New data reveals how far we all ACTUALLY hit our drives on the golf course!
Are you above or below the average for distance and accuracy based on your age and golf handicap? Arccos reveals all with its latest data.
Ever wondered where you really stand when it comes to average driving distance and accuracy based on your golf handicap? Well if so you're in luck as Arccos has landed its latest shot data on our desk.
Arccos' 2022 Driving Distance Report has filed fresh data based on more than 20 million drives from around the world.
The data comes just a week after the USGA and R&A revealed golf ball bifurcation plans in the professional game from 2026.
Some PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy are in favour of the decision to rollback the golf ball, while others such as Justin Thomas and WGC Match Play champion Sam Burns have criticised the "silly" idea.
As you will see from both driving distance and driving accuracy tables outlined in this article below, Arccos crunches the numbers from professionals and better players all the way through to higher-handicap golfers and golf beginners.
Related: Best Golf Drivers 2023
Age ranges are separated into the following: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79.
To play along below, simply find your age (top row) and your handicap (first column) to see whether you are above or below the average for your criteria.
For example, if you are 35 years old and playing off a 14 handicap, the average driving distance is 234 yards.
Let's start with driving distance before moving on to driving accuracy.
2022 DRIVING DISTANCE AVERAGES ACROSS AGE AND HANDICAP (DATA SUPPLIED BY ARCCOS):
As you can see from the latest driving distance data above, those players off +0.1 or better hit the ball furthest in the 20-29 age range at 274 yards.
Given the average handicap is said to be 14, here's how the distance averages break down across age ranges: 231 yards (15-19), 237 yards (20-29), 234 yards (30-39), 225 yards (40-49), 216 yards (50-59), 205 yards (60-69), 194 yards (70-79).
How did you fare?
Okay, let's see how you stack up when it comes keeping the ball on the straight and narrow off the tee...
The same process applies.
Find your age on the top row and handicap down the left side.
For example, if you are 45 years old and play off 18, then the average amount of fairways found in a round is just under half at 42%.
Are you above or below the average?
2022 DRIVING ACCURACY AVERAGES ACROSS AGE AND HANDICAP (DATA SUPPLIED BY ARCCOS):
As you can see from the table above, the golden oldies between a scratch and 4.9 handicap fare best in terms of accuracy as they find 60% of the fairways during a round.
Taking a look at the average handicap range once more (14), here's how the accuracy averages break down: 45% (15-19), 39% (20-29), 40% (30-39), 44% (40-49), 47% (50-59), 51% (60-69), 56% (70-79).
It just goes to show the older and less powerful you get, you are statistically much more likely to find the short stuff than a young bomber!
For more information about Arccos, please visit their website.
Anyway, that's the latest data filed by Arccos for the 2022 season. How did you fare in terms of driving distance and driving accuracy based on your age range and handicap? We'd love to know, so come and share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels, or head over to our GolfMagic YouTube Channel and tell us there.
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
