Many amatuer golfers dream of getting down to scratch in their lifetime - but the elusive goal is not easy to achieve.

The journey is often arduous and fraught with challenges, but perhaps understanding the gap between the pinnacle of the amateur game and the world of tour golf will act as inspiration in your journey to cut your handicap in 2026.

The question is, comparatively speaking, just how good are the players on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour?

With the help of the latest data from Shot Scope, one of the leaders when it comes to performance analysis tech, we're much closer to finding out the answers. In the video and article below, we break down the data and share the findings.

But, in order to make this comparison, we need a representative for the amateur community - so let’s put our best foot forward and submit a scratch golfer as tribute…

Scratch Golfers vs Tour Pros: The Data

Let's start off at the tee with the driver. A scratch golfer has a driving distance performance average, which removes anomalies, of 285 yards.

This is 17 yards shorter than the average PGA Tour player who drives the ball 302 yards, but much longer than the LPGA Tour player average of 263 yards.

When it comes to tee-shot accuracy though, a scratch golfer falls well short, only finding 48% of fairways with a driver, while for a PGA Tour player, it's 58.45%. For an LPGA Tour player, it jumps up to 67.5%.

Now, let's move on to the greens in regulation. It won't surprise you to know that tour players perform better here, too.

A PGA Tour and LPGA Tour player hit 66% of greens on average, while a scratch golfer only hits 52%.

A scratch golfer's average proximity to the hole on approach shots is also much higher at 62 feet versus 37 feet for a PGA Tour player.

Around the green, the pros are better at scrambling too. A scratch golfer gets up and down 54% of the time from within 50 yards of the green. For PGA Tour players, that rises to 60.72% while LPGA Tour players are at 57.4%.

The differences with a putter are not as stark as the other areas of the course. A scratch player has on average 29.9 putts per round. For a PGA Tour player, it's 28.76 and for an average LPGA Tour player, it's 29.55.

A scratch golfer does fall foul of more three-putts per round, but not by much, at 0.8 versus 0.67 for the LPGA Tour and 0.48 for the PGA Tour.

From short range, Shot Scope scratch golfers hole out from between six to nine feet 48% of the time.

PGA Tour players make their putts from six feet 71% of the time and from nine feet 47% of the time. So, they are clearly more prolific from this crucial holing-out range.

I mean, I never said it would be pretty. This detailed breakdown of how scratch golfers compare with tour players shows the vast and perhaps surprising gap between the two levels.

Getting to scratch is only the start of the (very difficult) journey, the ascent to the summit is something else entirely.

You will often hear conversations in the clubhouse and on the course about how far other amateur golfers hit their driver, but have you ever heard someone boasting about their carry distance with a 7-iron?

This perhaps explains why many of the 7 things you should never do at the driving range, like machine-gunning 50 balls with a driver, are such common issues for club golfers. We put too much emphasis on the big stick performance.

Finding a centred strike with your irons is a surefire way to cut your handicap in 2026, but you also need to know how far your 7-iron carries in order to shoot lower scores.

The average amateur golfer hits their 7-iron 155 yards, according to Shot Scope’s 2026 data, but how does that relate to your handicap index bracket specifically?

Below, we share the average carry distance for players ranging from scratch to a 25-handicap, when hitting their 7-iron, so that you can compare your own performance…

How Far Do Amateur Golfers Hit Their 7-Iron In 2026?

Let’s start with a scratch golfer. As expected, better players carry their 7-iron further than high-handicappers, with scratch golfers averaging 178 yards.

For reference, that’s similar to the distance that the average 25-handicapper carries a 3-wood - which highlights the role that improved ball striking and, therefore, distance plays in cutting your handicap.

A 5-handicap golfers loses around 14 yards compared to a scratch golfer, averaging 164 yards with the same club, while a 10-handicap golfer is expected to hit their 7-iron 161 yards on average.

As we move into the mid-handicap brackets, you can see a further decline in carry distance with 7-iron. A 15-handicapper carries their shots with this club 154 yards on average, but a 20-handicapper is 8 yards shorter with a 146 yard carry.

High-handicappers will clearly struggle more with consistency and quality of strike, which is evident in their statistics. A 25-handicapper carries their 7-iron 132 yards, on average, which is a massive 46 yards less than a scratch golfer with the same club.

7-Iron Average Carry Distance

How far amateur golfers from different handicap index brackets hit their 7-iron on average

Carry Distance Average (yds)

Scratch Golfer

178

5-Handicapper

164

10-Handicapper

161

15-Handicapper

154

20-Handicapper

146

25-Handicapper

132

050100150200

Carry Distance Average (yds) Data

Product	Value
Scratch Golfer	178
5-Handicapper	164
10-Handicapper	161
15-Handicapper	154
20-Handicapper	146
25-Handicapper	132

Understanding your carry distances are a crucial part of improving your game, especially as Shot Scope data also tells us that high-handicap golfers come up short of the green 46% of the time with shots from around 100 yards.

That number increases to 95% with any shots from 200 yards and above, so spending time understanding your numbers can really help you to pick the right club to find the middle of the green.

As PGA Professional Ged Walters rightly points out, high-handicap golfers would benefit from avoiding this common pin trap and instead choosing a club which eliminates the danger, which often presents itself short of the green.

If you asked most amateur golfers what skill they would most like to emulate from the top pros in the game, many would say the ability to hit it miles off the tee.

Increasing your driving distance is widely considered to be one of the most effective ways to cut your handicap in 2026, helping you to shoot lower scores on the course and gain those valuable bragging rights over your friends as you stride past them towards your golf ball.

I can vouch for the transformational impact of boosting your clubhead speed, as it helped me to achieve a 106% power boost and hit my driver over 240 yards (as a 22-handicapper). But how far does the average amateur golfer drive the golf ball?

Well, utilizing the latest 2026 Shot Scope data, we can now share this information and help you determine if you are ahead of or behind the curve when it comes to length off the tee…

How Far Do Amateur Golfers Drive The Golf Ball In 2026?

Shot Scope data, gathered from rounds measured by hundreds of thousands of amateur golfers around the world, breaks down driving distance averages for every handicap level of golfer, separating their findings into six bands that are staggered in five-shot increments.

A scratch golfer, the lowest index band reported, drives the ball 285 yards on average, which is 18 yards shorter than the PGA Tour average.

A 5-handicapper (261 yards) and a 10-handicapper (259 yards) are separated by just a few yards, but both fall around 15 yards shorter than scratch players.

However, that’s not where the most significant distance gap lies. A 15-handicapper (236 yards) lags 23 yards behind a 10-handicapper on average, and a 20-handicapper is a further 11 yards behind at 225 yards.

Unsurprisingly, the shortest hitter out of the six bands is the 25-handicapper, measuring 204 yards on average and a huge 81 yards behind a scratch golfer.

Driving Distance Average 2026

Driving Distance data from Shot Scope users (yards)

Driving Distance Average

Scratch Golfer

285

5-handicapper

261

10-handicapper

259

15-handicapper

236

20-handicapper

225

25-handicapper

204

075150225300

Driving Distance Average Data

Product	Value
Scratch Golfer	285
5-handicapper	261
10-handicapper	259
15-handicapper	236
20-handicapper	225
25-handicapper	204

This significant distance gap seriously impacts the club choice that either player can make after their tee shot. Lower-handicap players are able to attack the green with more lofted clubs, while a high-handicap player is forced to chance their luck with a fairway wood or long iron.

