I'd trade accuracy over distance any day of the week & twice on Sunday's. You are doing nothing wrong. 8.2 at 65 from the blues is quite good. If you're really worried about distance, move up a tee box.

I have played in some tournaments from the Whites I mostly play with friends who are way younger than I. Most are 40 one gentleman is 54 . I guess I just remember hitting a lot longer when I was younger. I am just curious. They out distance me but I out score them. And they make fun of my original png Anser putter.

Curious...what distance are you hitting your 7 iron and why you think it's "short" ?

Hi , so I’m hitting my 7 iron about 140 I’m really accurate with it. I’m sure my past has caught up with. I’m using jumbo max grips on all my clubs. I used to run track I was an All American 3 time and did the decathlon so missed pole vault pit and other injuries hasn’t helped. I have a really bad left knee probably needs surgery. I was just curious. I play with guys 20+ years younger and they are hitting pitching wedge and I’m hitting 7 iron. I can always out score them just wasn’t sure if I was missing something. Thanks

Old age wins every time. You can only slow the progression.
My Spy Golf just posted a chart of distance, handicap an age. If you haven’t been fit since you got back, you may want to see if you fit this chart and if not, seek a fitter to ease this is still hope for you.

I'm 58 and my yardages are similar to when I was much younger... why? I'm now playing player's distance irons and its helped significantly.

We have four tee boxes, Blue, white, gold and red. For all levels. Just turned 80 this week and found that playing from the golds just was not fun anymore. Most of the guys in my men's league moved up to the reds when they reached 70. Did a little research and found that my best scores were when I played in our league play away from our courses it was indeed from the red tees. Even on a course I detest. Also read an article about when is it time to make the big move. The move to the reds. Found out the when your handicap and your age exceeds 85 you need to be playing from those forward tees. No stress, keeping the ball in the fairway, no searching for wayward shots. I made the big move two weeks ago and golf have become fun again and am now playing for the love of the game again. Know you are not my age and you are a much better player. But bet you might enjoy the game better if your moved up to the next tee. I was hitting a seven iron 150 yards for many years until I had back surgery (F4/5and S1 are now fused and of course the age factor. Realistically have lost two clubs with my irons. Loving the Titleist hybrids. Hardest adjustment, that mental thing. My buddies have asked me why I waited so long.

Must have had a senior moment. L4/L5, L5/S1 fused.

Thank you. Yes the guys I play with are 20+ years younger. I don’t mind playing from that tee box. We have Black, Yellow, Blue, White, Red so it’s 6871 yards from the blues. I shot a 79 yesterday. I am not upset it’s I hit a 7 iron and the guys I’m with are hitting pitching wedge. I still beat the because I’ve concentrated more on accuracy. Thank you again and thank you for your service.

I just track my distances in Meters now so it sounds a lot better.

Stop measuring the yardage. Just figure you are walking faster than when you were young so it takes less time to get to your ball, and with aging vision it just looks like the green is a long way off.

At 55, I'm actually hitting my irons further but it's just due to the decreased loft and hotter face of the T350's. I mess around with my old irons from time to time and I'm definitely shorter than I used to be with them. Get some new clubs and you will feel better about yourself.

There have been several studies conducted to examine exactly what causes loss of distance as players age, and what might be done to counteract the effects observed. The best (and most plausible) explanation is that the observed result is due to a combination of factors that acting individually may not seem significant --- but acting in concert together (and multiplied by the number contributing locations within the body) will most certainly cause loss of ball speed, loss of carry distance, and reduced total distance on power-dependent shot-making.

Likely culprits for this effect are generally well known: loss of flexibility in the joints due to arthritis, bursitis, etc., cartilage breakdown as we age, increased friction across sliding bone joint surfaces as surfaces deteriorate, reduced muscular strength - particularly for small muscles, reduced elasticity, energy storage capacity and slower energy release rates for individual tendons, ligaments, muscles, and muscle groups. One thing that we may not be fully aware of is the actual NUMBER of ligaments, tendons, and small muscles that are undergoing almost continuous change as we age. There are thousands and thousands and the cumulative effect of these changes (as we well know) can be significant.

Bottom line: everyone ages --- maybe not all at the same rate --- but in the end, Father Time comes to see us. all. Conclusion: play from the tees that you are comfortable with today, enjoy the game, and don't lose any sleep over trying to keep up with the youngsters. They are going to be passing this way soon too.

Many years ago I had a frozen shoulder followed by a shoulder separation. I went to a golf chiropractor for rehab and he told me that 80% of the speed in a golf swing is from the expansion of the shoulder blade and the rapid contraction. That process is controlled by two fast twitch muscles at the base of the blade. And the fast twitch muscles lose their ability to fire with age. You don't see old cornerbacks or half backs in football but you do see older linemen.

Hi Thomas, That is interesting. I will have to look into this. I like playing and it’s nice to hear from other golfers and how they have played and changed. Thank you for sharing.

I know I am considerably shorter than perhaps 5 or 6 years ago, and I definitely was not long at that time. What bothers me more is that my ball striking is inconsistent. While I was never a great ballstriker, I could play forged blades and be OK. Current irons aren't helping, so I am seeing some different golf pros with TPI level 1 training to see if I am able to get more consistent and hopefully a bit longer. Holding elevated greens, even with 7 iron, is difficult. So, let's see what the next lesson will bring! I am not quite ready to give up the game.

Your 65, had injuries and a long break from the game - shooting 79 from nearly 6,900 yards - you're doing pretty darn good no matter who you are playing with or any lack of distance when younger.

Not sure my post loaded - at 65 140 yards sounds reasonable. my 7 (T300) delivers 140 with surety and up to 155 depending on the quality and tempo of my swing (and whether my body is doing what my brain tells it LOL). and I agree that accuracy matters way more than distance.