Arccos Distance Report: More Distance? Not for Amateurs

Golf is getting longer—or so it seems when watching the professional tours. Drives of 300 yards, new ball regulations, and debates over course redesigns dominate the headlines. But away from the cameras and the spotlight of major championships, the story is different. According to the 2025 Arccos Distance Report, amateur driving distance has remained virtually unchanged. Men are averaging 224,7 yards off the tee, women around 176,2 yards—numbers nearly identical to those recorded in 2018. The data comes from over 6.5 million tracked drives. And it paints a clear picture: the distance boom simply isn’t happening in everyday golf.

Average driving distances for men and women since 2018. (Source: Arccos)

Arccos data says: Youth Hits Far—Age Hits Fairways

One factor that does make a clear difference is age. Male golfers between 15 and 19 years old average about 241,6 yards off the tee.

Driving distances among young male golfers by handicap, 2018–2024. (Source: Arccos)

Those over 70, on the other hand, average just 190,5 yards. The pattern holds for women as well: in their 20s, average drives exceed 201,1 yards, while in their 60s, they dip to around 158,4 yards.

Driving distances among older male golfers by handicap, 2018–2024. (Source: Arccos)

However, accuracy improves with every decade. Male golfers in their 70s find the fairway 60% of the time—compared to just 42% for those in their 20s. Less power, more precision.

Arccos data reveals: Less distance, more accuracy with age. (Source: Arccos)

Better Golf Means Longer—and Straighter

Does hitting it farther mean playing better? According to Arccos, yes. Golfers with a handicap under 5 average 250 yards off the tee. Those with handicaps over 30? Just 185 yards. But it’s not just about length—it’s also about accuracy. Better players not only hit it farther; they also hit more fairways, with nearly a 9-point edge in accuracy over high handicappers. Distance and control aren’t mutually exclusive—in fact, they go hand in hand.

And the Pros? A League of Their Own

While Arccos presents the numbers with scientific detachment, the governing bodies R&A and USGA continue their heated discussions over distance and potential “rollback” ball rules—aimed solely at the game’s elite. The plan: a rollback of roughly 14 yards, but only for tour players. For everyone else, the Arccos data offers reassurance: there’s no need to worry. The average golfer isn’t hitting it farther than seven years ago. But they are, ever so slightly, getting more accurate.