Introduction #
Most golfers assume they need all 14 clubs in the bag — but the reality is that your clubhead speed determines how many clubs are truly useful to you.
At Dunes Golf Centre in Fraserburgh, we see this every day during custom fittings and coaching sessions.
Understanding your speed can completely change how you structure your set — and ultimately, how well you play.
What Is Clubhead Speed and Why It Matters #
Clubhead speed is the velocity of your club at impact. It’s measured in miles per hour (mph) or kilometres per hour (km/h) and is the single biggest factor in how far the golf ball travels.
Faster swing speeds generate more distance and a higher ball flight, while slower speeds reduce distance and change how your shots gap between clubs.
Why Slower Swing Speeds Need Fewer Clubs #
If your swing speed is on the slower side, the distance gaps between consecutive clubs become smaller.
That means you may be carrying several clubs that go almost the same distance — especially at the long end of the bag.
Example: #
- A golfer swinging a 7-iron at 60 mph may hit it 120 yards.
- Their 6-iron might only carry 124 yards and their 5-iron 126 yards.
That’s only a 2-3 yard difference per club — hardly enough to justify carrying them all.
Instead, those golfers would benefit from higher-lofted clubs that launch the ball higher, stop faster, and actually create usable yardage gaps.
When Long Irons and Fairway Woods Stop Working #
Once your driver clubhead speed drops below around 70 mph, the need for a full sequence of consecutive irons almost disappears. The distance gap between each iron becomes so small that it’s practically unnoticeable.
For example, many golfers swinging under 70 mph may find their 7-iron, 6-iron and even 5-iron all travel within a few yards of each other. At that point, there’s little reason to carry every club in the set. Instead, you’re better off choosing a simplified setup such as a 7-iron, 9-iron and sand wedge for your scoring shots, and focusing on higher-lofted clubs that you can launch easily and consistently.
Anything longer and lower-lofted than a 5-wood or 7-wood is typically unusable at these speeds — the ball simply won’t get airborne with enough spin or carry distance to justify the space in your bag. Hybrids or high-lofted fairways become far more effective options.
This is why understanding your own swing speed matters. Knowing whether you’re under or over that 70 mph threshold helps you choose clubs that actually perform, rather than just fill a slot in the bag.
How to Find Out Your Clubhead Speed #
There are two simple ways to discover your true swing speed at Dunes Golf Centre:
1. Book a Lesson or Custom Fitting in the Studio #
Our Foresight GCQuad launch monitor provides precise clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle and spin rate for every shot.
This lets us show you exactly where your distance gaps are — and which clubs genuinely earn their place in your bag.
You can book a custom fitting here or call us on 01346 510693 to arrange a session.
2. Test It Yourself on the Toptracer Range #
If you prefer to experiment, use the My Practice mode on our Toptracer Range.
Hit 5-10 shots with each club and note the carry distance and consistency.
You’ll quickly see where your gaps are shrinking — and which clubs are overlapping.
Many golfers are surprised to learn that their 5-wood doesn’t go any further than their 7-wood, or that their 4-iron is harder to launch than their hybrid.
Technology like Toptracer gives you live feedback to make those discoveries instantly.
Building the Right Set for You #
Once you understand your speed, we can help you build a set that makes sense for your game — not one that’s based on tradition.
A well-fitted set might include more wedges and hybrids, and fewer long irons or fairway woods.
You’ll carry fewer clubs that duplicate distances and more that fill meaningful yardage gaps.
Conclusion #
Knowing your clubhead speed is the key to choosing the right clubs and maximising performance.
If you’re swinging below 70 mph, it’s time to rethink your long clubs and make sure each one in your bag has a real purpose.
Book a session in our GCQuad-equipped fitting studio or head to the Toptracer Range at Dunes Golf Centre in Fraserburgh to find out.
The numbers don’t lie — and they could save you shots (and money) every time you play.
