Run Distances
The run distance of a shot is how far it runs after it has landed. The flat run distance is the run distance on a notionally flat course. The actual run distance will depend on the slope of our landing area together with many other factors. If you are interested in the carry distance, visit this page.
You will care about the run distance when you are hitting a drive and fairway shot and you are hoping not to run into a water hazard. When you are hitting an approach shot, you will want to be able to estimate the carry and run distance to ensure the ball will stop as close to the pin as possible. Clearly it is also important for pitch and chip shots.
The run of the ball is sensitive to a wider range of conditions than the carry, because by definition carry is only the airborne part of the ball trajectory. here are some factors that can affect run.
Unfortunately you cannot go to a driving range to get a good idea of the run of each club. The reason for this is that the surface of most driving range are bear little resemblance to a real fairway. The best way to get an idea is to take a notebook with you, and when you are hitting onto a flat fairway or flat, non-elevated green, take note of the run. Clearly this will take time, because the actual run on the same course can vary from day to day, depending on the conditions. In the meantime, the following table will give you an approximate idea of how the flat run will vary with club loft. Take this table with a grain of salt, ultimately you are going to have to learn the run by playing lots of golf (there are worse fates). Below the table is a summary of how different conditions affect the run.
|
Club |
Loft (degrees) |
Distance for men (yards) |
Distance for women (yards) |
|
Driver |
8 - 13 |
33 |
23 |
|
2-wood |
12 - 15 |
31 |
22 |
|
3-wood |
12 - 17 |
30 |
21 |
|
4-wood |
15 - 19 |
28 |
20 |
|
5-wood |
19 - 21 |
27 |
19 |
|
6-wood |
21 - 23 |
25 |
18 |
|
7-wood |
23 - 25 |
23 |
16 |
|
8-wood |
25 - 27 |
22 |
15 |
|
9-wood |
26 - 28 |
20 |
14 |
|
1-iron |
15 - 18 |
30 |
20 |
|
2-iron |
18 - 20 |
27 |
17 |
|
3-iron |
21 - 24 |
24 |
16 |
|
4-iron |
25 - 28 |
22 |
14 |
|
5-iron |
28 - 32 |
20 |
13 |
|
6-iron |
32 - 36 |
18 |
12 |
|
7-iron |
36 - 40 |
16 |
10 |
|
8-iron |
40 - 44 |
14 |
9 |
|
9-iron |
45 - 48 |
12 |
7 |
|
Pitching wedge |
48 - 52 |
5 |
3 |
|
Gap wedge |
52 - 54 |
4 |
3 |
|
Sand wedge |
54 - 58 |
3 |
2 |
|
Lob wedge |
58 - 62 |
3 |
2 |
Effect of Conditions on Run
If the putting surface is very fast, then the ball run much further. Alternatively, if the putting surface is very slow, then the ball will stop more quickly.
During or just after rain, the course can be very damp, which greatly retards the run of the ball. This affects fairway shots as well as on the green. Alternatively if the course is very dry, then there will be much more run. It can be exhilarating to see your drives go much further when there is a lot of run, but bear in mind there are disadvantages as well. In particular, your ball can easily run into trouble such as hazards, or through the green. Maybe take a club less and stay on the fairway?
Wind can have some effect on the run, although it has a much greater effect on the carry.
The slope of the playing surface has a very large effect on the run. For instance if the green is sloping downwards, then it is very easy to run off the other side.
The elevation of the landing area also has an effect on run. If the landing area is below you, then the ball will land with a steeper part of the trajectory and so not run as far. Conversely, if the landing area is above you, then the ball will land with a flatter part of its trajectory and so run further.