The PGA Tour is the highest level of professional golf. PGA golfers are the best of the best, and they have the stats to back it up. One statistic that offers insight into a player’s ability is ball speed. But what’s the average ball speed of a golfer on the PGA Tour?
The average ball speed on the PGA Tour is 171.7mph 276 kph) at the time of writing. In most years, the average ball speed on the PGA Tour is about 169mph (272kph). However, some golfers maintain an average ball speed of 190 mph (305 kph). Usually, golfers with high ball speed hit the ball further.
Continue reading this piece for an in-depth analysis of average ball speeds on the PGA Tour. I will examine how ball speed is measured, the significance of the number, and I’ll discuss the average ball speeds on the LPGA Tour.
What Is Ball Speed?
Before I can get into the nitty-gritty of the averages of ball speed on the PGA Tour, it’s worthwhile clarifying what I mean by ball speed. So, what is ball speed, and what is it used to signify in a PGA Tour golfer?
Ball speed is the speed of the ball immediately after being struck by a golf club. Ball speed is measured to learn more about how hard a golfer hits the ball. The higher the speed of the ball after a hit, the further the ball is going to travel down the course.
How Is Ball Speed Measured on the PGA Tour?
Ball speed is measured by taking the maximum speed of the golf ball after getting hit on par 4 and par 5 holes on the PGA Tour. The measurement is taken with a high-speed camera or a specific apparatus that measures how fast the ball travels after impact.
It’s worth noting that ball speed is only measured from hits with the driver at tee-off during the PGA Tour. On top of this, tee-offs taken on par 3 holes do not count towards the average ball speed on the PGA Tour.
The Importance of Ball Speed on the PGA Tour
Now that you know what ball speed is and how it’s measured on the PGA Tour, it’s time to examine the importance of ball speed. Why do golf fans pay attention to this statistic, and what can you learn about a golfer by their average ball speed?
Ball speed is an essential measurement that indicates how far a golfer can hit the ball. In most cases, an increase of 1mph (1.61kmh) of ball speed will add roughly two yards to a drive. As a result, ball speed is tracked by experts to see which golfer can hit the ball the hardest and the farthest.
While the average ball speed on the PGA Tour is helpful information, it does not signify who is likely to win the tour. However, a golfer with a low average ball speed will likely struggle against the best golfers in the world.
What Is Considered a High Ball Speed on the PGA Tour?
You know what the average ball speed is on the PGA Tour. So let’s now examine the golfers who perform at the higher end of the scale. What average ball speeds must a golfer obtain to be considered by fans to have a high ball speed on the PGA Tour?
171 mph to 190 mph (273kph to 305kph) is considered a high ball speed on the PGA Tour. Some golfers can even exceed 190mph ball speeds, although any golfer with ball speeds above 170mph is generally considered above average.
Which Golfer Has the Highest Ball Speed on the PGA Tour?
By this stage in the article, you are well aware of what the average ball speed is on the PGA Tour. However, I’ve yet to mention which golfer has the highest average ball speed currently. So, who has the highest ball speed on the PGA Tour?
Cameron Champ is the golfer who has the highest ball speed on the PGA Tour, at the time of writing. Cameron Champ’s average ball speed is 188.2 mph (302 kph), according to the PGA official website. In second place comes Brandon Hagy with 186.5mph (300kph).
Which Golfer Has the Lowest Average Ball Speed on the PGA Tour?
Let’s now take a look at the opposite end of the scale. Which golfer has the lowest average ball speed on the current PGA Tour?
The golfer who has the lowest average ball speed on the PGA Tour is Brendan Todd at the time of writing. Brendan Todd has an average ball speed of 156.5mph (251kph). While this ball speed is substantially lower than the highest on tour, it’s not too far from the average.
What Is the Average Ball Speed for LPGA Tour?
The ladies’ PGA Tour, or LPGA Tour, is the highest level of women’s golf competitions. Therefore, I figured that it’s worth your time to take a peek at what the average ball speed is for the LPGA and how much, if any, of a difference there is between the two?
The average ball speed for the LPGA Tour is 140mph (225kph). This average ball speed is close to the men’s golf division, with a low ball speed on the PGA Tour. Some LPGA golfers maintain a higher average ball speed than some PGA Tour golfers.
Key Takeaways
The average ball speed on the PGA Tour is 171mph (276 kph). This measurement is taken by tracking the speed of a golf ball immediately after being struck by a golfer on tee-off. The ball speed is used to gauge how far a golfer can hit a ball with a driver. Only tee-offs on par 4s and par 5s are counted in this statistic. For the women’s tour, the average ball speed is 140mph (225kph).
The golfer with the highest average ball speed is Cameron Champ, while the golfer with the lowest average ball speed is Brendan Todd.