This creates a catch-22 for the high-handicap player: these clubs are typically believed to be ‘harder to hit,’ but in reality, the data suggests that the chances of a green in regulation reduce as distance from the green increases.

So, what can you do about it? The first thing you should focus on is understanding your yardages. Track and measure your driving distance over the course of a few rounds, or a series of visits to the driving range, and use the data to make a plan.

You can then work on your speed by utilizing 5 golf exercises that rapidly improve your golf swing; these exercises helped me to become a better golfer in just 30 days.

Secondly, we know that clubface is king, so finding a centred strike with the driver is crucial to maximise your distance off the tee.

One of the 20 best driving tips and drills is great for improving this. Try spraying a little foot spray on your clubface at the range to study your strike location, which should help you to make adjustments and get closer to the middle.

Finally, you could invest in one of the best distance drivers on the market for your specific handicap index range. For high-handicappers, you will benefit from added forgiveness, while a lower-handicap player can add distance with the help of the latest yard-boosting tech.

If there was a way to save shots without doing anything to improve your technique, you’d jump at the chance. Fortunately, there is. The reality is that far too many golfers don’t know the distances they really hit each club, or how to use that information.

Bad club selections, missing in the wrong place, poor strategy, and set configuration that isn’t optimum for your game can all cost you shots, even if you make a good swing. But once you know your actual hitting distances with every club, all of these things – and your scoring – will improve.

With the help of the brilliant statistics and insights available from Shot Scope, we’ve identified five ways that knowing your distances can be used to become a better golfer. In this article and video, Top 50 Coach Adam Harnett helps you understand why accurate yardages are so important and how you can use that information to shoot lower scores.

1. Better club selection

There’s no worse feeling than making a great swing and beautiful contact, only to see the ball finish at the wrong yardage. A good outcome for a shot depends on you having the right club, as well as making a good swing. That all starts with knowing how far each club hits the ball. You can get your yardages for each club using launch monitors like the Shot Scope LM1 or on a simulator.

If you don’t have access to that technology, or you want to add more real-world data, you can make a note of how far each club goes when you hit them on the course. That will give you a good range of shots and show what your longest and shortest are, as well as giving you an average. Recording where the shot finishes can also help you build a picture of your tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.

When you’re on the course, you can use a rangefinder or GPS to give you the exact yardage of your shot. Remember to take the difference between carry distance and total distance into account with club selection. Your average distance should be the starting point when choosing your club – not your longest shot.

Then you have to recognise environmental factors that will affect how far the ball travels, such as uphill or downhill, temperature, wind and other weather conditions. If you also record that information when noting down your previous shots, that can help you understand how they affected your distances, so you make the right choice.

2. Carry versus total distance

You really want to have two yardages for each the club – the carry is where the ball first bounces and the total is where it finishes. Carry is what you need to know to make sure you’re going over any obstacles or hazards like bunkers or water on tee shots and approach shots into the green. The total will help you ensure the ball will stop before running out into any danger, or as close as possible to the flag. In other words, carry is for flying, and total is for dying.

When you have to carry something really penal, you should completely take it out of play with your club selection. It can be tempting to flirt with it, especially if you’re between clubs, but always favour long when there’s danger short.

Vice-versa, if there’s a hazard long and it’s safer short, err towards a club that increases your chances of missing on the shorter side. This is true with tee shots as well. If you’re choosing a club to avoid running into a bunker, water or rough, make sure it definitely can’t reach even if you absolutely nail it.

3. Stop coming up short

The vast majority of players tend to underclub, with the Shot Scope data showing that golfers over a 10-handicap are more likely to miss the green short than hit it from 150 yards, and 20-handicappers will leave half their shots short from that range. Even the average five-handicapper is short 29% of the time, compared to hitting the green with 38% of their 150-yard approaches.

Most people think they hit it further than they actually do, or pick their club based on their absolute best shot with it, rather than the average. Missing the green is obviously going to hurt your scoring and a lot of holes are designed the majority of the hazards like bunkers or water short of the green.

A good way to make sure you take enough club is to get a yardage to the back of the green, as well as the flag. If you have 150 yards to the flag and 165 yards to the back of the green, choose a club that has a maximum distance of 165 yards total, rather than the club that maxes out at 150 yards.

You can also do a little game where you give yourself a point every time you get past the flag with an approach shot. That really changes how you think about these shots and enables you to measure and track how successful you’re being.

4. Avoid hazards

A good strategy takes as much danger out of play as possible and maximises your ability to score well from good shots, but also from the bad ones that we all inevitably hit during a round of golf.

The Shot Scope data reveals that finding a fairway bunker off the tee will cost the average 15-handicapper half a shot – so hitting a club that can’t go in any will help improve your scores. In simple terms, play to your strengths, avoid penal dangers, and minimise the number of times your weaknesses are called upon.

If you know your driver is bringing hazards into play off the tee, hit a club that can’t reach them, or at least increases of you hitting a straighter shot that avoids them. It will leave a longer second shot, but unless it’s a really long hole you should still be able to reach the green comfortably with the second shot.

You might actually be surprised at how little difference to the club you hit for you approach that hitting what feels like a very conservative and safe club off the tee can make.

5. Improve Your Gapping and set configuration

Gapping is the difference in yardage between each of your clubs. You want to have a consistent gap between each club – something around 10 yards is common – so you can more easily hit as many different yardages and shots as possible and there are no gaps where you don’t have the club you need for a certain yardage.

Knowing your yardages might reveal that you do have a big gap, or you have a couple of clubs doing the same thing. You should adjust your set make-up to fill any gaps. Quite often it’s the longer clubs that can go the same distance, which highlights a lack of speed in your swing or inconsistency of strike. If that’s the case, keep the higher lofted one and change the lower lofted club to something more forgiving that restores your gapping, like a hybrid or fairway wood.

At the bottom end of the bag, you also want consistent gapping in your wedges. The distance they carry is more important than the loft numbers on the bottom. Just because the lofts are evenly spread doesn’t mean the yardages will be as well. Identify the yardages you want from your wedges and get the lofts that enable you to do that. A good custom fitter will be able to help you with gapping and the right set make-up for you right through the bag.

Like many amateur golfers, I struggle to achieve that crisp, compressed centred strike with irons... particularly when the number etched onto them reads four or lower.

I am in awe of players who can step up to a 3-iron and rip it as far as I can hit my driver, but in a bid to shoot lower scores in 2026 and cut my handicap - I made a big decision to overhaul the top end of my golf bag in search of progress.

The advancement in technology means that long irons are arguably easier to hit than even before, but for the average club golfer or high-handicappers like me... a hybrid or a wood is always going to produce better results.

In fact, according to the latest 2026 Shot Scope data, almost every amateur golfer (irrespective of handicap index) would see their green in regulation percentage improve (on average) when hitting a hybrid from 175 yards more in comparison to a long iron.

Below, I break down this data to explain why I chose to switch up the configuration of my golf bag and highlight some of the encouraging signs I've seen in my own game since wielding the woods...

Why I Ditched My Long Irons For Hybrids And Woods

As my colleague Joel Tadman rightly pointed out in a recent video, this is one of the most surprising stats in golf - mainly because so many amateur golfers still persevere through poor strike after poor strike with long irons.

According to the latest data, high-handicap golfers with an index around 20 could see their chances of hitting a green in regulation from 175 yards almost double from 7% to 14% when hitting a hybrid instead of a long iron.

As you can see in the table below, that trend can also be seen in the game of single-figure and mid-handicap players, all of whom average a better outcome with a hybrid in hand for those long approach shots.

