Golf Digest had an article in it a couple months ago telling how far several pros hit their 7-iron, and there is quite a bit of difference between them. Corey Pavin hits his 160 yards compared to Angel Cabrera’s 185. Corey Pavin is actually tied with the longest hitting LPGA pro, Michelle Wie at 160. Morgan Pressel is the shortest at 135.
So there is quite a wide range between players. I wouldn’t feel bad if you are a male, but don’t hit it as far as Corey Pavin. You should probably feel bad if you only hit it as far as Morgan Pressel. I would tell you how far I hit my 7-iron, but it would make you feel bad. Living over 5000 feet elevation can be a pain in the neck for food preparation, but it’s great for making you feel like you can hit the ball a long way. There is a substantial difference between playing at altitude and at sea-level.
I like to practice my swing on the driving range with either my 7-iron or 8-iron. It’s a good club for a full swing, and more forgiving than a longer iron.
A 7-iron can also be valuable for chipping near the green. If you’re just barely off the fringe, and there is several yards of green to work with between you and the hole, it’s good to get the ball rolling by chipping with an iron. This does require practice, but whenever I managed to chip it in, this is almost always the method I’ve used. Harvey Penick recommended imagining that there’s a park bench sitting near the edge of the green, and to imagine that you have to chip under the bench. This is a much more accurate and reliable method than chipping with a wedge.
So there are many uses for the 7-iron, and it’s one of the clubs people love most.
Here’s how far all the pros on the list hit their 7-iron.
Angel Cabrera – 185
Phil Mickelson – 183
Tiger Woods – 180
Camilo Villegas – 177
Stewart Cink – 174
Justin Rose – 170
Luke Donald – 168
Corey Pavin – 160
Michelle Wie – 160
Cristie Kerr – 155
Lorena Ochoa – 150
Morgan Pressel – 135
