Yardage Gaps
Yardage gaps are the distance differences between consecutive clubs in your bag. Even, consistent gaps (typically 10–15 yards per club) minimize the situations where no club covers a specific distance.
If a 7-iron goes 145 yards and the 6-iron goes 155 yards, there is a 10-yard gap — manageable. If the gap between a pitching wedge and a gap wedge is 30 yards, a player will have multiple distances they cannot cover at all, leaving every shot in that window to chance. Wedge gapping (ensuring 10–12 yard intervals between the highest-lofted irons) is the most important fitting conversation for scoring golfers. Many amateurs carry 3–4 wedges without knowing their exact carry distances.
Example
A player uses a launch monitor to discover their PW goes 112, GW goes 95, and SW goes 78 — a 17-yard gap and then a 17-yard gap, covering the 78–112 yard window well.
Related terms
- Club SelectionClub selection is choosing the right club for each shot based on real carry distance, lie, wind, elevation, and hazard placement — one of the highest-impact decisions in scoring.
- Carry DistanceCarry distance is how far the ball travels through the air before it first lands — distinct from total distance, which includes roll.
- Distance ControlDistance control is calibrating how far the ball travels — in putting by swing length and tempo, in the short game by carry distance — so the ball ends up close to its target.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.