The only exception to this rule are scratch golfers, who actually see a 2% GIR increase with a long iron in hand - but to be honest it's often the more competent players who tend to stick with the traditional clubs (and rightly so).

It's much of the same from 200 yards, with amateur golfers of all handicap levels seeing an improvement on average when hitting an approach shot from long range with a hybrid.

This is something I have definitely seen in my own game recently, with the new Benross RS Max hybrids and woods in my bag, as I now feel more confident to go for the green at ranges of 170 yards+ instead of opting to lay-up.

This was evident as part of the custom fitting process, with my own shot data supporting the evidence presented by Shot Scope.

An overall improvement in strike, closer dispersion and more predictable ball flights allow me to be strategic in choosing when (and when not) to go for the green and feel comfortable taking on the risk knowing that the days of topping it five yards are (almost) behind me.

Adding hybrids to my bag have also given me more options off the tee and even around the green, with a magical bump and run chip shot becoming a new favorite of mine when trying to get up and down.

So why do amateurs see more success with hybrids? Put simply - it boils down to forgiveness.

Hybrids do a better job of retaining ball speed and launch on mishit shots than their long iron equivalent, which means your ball has more chance of carrying hazards short of the green and reaching the putting surface.

The wide sole makes them easier to strike cleanly for most golfers and the larger head with a faster face means the ball tends to come off a little quicker, resulting in fewer shots missed short.

This is important when you consider a 15 handicap, for example, misses short of the green from 200 yards a whopping 73% of the time.

So now is the perfect time to put the odds back in your favour and add some of the most forgiving hybrids to your bag in place of those troublesome long irons.

Hitting your groove on the back nine is a great feeling, but if you have played yourself out of a decent score in the first half of the round it can also be a great source of frustration.

According to the latest 2026 Shot Scope data, that's a very common scenario that many amateur golfers face.

In fact, the average amateur golfer scores better on the back nine when compared to the front nine, which means a slow start is seriously impacting your ability to cut your handicap and shoot lower scores.

In order to help you play better golf in 2026, we crunched the numbers by handicap index range and use those statistics to offer your some personalised advice on how to buck the trend and get hot from the word go...

Front Nine vs Back Nine Scoring: What Does The Data Say?

After analysing thousands of rounds played by Shot Scope users, the data clearly suggests that golfers of nearly every ability level score better on the back nine.

The only exception to this trend is seen among scratch golfers, perhaps due to their increased competence and skill level when compared with many amateurs.

Interestingly, the trend for scratch golfers actually goes the other way.

Those who do not receive any shots to the course seem to start fast and marginally tail off throughout the second half of the round (on average).

The average scratch golfer shoots 36.2 on the front nine and 36.4 on the back nine, equating to a 0.2 shot decline in scoring after the turn.

The same cannot be said for almost every other amateur golfer throughout the full handicap index spectrum.

A 5-handicap and 10-handicap golfer shoots on average 0.2 shots worse on the front nine, whereas a 20-handicap averages almost a shot (0.9) worse before reaching the halfway house.

Generally, 15- and 25-handicappers remain fairly consistent, according to the data, but it's safe to assume that the 'average' golfer struggles with a slow start.

3 Ways To Avoid A Slow Start On The Golf Course

The first piece of advice seems fairly obvious, but so many amateurs completely neglect the importance of a good warm-up.

Going one step further and regularly participating in golf fitness exercises is also a great investment in your game, and one that I incorporated throughout my winter golf rebuild to see a 106% power boost, but if you only have a 15 minutes before your round you should at least opt for some basic stretches.

When playing golf, you are about to head out for a four-hour walk, often across severe undulations and differing levels of altitude, while also performing an athletic and powerful movement over and over again.

Doing so without loosening your muscles and preparing your body for exercise is a mistake that negatively impacts your physical performance and ability to technically start in a positive fashion over the first few holes.

Golf warm-up exercises are part of 5 things you should do before every round. With your brain and your body feeling ready to take on the challenge of 18-holes, you can experience an improvement in your front-nine scoring and reduce the likelihood of your body fatiguing as quickly throughout the knock.

It's also about being organised with your time. Rolling up five minutes before your tee time and sprinting from the car to the first tee is the worst way to start your round, so be sure to plan ahead and be proactive with your preparation.

It's also a good idea to hit some balls before you head out, starting with a few wedge shots to experience that feeling of achieving a centred strike or start with a little bit of work on your short game to loosen up and concentrate on the task ahead.

This is something I have incorporated to my pre-round routine, as you can see in the video below, and I find that once I have clipped a few away in this fashion I experience increased concentration on those fuller swings on the range (and course) while also noticing less stiffness.

These slower or more controlled swings can help to settle the mind, increase confidence and banish nerves, but following that you can move into full swings with irons and woods to shake of some of the rust.

Don't overthink technique too much at this stage, as getting too much into the weeds with technical information before a round can actually have a detrimental impact on your early performance.

Instead, play a few holes on the range by visualising the tee shot and approach shot for each of the first three holes on the course you are about to play or a course you know very well.

Picture the shot you want to hit and try to execute it, using reference points on the range to frame it as though you were standing on the first tee.

The final piece of advice is to consider your strategy - it's time to check your ego and stop forcing it.

Adopting an incredibly aggressive approach too early can lead to mistakes and big scores on the card, as amateurs often have unrealistic expectations about the shots they can actually hit successfully on the course.

If you have a par-5 in the first few holes, considering laying up on approach and giving yourself a good number to set up a birdie putt with a wedge in hand.

If you have a drivable par-4 early in the round, perhaps consider the risk involved and whether the reward outweighs that when looking ahead to the rest of your round.

It might be a better strategy to find the fairway and give yourself a nice approach opportunity early in the round, using the shots on your handicap index and making pars and bogeys instead of doubles and triples.

Drastically slashing your handicap is no simple task, but over the course of this season it's absolutely possible to see it tumble with the right tips, guidance and strategy advice.

The truth is there are many things you can do to cut your handicap in 2026, but according to the latest Shot Scope data these are three key areas you should focus on as a high-handicapper looking to get into the mid-handicapper club.

Increasing the distance you can hit the golf ball, perhaps by boosting your clubhead speed, is an absolute non-negotiable.

Alongside that, making smarter decisions on the golf course to reduce the number of double-bogeys (or worse) and improving their ability to hit the green from outside 150 yards.

In this article, we dive deeper into the data and explain how you can use this information to supercharge your game...

3 Key Data Differences Between A 15- and 25-Handicapper

I've been on a very similar journey myself over the past few months, carrying out an improvement plan that helped me shoot my best ever round (statistically) not once, but twice!

The focus of that program incorporated each of the three key areas listed above, but also included dedicated golf exercises that helped me to become a better golfer in just 30 days.

This partnership between technical work and fitness has helped me to shake my high-handicap status, or at least I am sure it will have done when weather and course conditions permit counting rounds to qualify.

The biggest contributing factor to my improvement, in my opinion, is improving how far I can hit the ball with each club - so let's start there.

1. Increasing Distance

The latest Shot Scope data tells us that a 15-handicapper hits every single club in the bag further than a 25-handicapper, on average.

Whether you look at driver (236y vs 204y), 6-iron (162y vs 137y) or pitching wedge (121y vs 90y), the difference is at least 25 yards and often more.

As part of my winter golf rebuild I was able to achieve a 106% power boost which delivered an increase of around 11 yards on my previous driving distance average.

