What Percentage Of Amateur Golfers Break 80, 90 Or 100 At Least Once?

If you ask amateur golfers what they hope to get out of the game, most will say to hit the ball further, be more consistent and shoot lower scores - including hitting some of the key golf milestones that every player strives for.

I remember the elation of breaking 100 for the first time, and since shifting my goal to breaking 90, I have once again experienced the exhilaration of getting close time and time again.

Milestones are an important part of tracking your progress and ultimately working out how to improve, but how many people actually get over the line?

In this article, using the latest Shot Scope data, we explore one simple questions... what percentage of amateur golfers break 80, 90 or 100 at least once in their life?

How Many Amateur Golfers Break 80, 90 Or 100 At Least Once?

Let's get this right off the bat, none of these challenges are 'easy'.

Some might find achieving a specific goal simple, but it's all relative to your handicap index, experience and confidence on the course.

There will be times you have got close and just missed out, which you can tell me about in the comments box at the bottom of this page, and that is all part of the game we love.

While some people might smash these milestones with regularity, the data below proves that not everyone manages to get over the line.

The percentage of Shot Scope users that have broken 100 at least once in their life is around 95%, so pretty achievable for the vast majority.

The number of golfers that break 90 is understandably fewer, giving the increased challenge, with 24% of Shot Scope users never reaching this particular landmark moment.

However, with 76% of amateurs boasting a sub-90 score at least once, there is at least a pretty sizeable carrot to keep players coming back and trying.

Breaking 80 is a whole different kettle of fish. This appears to be reserved for the particular competent minority, or those that have a freakishly good knock and producing what will surely be the best round of their life.

Just 20% of Shot Scope users have broken 80 at least once in their lifetime, meaning four out of five members valiantly attempt to get over the line but fall at one hurdle or another along the way.

What Are The Most Effective Ways To Break 80, 90 or 100?

To break 100, focusing on strategy and decision making on the course is key. If you can limit big scores on your card by doing things like working on your lag putting, that's great, but you can also make better choices on the course.

When faced with an approach shot it's time to check your ego. Take enough club to hit the middle or back of the green, so that you don't come up short in the greenside traps. If you've nothing to go over around the green, pull out your putter and pop your wedge away.

There is a time and place for flash shots, but playing consistently sensible golf is the way to overcome this particular barrier.

To break 80 or 90, there is obviously more of a premium placed on quality ball striking and a sharp short game.

Limiting some of the most common mistakes amateurs make around the green and working on the 20 best ball striking lessons would be a good place to start, but you could also work on the 10 best golf exercises to boost power in your golf swing.

Clubface is king, and a centred strike with driver adds distance, so you do the maths.