can also have an impact on the speed of a golf ball which says something about their technique. A scratch or better handicap should have an average ball speed of around 161 miles per hour.
At a 5 handicap, you can expect a ball speed of 147 miles per hour, at 10 it should be around 138 miles per hour, and for a handicap above 14.5, the average ball speed should be about 131 miles per hour.
The Factors Affecting The Speed That A Golf Ball Travels
There are notable factors that affect the speed that a golf ball can potentially travel. These include the human factor, i.e. those factors that are attributed to the golfer. There are also factors that the golfer cannot control.
From The Golfer
The most telling factor for how fast a golf ball travels is going to be the golfer since it is their swing that creates the force to propel it.
Specifically, it is the golfer’s movements that affect the club’s impact on the golf ball. The faster the club moves through the air, the faster the ball should move too.
The golfer is also responsible for choosing the most suitable golf ball as some are ideal for a slow swing. Other golf balls are considered ‘low compression’ so they should generate more speed from a comparable impact.
Choosing the right golf ball means using them for the intention that you want then using them properly.
If the golf ball does not move as quickly as intended, that is likely down to the golfer failing to use the right club or using it without the best method.
An incorrect swing can also mean that the golf ball is not hit in its center of gravity, another factor that limits the speed it can travel at.
How strong and powerful the golfer is also matters when it comes to generating enough momentum in the swing to translate into the golf ball’s speed.
Finally, how confident the golfer is when swinging their club is important as nervousness that results in trembling arms and hands will limit the impact on the golf ball.
Externally From The Golfer
There are numerous factors that a golfer can control yet there are external factors that they cannot control. That could be incremental weather, the direction of the wind, air resistance, or even gravity.
Each of these factors will prove problematic for the speed of a golf ball so it is worth bearing them in mind.
A golfer could have some control over the weather by deciding on what days they go out to the golf course. Alas, scientific factors such as gravity and air resistance are nigh on impossible to avoid.
How To Increase The Speed A Golf Ball Travels
To increase the speed that a golf ball travels, practice on hitting it in the sweet spot. A golfer can also take on physical training to generate more momentum from their body and more flexibility too.
Also, finding the right golf balls and clubs should mean finding the best combination of your swing with the best equipment.
Final Thoughts
If you look at a golf club’s face then there is a notably small area where you can get a solid golf shot. This is known as the sweet spot where the face of a golf club makes contact with the golf ball and does not take up all of the club’s face.
A golfer should practice to ensure that they hit the golf ball as close to that sweet spot as possible. With enough practice, the golf ball should travel higher and for a longer distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Fast Should A Golf Ball Travel With A Driver?
The average ball speed with a driver for a PGA Tour pro should be about 167 miles per hour. On the LPGA Tour, this should be about 140 miles per hour while for the average amateur, it should be about 145 miles per hour.
What Force Is Applied To A Golf Ball?
When a golf ball is hit, the peak force should be around 4000 pounds which depends on the golfer’s swing and strength. An average swing of around 110 miles per hour should result in a golf ball traveling at 150 miles per hour.