As a result, I am now hitting driver over 240 yards (which is longer than the average 15-handicapper) and shooting scores that are around six or seven shots better than last year.

Whether you try Top 50 Coach Alex Elliott's simple formula to increase driving distance or you work on ensuring a centred strike with driver more consistently, adding distance (especially off the tee) is an absolute must for amateur golfers looking to improve their handicap index.

2. Making Better Decisions

Many amateur golfers, especially high-handicappers, accept that double-bogeys are inevitable. While this might be true to some extent, we can reduce the number of big scores on the card by making some simple (but smarter) strategy changes.

A 15-handicapper (4.68) makes around half the number of double bogeys (or worse) of a 25-handicapper (9.18) per round.

This might sound obvious, but turn those doubles into bogeys and we are making serious inroads.

Things like decisions around par-5s, club selection and course strategy can help you to achieve this improvement.

On a par-5, for most amateurs, see it as a par-6 or par-7. Accept it will likely take you four shots to reach the green, then trust yourself to two-putt for a six... which for most of you will likely be a nett-par.

Going for the green in two or three with the hero shot can lead to balls being lost or placed in difficult spots, as you sacrifice control for unrealistic power, so keep the ball in-play and plot your way to the green instead.

With club selection on approach shots into the green, take more club than you need to avoid the danger that often lurks short of the green.

Shot Scope data also tells us that the majority of amateurs miss the green short, often due to an impulse to flag hunt. Remember, the back of the green is good and if you the strike isn't perfect you might just fluke one to the middle of the green.

Hitting The Green From 150 Yards Or More

This has certain links to point two, above, as the latest Shot Scope data suggests that 25-handicappers hit the green from 150 yards just 13% of the time, which is far lower than 15-handicappers who do so 24% of the time.

Success reduces to just 8% for 25-handicappers from 175 yards, compared to 19% for 15-handicap players, but beyond that the Shot Scope data gives just a 1% chance of the higher-handicappers actually hitting the putting surface.

By working on the two points listed above, the third point should come on immeasurably.

Adding distance with each club through a more centred strike with irons and increased clubhead speed will mean more scoring clubs on approach, while a better strategy that is focused around avoiding coming up short and taking enough club to get there will help you navigate your way to the green in fewer shots.

Being considered a 'good' golfer is something every amateur is striving to achieve, but deciding what the parameters are for earning this accolade can often be somewhat divisive.

The opinion of a high-handicapper is likely be different to that of a scratch player or a professional, with lower-index players likely to be be less impressed by someone who can hit driver over 240 yards but still can't seem to break 100 due to a disgusting chipping technique.

I suppose it comes down to a matter of perspective. Remember, we are not talking about achieving one of the rarest golfing feats that are achievable for amateur golfers here, we are talking about just being competent enough to be considered 'good'.

So, what if we were to draw a statistical line in the sand to remove the grey area? If I was able to shoot an average score for amateur golfers, as determined by the latest Shot Scope data, would that make me a 'good' golfer?

I'd be inclined to say yes, but in the interest of balance I also asked the Golf Monthly team for their thoughts on the matter...

Average 18-Hole Score For Amateur Golfers Revealed

According to the latest 2026 Shot Scope Data, the average 18-hole score for an amateur golfer, based on their extensive cohort of users tracking their performances on the course, is 86.

Around 74% of amateur golfers break 90 at least once, meaning the majority of players are teetering around that 'good' player bracket - if you agree that this is the criteria.

Only 31% of amateurs manage to break 80 at least once, however, so it makes sense that the cut-off lies within this scoring bracket, but where do we draw the line?

I would be inclined to say that anyone shooting consistently in the 80s is a good golfer, especially as this is something I am yet to achieve despite tirelessly trying.

Following a pretty significant golf rebuild this winter, I am confident that day will come in the 2026 golf season, at which point I would modestly describe myself as good (but not great).

However, after watching my colleagues at our regular knocks around some of the top-100 courses in the UK, with some playing off better than scratch and flushing literally everything they make contact with, how can I?

If scoring 86 is 'good', then what superlative do we use to describe them? Before we hear from the team at Golf Monthly HQ, I would like to hear your thoughts on this debate, so drop me a comment at the bottom of this article.

Yes, shooting an average score of 86 makes you a good golfer. It’s often said that breaking 90 puts you in the top 10% of golfers… although I have no idea if that is true.

I’d certainly estimate that an average score of 86 puts you in the top 50% of golfers so you have to be considered as a good and competent player with those numbers.

If you’re scoring in the mid-to-high 80s you can likely make a good amount of pars and the occasional birdie, hit the ball 200 yards in the air with good accuracy, strike your irons fairly well most of the time and have a decent short game and putting level.

Compared to every golfer out there, that is better than most.

For me, if you have the capacity to shoot in the 80s, you're a decent golfer, but not a good one.

It doesn't mean you'll play well every round, but it means you're capable of more than respectable performances.

In my mind, if you can shoot between 75-80, you're a good golfer, but I wouldn't say you're a great golfer unless you're able to record a round of 75 or better. A round in the mid-80s is average as per the stats, and average isn't good.

The vacuum we live in as avid golfers can make us easily lose track of reality - not only is shooting 86 a great achievement, making contact with the ball during the swing in itself is an amazing skill!

Think of the number of moving parts that work as we swing, all of which deliver us back and square to the ball to ensure a centred strike.

The average joe who has never played the game likely thinks it is easy because they've watched five minutes of Scottie Scheffler domination, but hand them a club and ten golf balls - how many are they making contact with?

I have to remind myself of this often as I sulk and feel sorry for myself after shooting 80.

I've been stuck in high-handicap hell for some time now, constantly questioning whether the work I am putting into my game is actually helping me to improve as an amateur golfer.

However, after embarking on a winter golf rebuild, that has been running since December 1st, I am starting to see drastic improvements.

This is largely due to 5 fitness exercises that have made me a better golfer and through developing a more efficient golf swing that has boosted my clubhead speed and allowed me to hit drives over 240 yards as a 22-handicapper.

With increased confidence heading into the 2026 season, I decided to use the latest Shot Scope data to analyse my performance stats against the average benchmark data for a 20-handicap golfer.

While I am yet to reach that number, I hope to do so very soon and it appears based on this information that I am not very far away at all...

My Golf Performance Data vs 20-Handicapper Average Benchmark

As I head into the second half of my winter golf rebuild, I've got some very clear goals in mind for the 2026 season.

My (very) ambitious target is to break 80, using some of the data-informed tips outlined in the video above, but my realistic goal is to get my handicap down to 18 (or less).

This pursuit would be futile without recognising where my game is currently at, so that I know how to make the necessary progress to where I want it to be this season.

So, I decided to benchmark myself against the average 20-handicapper (according to Shot Scope data) and share the table to give you the chance to compare your performance for a better understanding of your game.

The measures listed include average score against par, fairways hit, greens hit (based on regulation for my handicap index), up and down percentage (to measure short game) and putting average per green in regulation.

Overall, across my last five measured rounds, I'm playing at around 0.8 shots worse than a 20-handicapper - which consider my official index is 22 makes for good reading.

Below, I've broken my performance data down to directly compare to the benchmarks, in the hope that it highlights which areas I need to work on moving forwards.

You can do the same with a pad of paper and a pen, or a laptop for those more technically minded, then let me know in the comments section below how you fare against this data.

Average Score vs Par

My score vs par is +24, which places me slightly on the wrong side of the average.

