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Golf Benchmarks

Benchmark ranges for adult recreational and competitive golfers using a driver, unless otherwise noted.

Metric	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced	Elite
Ball Speed mph	100–120	120–145	145–165	165–180+
Club Head Speed mph	70–85	85–100	100–110	110–130+
Launch Angle (Driver) degrees	8–12 or 18+	12–18	12–16	10–14
Spin Rate (Driver) rpm	3,500–5,000+	2,800–3,500	2,400–2,800	2,000–2,500
Smash Factor ratio	1.30–1.40	1.40–1.45	1.45–1.48	1.48–1.50
Carry Distance (Driver) yards	150–190	190–230	230–270	270–320+
Attack Angle (Driver) degrees	-5 to 0	0 to +2	+1 to +4	+2 to +5

What Each Metric Means

Ball Speed (mph): How fast the ball leaves the clubface with a driver. The primary driver of carry distance.
Club Head Speed (mph): How fast the clubhead moves through the hitting zone. Determines potential distance.
Launch Angle (Driver) (degrees): The vertical angle the ball leaves the face. Optimal range for most players is 12–16°.
Spin Rate (Driver) (rpm): Total spin on the ball. Lower spin reduces ballooning and increases distance for driver.
Smash Factor (ratio): Ball speed divided by club head speed. Measures strike efficiency. Maximum is ~1.50.
Carry Distance (Driver) (yards): How far the ball travels through the air with a driver.
Attack Angle (Driver) (degrees): Vertical angle of approach. Positive = hitting up. Slightly positive reduces spin and increases distance.

Import a session and SwingIQ shows your golf numbers against these benchmarks automatically.