You Don’t Need More Distance – You Need Your Distance
Settle in. Let’s talk golf.
I wrote an earlier post about how I struggled to know which club to use based on distance to the green.
In short, I spent time at the range and came up with general distances per club. For example:
• 150 yards for my 5-iron
• Then working up or down about 10 yards per club
So yeah… about 160 for a 4-iron.
Not exactly tour numbers… but we’re working on it.
But since that post, I’m now averaging closer to 170 yards with my 5-iron.
(No, I didn’t suddenly get stronger… just less bad.)
As we say on BTS:
Small Changes. Better Golf.
I even created a simple sheet to track my distances so I could keep it top of mind.
And as you might expect… I had a Monster in hand and started thinking (dangerous combination):
“How and why is this actually working?”
Next thing you know… I’m down the rabbit hole researching everything (aka fact-checking my own addiction).
Lucky for you… you benefit from my neurosis.
One of the biggest traps in golf isn’t your swing.
It’s your expectations.
You know the one…
Thinking you’re one invite away from being Rory McIlroy’s partner in a Pro-Am.
Yeah… same here.
Not happening anytime soon.
The Reality Check
We all think we know how far we hit each club.
Driver? “About 260.”
7-iron? “150 easy.”
But if we’re being honest… that’s usually our best shot.
Not our normal one.
And that difference?
That’s where strokes quietly pile up.
Usually in the form of “Why am I always short?”
The Problem With “That One Shot”
Here’s what most golfers do:
We remember the pure one.
The 7-iron that flew 160 and felt effortless.
And then… we build our entire game around it.
But reality looks more like this:
• One goes 165 (perfect)
• One goes 140 (a little thin)
• One goes 120 (not great)
• One goes 150 (solid)
So what’s your distance?
It’s not 165.
It’s not even 150.
It’s your typical shot.
What the Data Actually Shows
Systems like Arccos Golf and Shot Scope track everything – the good, the bad, and the “what was that?”
And what they show is simple:
You’re not as consistent as you think… and that’s okay.
Your distances aren’t a single number.
They’re a range.
A 7-iron might realistically look like:
• Low end: ~120–130
• High end: ~160–165
• Typical: ~140–145
That “typical” number is what matters.
Because that’s the shot that shows up the most.
Why This Changes Everything
When you start playing your typical distance instead of your best distance, a few things happen:
• You hit more greens (or at least the front of them)
• You come up short less often (huge)
• Your misses become more predictable
• Your confidence goes up
And suddenly… golf feels a lot less confusing.
And maybe the biggest one…
You stop forcing shots that aren’t really there.
A Simple Example
You’ve got 150 to the pin.
Old mindset:
“7-iron goes 150. Let’s go.”
New mindset:
“My 7-iron is usually 140–145… this might need a 6.”
That one small adjustment?
That’s the difference between the shot you wanted… vs the shot you actually hit.:
• Front bunker
• Middle of the green
Bonus translation: “Use more club.”
You’ve heard that watching PGA rounds…
now you actually know why.
Smarter Off the Tee Too
This doesn’t just apply to approach shots.
Off the tee, knowing your real distances helps you:
• Stay short of bunkers
• Avoid trouble
• Pick smarter lines
Instead of guessing… you’re choosing your shot.
The Takeaway
You don’t need to swing harder.
You don’t need a new club.
You just need to understand your game a little better.
Because golf isn’t about your best shot…
It’s about your most repeatable one.
The Next Shot
Your next shot doesn’t have to be perfect – just intentional.
Loosen up. Then let the club do the work.
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