Due to the horrendous weather conditions we have experienced here in the UK this winter, some of those rounds have been recorded on a nine-hole course, so I'd be interested to see how this number moves when courses fully re-open and I have the additional benefit of months of winter golf rebuild progress under my belt.

Fairways Hit %

My fairway hit percentage over the past five measured rounds is 38%, leaving me 7% shy of the benchmark average for a 20-handicapper.

I'm sure much of that will be down to a tendency to miss right, which is a problem that plagues many amateur golfers, with 44% of my tee shots finding the right rough.

For reference, the average for a 15-handicapper is just higher at 47% - so one or two more fairways could make all the difference to my game.

I am currently working on setting the correct position in the backswing and allowing my lower body to work more effectively as I start the downswing, with a better weight transfer, so watch this space for a reduction in the dreaded slice.

Greens Hit %

Over the last five rounds I hit 14% of greens in regulation (for my handicap) which is 5% down on the average benchmark.

Again, I am comparing myself to the average 20-handicapper - so expect to be a little lower based on the fact I am two shots off that particular index currently.

My miss is more left when approaching the green, as opposed to right off the tee, but only marginally. I miss left 8% of the time and right 5% of the time, while my particular issue tends to be missing short (66%).

To combat this I have worked on improving my clubhead speed, ways to ensure a centred strike with irons and creating a good pre-shot routine (including club selection).

Up And Down %

This is without doubt my strongest area statistically. Over the past five rounds I have achieved an up and down average of 39%, meaning I am able to get the ball into the hole from around the green in two shots around four out of ten times.

The average 20-handicapper has a 31% up and down success rate - so things are looking good in the short game department.

That number is drastically helped by my most recent measured round, where I achieved an up and down average of 54%. That's actually in line with the numbers of a scratch golfer, and while it's only one solitary round it at least highlights improvement and potential.

I had an on-course lesson not long ago with Ged Walters, a PGA Pro and Top 50 Coach, who helped me with a transformational short game shot that I never knew I needed - so I'd advise anyone looking to improve around the greens to start right there.

Putting Average Per GIR

We've reached the final measure and once again I am seeing how my performance at the business end of the golf course is slightly better (or more consistent) than my endeavours off the tee and on approach to the green.

My putting average per GIR is 2.0, based on my five most recent rounds, which is marginally better than the average 20-handicap benchmark of 2.16 per GIR.

The whole point of this exercise was to determine where I needed to focus my attention as I head into the start of the 2026 golf season, and based on this data I can be pretty high on my chances of reaching my target handicap - providing I can tidy up my tee shots and iron play in time for competitive golf to return.

I recently discovered that I was behind the curve in terms of the average 3-wood distances for amateur golfers at my age, which surprised me as I am currently performing above average for 3-wood distance for amateur golfers by handicap.

According to the latest Shot Scope data, the average amateur golfer in their 30s hits their 3-wood 226 yards, a whopping 20 yards further than my typical efforts.

That figure has actually improved from my 2025 average of around 180 yards, after eight weeks of a personalised winter golf rebuild, perhaps due to a boost in my clubhead speed.

This could also be the result of the 5 fitness exercises that have helped me become a better golfer, but either way I was confident that the trajectory of my game was on the rise.

After all, I was now occasionally hitting my driver over 240 yards as a 22-handicapper, which left me considering what I needed to do to bridge a pretty sizeable distance gap between the big stick and my 3-wood.

I'd be very interested to know if this gulf exists for other amateur golfers, and how you compare to the 3-wood distance averages for your age, so drop me a comment at the bottom of this article to help me feel a little better (or worse) as I scratch my head...

Average 3-Wood Distance (By Age): I'm Still Behind The Curve

Before we go any further, let's take a look at the data for amateur golfers so that you can compare your distance with 3-wood against the average.

Similarly to the average driving distance with driver for male amateurs, we see a clear correlation between distance and age.

Golfers in their 20s and 30s tend to hit the ball further than those in their 40s, 50s and 60s (on average), and distance tends to decline with age.

An amateur golfer in their 20s hits their 3-wood 218-yards on average, which is marginally shorter than an amateur in their 30s - who sends it 226 yards on average (as eluded to earlier).

A golfer in their 40s (222 yards), 50s (214 yards) and 60s (201 yards) all have a shorter hit on average with their 3-wood than the 20s and 30s age range, but the numbers at this end of the spectrum are not dissimilar to what I am seeing on the course.

As part of my exploration into how I can ramp up these numbers and close the distance gap between my woods and my driver, I asked my winter rebuild coach Alex James for some advice in my most recent lesson.

We checked 3-wood ball position and other recent themes such as my swing plane and hip rotation in the golf swing, but despite seeing a more consistently centred strike with irons, I was not achieving this with my woods.

My colleague Johnny Percival also recently lost 20 yards with every club and his game fell apart, further outlining the importance of distance in the modern game, but a pro setup tweak helped to fix his problem.

Rather than focusing on the negatives, I am going to take the positives from my recent improvement and appreciate the power that golf lessons have in driving progress (as evidenced by Johnny's experience).

Syncing up the clubhead speed improvements with the swing changes to create the perfect distance storm is a personal target of mine moving forwards, with a clear plan for the range as I look to chase down those average numbers and strive for a handicap cut in 2026.

Consider how many rounds of golf you have played in your life... have you ever made an eagle?

Making an eagle in golf is up there with the sport's top achievements and sadly not one that every golfer experiences in their lifetime.

Some amateurs defy astronomical odds with incredible on-course achievements, like multiple holes-in-one, but most of us would dine out on the incredible story of a heroic eagle for the rest of our lives.

If you are one of the privileged few who have experienced the pure elation of an eagle on the card, I want to hear the story. Drop me a line in the comments box below and let's make the world's first collection of hyperbolic stories about our eagle experiences!

Anyway, let's get into the data. Thanks to the latest Shot Scope data, curated through rounds from registered Shot Scope users, we can now reveal what percentage of amateur golfers have made an eagle in their lifetime...

What Percentage Of Amateur Golfers Have Made An Eagle?

Let's start with the cold, hard truth. I've never made an eagle.

I came closest to joining the club earlier this year, when an inspired driving performance helped me to drive the famous 10th green at The Belfry earlier this year, only to slide the eagle putt a few feet past and settle for a birdie.

To further evidence how difficult making an eagle actually is, our deputy editor Joel Tadman conducted an experiment. With 24 hours to make an eagle, on the par-4 fourth hole at Sunningdale Heath, he finally made a two on his 37th attempt.

For context, Joel is a low-single-figure golfer and I'd have to say that if I tried that same test I might need 370 attempts to even get close.

But, it turns out, I am not in the minority here. According to the Shot Scope data, just 11.6% of Shot Scope registered amateur golfers have made an eagle in their lifetime.

While that number is bleak for most of us, I wouldn't say it's one of the most surprising golf stats of all time.

It's based on a pretty sizeable dataset, so I am inclined to believe that's a pretty accurate reflection of the general experience, but just to make ourselves feel a little worse... let's look at the tour data.

The PGA Tour average for total eagles in 2025 was two per player, in one season, but some players way outperformed that benchmark.

Rico Hoey led the way with a staggering 19 eagles in 2025, while Ryan Gerard, Steven Fisk, Michael Thorbjornsen, Kevin Yu, Nico Echavarria, Sungjae Im, Kurt Kitayama and Jesper Svensson all posted north of 15 eagles.

On the LPGA Tour, Julia Lopez Ramirez led the way in 2025 with an impressive 15, while Mi Hyang Lee, Stephanie Kyriacou and Ina Yoon all made 14 each in that single season.

