In our youthful days, we may hit each iron a consistent distance for a decade or more, depending on equipment changes.

We lose distance as we age, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Maybe your 8-iron flies 150 yards one year, 148 the next, then 145 the year after that.

It’s important to be aware of these changes in order to make the right club selections. If you’re still playing that 8-iron from 150 and only hitting it 145, you’ll not only find trouble, you may mistake a slight loss of power for a mishit — then make unnecessary (and futile) swing changes.

Check your yardages every six months or so to make the needed adjustments for a loss of power. If you resume playing golf after injury or illness, test your distances right away to determine how far you hit the primary clubs in your bag.