Both Julia Lopez Ramirez and Rico Hoey excelled off the tee in 2025, perhaps highlighting the path to more eagle chances.

While it probably doesn't help my chances of making an eagle to reflect on the incredible achievements of these elite players, it does help to provide perspective on just how good the top golfers are at this infuriating game.

I'll keep trying. You never know, the fitness exercises that have already made me a better golfer as part of my winter golf rebuild could just give me the boosted clubhead speed to reach a few short par-4s with the driver. Then, it's go time!

While we all fall out of love with every club in the bag at some point during our golfing careers, there’s usually one that stands out as being especially difficult to hit. This will vary from player to player but according to data from Shot Scope, there’s one that, on average, loses golfers the most shots during a round.

And the guilty club is... the five-iron. According to the stats, golfers lose up to 0.37 shots with this club depending on ability level and interestingly, the five-iron is statistically the worst club in terms of Strokes Gained for every standard of golfer.

So why is that and what can we do to help turn this club into a secret weapon? We sought out the advice of PGA Pro and YouTube golfer Matt Fryer.

“There’s not much loft on a 5-iron and they’re getting stronger every year,” Fryer explains. “The difficulty is two fold - golfers struggle to launch a club of this loft but also find it hard to control the curvature. The head is pretty compact too, so this curve to the flight is exaggerated by any miss-strikes.”

It would also be fair to say that a lot of golfers over-estimate how far they hit their five iron, with a 15-handicapper average 169 yards of total distance.

In terms of the correct technique with this club in hand, Fryer has noticed down the years some common mistakes that golfers employ.

“The big mistake I see is golfers adopting the technique of a 7-iron,” Fryer adds. “They have the ball too far back in the stance and then coming into impact, golfers knowing the lack of loft often tip backwards to try to help the ball up in the air. This backing up causes shots where you strike the ground too early or top it.”

Fryer goes on the say that a remedy for this fault would be to have the ball position a little forward of middle in the stance - this helps with launch and also creating a shallower angle of attack.

A good practice drill to enforce the correct movement is to create a short zone with two tees about a clubhead-width apart. The feeling into impact that the club is just brushing the ground where the ball would be and afterwards with small swings. You shouldn’t be taking big divots here - as your pressure shifts forwards, you pick the ball off the turf cleanly with a small, shallow divot.

Of course, a more drastic solution would be to swap out the five-iron altogether for a more forgiving alternative. There are a host of options out there - be it opting for a combo set with a slightly bigger model in the long irons to assist with launch and forgiveness, or adding a hybrid or high-lofted fairway wood.

Keep your head down, practice makes perfect. The list goes on. These common sayings or myths are banded about but when you look into it in more detail, there's often not much truth behind them.

The same can be said of golf strategy and some of the misconceptions around course management and club selection. So with the help of data from Shot Scope, we're going to dispel some of the biggest myths in the game to help you make better decisions on the golf course.

Myth 1: 3 Wood is more accurate off the tee than driver

When it comes to a tight hole where a fairway finder is needed, many players will keep the driver in the bag, believing that they will find the fairway considerably more often with the three wood. The theory makes sense - the extra loft and shorter shaft should make it easier to control but Shot Scope data shows players only hit 1–2% more fairways with three wood than driver — a negligible difference.

This is obviously player dependent - some people hit their driver terribly, others their three wood really well, but the averages for every handicap suggest there is little advantage in benching the driver in favor of three wood.

In terms of scoring, where players think the three wood is going to benefit their scoring, it is actually more likely to hinder them. This is because they are at least 20 yards further away from the green and just as likely to be in the rough. The only time the three wood is safer off the tee is if a hazard is within reach of the driver. Otherwise, pull out the big stick and let her rip!

Myth 2: Better players hit every fairway

You might think that good players have it on a string off the tee but Shot Scope data tell us that lower handicap players do not hit a significantly greater number of fairways per round compared to higher handicap players.

Missing fairways is actually very normal. Last year on the PGA Tour (2024), the driving accuracy average was 61% with the leader in the stat at 72%. The main difference between the high and low handicap players is actually distance. A scratch golfer is on average 80 yards longer off the tee than a 25 handicapper, which is a huge advantage.

Myth 3: Par threes are a birdie opportunity

You might think short holes, par threes, represent a better birdie opportunity than longer par fours or fives but in reality, you get paid out for a birdie 2 in your club comps for a reason! They actually gain you two strokes on the field in some cases.

Shot Scope data shows players above a 10 handicap average 3.9 - 4.2 strokes on par par threes. That makes par a true gain — and a birdie a two-stroke swing. So make a par on a par three, you’re gaining on your competitive set.

Myth 4: You should hit approach shots close from 100 yards

The amateur golfer may think that they should be hitting it close to the flag from 100 yards but the reality is that for most, simply hitting the green is a good start.

10 handicappers are looking at a toss of a coin in terms of whether they hit the green, missing slightly more than they hit. The average golfer (15 handicap) misses the green six times in every 10 attempts, and for the 20+ handicapper, their chances of finding the putting surface are around one in three.

Expecting to hit it stiff from this distance will only lead to frustration. Instead, stop firing at the pin and aim for the heart of the green to avoid heartbreak. For most abilities, just finding the green will mean a gain over your competitive set.

Myth 5: I should lay back on par fives to a favorite yardage

When players are considering a layup, they should try get as close to the green as possible as they will get down in fewer strokes - preferred yardages are not really a thing according to the data.

The 20 handicap golfer example in the image above highlights this. They are nearly a full stroke worse when playing from 60 yards compared to 20 yards. Even for the scratch golfer, the difference from 20 yards vs 60 yards is over half a stroke. So when possible, closer will almost always be better.

Myth 6: You should be holing more than you miss from 10 feet

From 10 feet, many amateurs assume they should be holing their putt, but the data says otherwise. For the scratch and 5 handicap player, the benchmark is 1 in every 3 attempts. For the 10 handicapper it's every 1 in 4 attempts and for the 15/20 handicap it's just shy of 1 in every 5 attempts.

They can obviously be holed, but the data would suggest you are more likely to miss them than hole them, so adjust your expectations from this distance and don't put too much pressure on yourself - a two putt is fine!

At some time or another, every single amateur golfer is going to be faced with a scenario where they have to hit the ball out of long rough, and for some this may occur multiple times in the same round... or same hole!

So far in this series of expert tips, from Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Peter Finch, we have covered key areas of the game like how to hit more greens, the best way to start finding more fairways and even how to play a greenside bunker shot.

Each of these elements are crucial to piecing together a good round, but low scoring is unlikely without this piece of the jigsaw.

In this article and instructional video, Peter Finch shares his top tips on how to hit the ball out of long rough - making three key adjustments that can increase the probability of that crucial clean strike...

WATCH: Peter Finch shares his ultimate tee to green strategy tips!

How To Hit The Ball Out Of Long Rough: 3 Key Adjustments

So you've found the rough... unlucky!

The latest Shot Scope data suggests that hitting the green from the rough is going to trickier than if you were in the fairway.

The average amateur hits the green just 32% of the time from the rough (100-150 yard approaches), as opposed to 40% from the fairway, which is mostly due to this shot being more difficult to achieve a clean strike.

It isn't all doom and gloom, however, as there are ways that we can mitigate being in the longer grass - three ways to be specific...

1. Ball Position

The first adaption we can make to our setup is the ball position.

Typically I would say that the perfect ball position with an 8-iron, which is the club I am using in the video below, would be around the middle of my stance.

For this type of lie, I would advise moving the ball back of centre as this will encourage a downward strike (which will very quickly become a theme as we move through these tips).

Ideally, we want to get the ball first and collecting as little grass along the way before impact.

2. Weight Distribution

Weight distribution in the golf swing is a huge factor in determining how successful your shot is going to be, which is particularly true when playing out of long rough.

For this type of shot, from this type of lie, I would advise you to place a little more weight on your lead foot (as opposed to even spreading the weight across both the lead and trail foot).

This will, again, encourage a downward strike that will help us to achieve the best possible strike on the golf ball from the thicker rough.

3. Wrist Hinge

The final adjustment to excel from the rough is to add a lot of wrist hinge in the golf swing quickly.

That's right, you guessed it, this will encourage a downward strike which by now you know is the ideal way to play this shot.

The key is to contact the ball first, then the turf, with as little grass as possible being trapped between the clubface and ball through impact - which could result in a nasty flier.

In the video above, I've demonstrated how to make the changes outlined and provided a great example of what a good one looks like - so be sure to give this a go as you continue you on your quest for lower scores on the golf course.

Playing off scratch is often seen as the holy grail. It's a level so many of us aspire to get to, but rarely accomplish. You've probably wondered - what makes a scratch golfer so special? How did they get down to the elusive zero handicap?

Of course a robust technique in all areas plays a part, but much of it comes down to how scratch golfers think about each and every shot. We've had a look at the data from Shot Scope and there are a surprising number of simple ways you can alter your strategy to make it more like how a scratch golfer approaches their round, which we've highlighted below. It might not be as far fetched as you initially thought...

WATCH: We showcase the 6 things all scratch golfers do on the course

1. Know Their Numbers

Scratch golfers have an intimate understanding of how far they hit each club — not just their best shots, but their averages across all conditions. They know how far each club carries as well as total distance, they know how their distances change with draws and fades and they know what the maximum is they can get out of each club

Shot Scope data reveals that scratch players have a 20-yard gap between their total average distance and their performance average (p-avg), which removes mishits and chips out from the trees. By contrast, a 15-handicap golfer has a 27-yard gap, meaning they have less control and more variability in their shot outcomes.

This consistency allows scratch golfers to make more confident club selections and avoid coming up short — a leading cause of missed greens for higher handicaps. Obviously we all want to strike our irons better and that will lead to a tighter gap between our average and our performance average, but knowing how far you hit the ball on average, regardless of your ability level, is important because you can create a plan that takes trouble out of play.

2. Pick Smart Targets Into Greens

Knowing your numbers feeds into smarter target selection. Scratch golfers don't chase every pin — they calculate where the ball is likely to finish, not just where they want it to go. Scratch golfers hit 7 more greens per round than the average 15 hcp (10.6 vs 3.6). They do this in three ways...

Firstly, they focus mostly on the cover number - which is the distance they need to carry the ball in order to avoid all the major trouble - bunkers, thick rough, penalty areas. They veer away from tucked flags and aim for safer zones to reduce short-siding and increase margin for error - which is a major contributor to double bogeys for higher handicaps. Finally, they try and leave themselves an uphill putt where possible.

Even with elite ball striking, they’re playing the percentages because they know they don’t hit perfect shots very often. This approach contributes to a higher greens-in-regulation rate and having to make fewer short-game saves under pressure. We all want to play stress free golf and hopefully this advice will get you closer.

3. Avoid Blow Up Holes

Scratch golfers average just 0.3 double bogeys per round, compared to 4.7 for a 15 handicap — a key difference in scoring. Interestingly, the fairway hit percentage is similar: 50% for scratch vs 47% for a 15 handicap so the real gap appears when you look at the quality of misses.

Shot Scope data shows 15 handicaps average 5.7 tee shots per round that end in serious trouble — bunkers, hazards, or in the trees — while scratch golfers average just 2.1. That’s almost four fewer recovery situations per round, reducing the need for hero shots and helping avoid blow-up holes.

Scratch golfers manage their misses better, keeping the ball in play and the round under control. But when they do get into trouble, they don’t compound errors, they take their medicine and get the ball back in play.

4. Limit Three putts

Three-putts are silent scorecard killers, especially for mid-to-high handicappers. Golfers with handicaps over 20 average 5.6 three-putts per round, often due to poor lag putting and misjudged pace on longer putts. Scratch golfers, by comparison, average 1.5 or fewer, showing strong distance control and green-reading skills.

That’s potentially 4+ strokes saved per round just by improving pace putting. This isn’t about holing more putts from short and mid range (although that would certainly help!) it’s about avoiding that extra one.

Some advice would be to really focus on the final third of a long putt when reading greens. When the ball is slowing down it will be affected more by the slopes on the green. Getting a better quality of strike on putts will also improve distance consistency, which is why you'll often see scratch golfers and tour pros practicing the tee peg drill with two tees just outside the width of the putter.

5. Pitch It Close (Or At Least On The Green)

Scratch golfers treat every shot inside 70 yards as a scoring opportunity — and it shows. They rarely need more than one shot to get on the green. Shot Scope data shows golfers with handicaps above 20 average 5.6 holes per round where they require multiple shots inside 70 yards to reach the green.Scratch players? Just 1.6.

That’s over four strokes a round saved simply through better contact, distance control, and smarter shot selection on what should be one of the more easier shots in the game. And not only do they find the green, they often leave themselves makeable putts.

Don’t neglect the pitch shot in your practice - try and practice on grass where you can because hitting off mats really doesn’t provide a true picture of strike. Choose a club you’re most comfortable with and devise a system to control the energy into the club, typically this would be some reference points to alter backswing length - like your hips, chest and shoulders.

6. Lean into their strengths

Scratch golfers don’t try to hit every shot in the book — they lean into their strengths. Whether that is knowing their shot shape tendencies, a favorite approach yardage, or trusted club off the tee, they build their strategy around what they do well and only try and hit the shot they know they are capable of pulling off most of the time.

This awareness helps them eliminate one side of the course, choose smarter lines, and play with greater confidence. They’re not mistake-free — they just make fewer bad decisions, because every shot is intentional.

As amateur golfers, we love to compare our performances on the course to others, whether that be handicap indexes, our best ever scores or how far we hit our drives.

I mean, let's face it, we all want to be the longest hitter among our playing partners.

Whether you are a bucket a day at the range kind of person, or someone who regularly uses the 10 best golf exercises to boost power, it's no secret that increasing your length off the tee will have a positive impact on your game - but how does age affect this?

In this article, I dive deep into the latest Shot Scope data to reveal how players in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s drive the golf ball on average...

How Does Age Affect Average Driving Distance For Amateurs?

According to Shot Scope, golfers aged between 30 and 39 drive the golf ball around 256 yards on average. This decade is actually the time where a golfer statistically drives the golf ball the furthest, marginally outperforming the 20s by two yards.

As we jump forward to golfers aged between 40 and 49, the downward trend in driving distance commences. This group of golfers drives the ball 252 yards on average, four yards shorter than the group of 30-somethings.

The 50 to 59 age group has a driving distance average of 243 yards, demonstrating a sharper decline to the curve than we have seen previously, losing around nine yards to the golfers in the age group that is slightly their junior.

The sharpest drop off in distance is found between the golfers aged 50 to 59 and the golfers aged 60 to 69, with a 13 yard decrease in average driving distance.

A golfer in their 60s hits the golf ball around 230 yards on average off the tee, which is interestingly still longer than golfers with a handicap index of 20 or higher (irrespective of their age).

Scratch golfers are incredibly impressive to watch, wielding the club with a level of expertise that most amateurs could only dream about.

Recently, we have covered topics like how far male amateurs hit their drives and the average driving distance of female club golfers, but how does this compare to the professionals at the elite level of the game?

Using the latest Shot Scope data, along with data pulled directly from the PGA and LPGA Tours, we can now definitively share just how close scratch golfers are to matching mesmeric length that we see professionals consistently achieve off the tee...

Driving Distance Comparison: LPGA vs PGA vs Scratch Golfer

Let's start with the scratch golfer.

According to data provided by Shot Scope, a scratch golfer drives the ball 279 yards on average. That's a whopping 26 yards longer than a 10-handicapper and 57 yards longer than a 20-handicapper - but how does that compare to the pros?

The driving distance average on the LPGA Tour is around 256 yards, with the longest hitters on the tour sending it around 289 yards. The shortest driver in the 2025 season averages 238 yards, creating a significant gap between each end of the spectrum.

The average driving distance on the PGA Tour in the 2025 season so far is 294 yards, with the longest driver achieving a monstrous average of 313 yards.

The shortest hitter is some way off that figure, at 273 yards, and actually falls short of the scratch golfer average.

In summary, the average scratch golfer isn't far off achieving the sort of length seen off the tee at LPGA and PGA Tour events, but has some way to go to generate the power possessed by the biggest hitters on tour.

It can be incredibly frustrating to pursue progress in golf, putting in hours and hours of work away from the course, only to see your hard work return very little in the way of scoring improvements.

After spending time tirelessly working on my fundamentals, like the perfect golf grip and the correct ball position, and working on the best golf drills - I was still going out on the course and shooting scores that were higher than I would have liked.

Then I heard a simple strategy tip from one of the most recognisable names in the golf industry - which totally transformed the way I think about a round of golf and led to a long-overdue cut to my handicap index.

In the article and video below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Peter Finch explains why amateur golfers shouldn't fixate over the 'par' score for each hole on the scorecard and how making a minor adjustment to our approach can lead to positive outcomes on the course...

This Scorecard Trick Changed The Way I Think About Golf

If arrive on the tee box at a 450 yard hole and the scorecard says it's a par-4, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to play it as one.

Instead, you could play it like a par-5. Break it down into three good shots to find the green and two putts for a 'par', which could help you to stop forcing it and hit more green in regulation.

As I outline in the video below, my advice would be to look at the scorecard of the course you are playing before you reach the first tee box. Let's for argument sake say that you are a 15-handicapper, I would suggest marking holes 1 to 15 on the card.

On any holes with a mark beside them, add a shot onto the par score and play the hole accordingly. All of a sudden, things become a lot easier and a lot more manageable. Rather than chasing an expected score, you give yourself a little bit of a buffer.

For example, if the card says that hole 2 is a par-3 with a stroke index of 13, play that as a par-4 and strategically plan how you are going to give yourself the best chance of achieving that score.

In fact, according to the latest Shot Scope data, golfers with a handicap of 15 or higher average a score of 5.1 or higher on par-4 holes. The same is true for par-5 holes, where that same group of golfers averages 6 or higher.

If you get a bogey on this hole, that's fine. If you get a triple bogey on this hole, that's more of a problem.

Changing the way you think about a round of golf can help you to play much more strategically, assisting you to keep double bogeys off your scorecard by avoiding the penalty areas that destroy your scorecard.

Plotting your way around the trouble is going to be a huge benefit for most amateur golfers - especially if you want to finally break 80 or break 90 in golf.

I have tried just about everything in my attempts to break 90 in golf, from spending hours cycling through the 10 best golf drills to adding a new 3-wood to my bag.

However, putting this new club into play has raised an interesting new conundrum on the tee box - should I play safe with the fairway wood or pull the head cover from my driver?

Being the data geek that I am, I couldn't leave that decision down to a whim on any particular day. I needed to know the definitive answer.

So, utilising the latest Shot Scope data, I did a little research into the pros and cons of taking 3-wood or driver off the tee, and the findings were very interesting indeed...

1. Distance Off The Tee

You'll be unsurprised to learn that distance clearly favours the big stick off the tee.

The average amateur golfer hits the ball 245 yards with driver, a huge 27 yards longer than the 3-wood average of 218 yards.

The biggest distance gap between the two clubs is seen in the average for a 10-handicapper. With a driver in hand a 10-handicap player hits the ball 259 yards, which is 32 yards longer than with a 3-wood (227 yards).

It has been well researched and documented that how far amateur golfers hit their drives has a direct correlation to their handicap index. Ultimately, distance is king and you should be looking to eek out every yard.

2. Fairways Hit (Driving Accuracy)

The argument many make for sacrificing distance with a 3-wood is that it's a safer play. This is often backed up with claims that hitting more fairways will help you shoot lower scores, but how many more does an amateur actually hit when pulling the 3-wood.

If you look at how you compare to PGA Tour driving accuracy stats, you'll see that the gulf isn't huge - therefore indicating that this stat might not be the biggest influencing factor between you and the elite players in the game.

The data suggests that a scratch golfer, 5-handicapper and 10-handicapper only hit between 1% and 3% more fairways with a 3-wood when compared to a driver, which hardly seems worth the distance loss.

However, in most cases, a player with a handicap index of 15 or higher actually hits more fairways with driver than they do with 3-wood.

That means the decision to take 3-wood really doesn't make any sense for these players, unless the hole specifically dictates the club change due to danger or topography.

3. Avoiding Trouble

The support for the 'team driver' camp really picks up pace when you look at respective club's ability to help you avoid trouble on the course.

Generally speaking, the data suggests you are just as likely to find a penalty area with 3-wood as you are with driver - and for most players you are actually more likely to find the danger areas on the course.

The same can be said for finding bunkers, albeit only marginally, so taking driver appears to be the 'safer' play after all - maybe even helping you to keep double bogeys off the scorecard.

Other Options?

According to Shot Scope, lower handicap players are actually better taking a hybrid off the tee if they really want to opt for a safe play off the tee - with an increased likelihood of hitting the fairway and a marginally improved chance of avoiding penalty areas

Having said that, you will be casting aside around 44 yards of distance on average if you make this decision on the tee box - so perhaps it's better to be bold.

Walking off the green after a 1-putt, whether it be for a miraculous birdie or a much-needed par, offers a feeling of elation that is difficult to replicate for amateur golfers.

We recently did some research into the distance where a 3-putt becomes more likely than a 1-putt for an amateur golfer, but how often do PGA Tour players actually convert their chances first time?

Using the latest Shot Scope data, as well as statistics from the PGA Tour, we are now able to closely compare the performance of the average club golfer to the elite talent on the PGA Tour - and the figures are very interesting...

How Many 1-Putts Does The Average PGA Tour Player Make?

In the 2025 season so far, The average PGA Tour player has a 1-putt percentage of 39.72%.

Some of the strongest putters on tour, like Taylor Montgomery and Harry Hall, have been able to reach the lofty heights of 45% - but only 85 of the 174 players measured make a 1-putt more than four in ten attempts.

Unsurprisingly, following their Major success and dominant performance on the PGA Tour, Scheffler and McIlroy can also be found in the top-20 players.

Towards the lower end of this particular statistical table, you will see the likes of Steven Fisk, Rico Hoey, Will Gordon, Rasmus Hojgaard and Victor Perez - each of which have been unable to break the 35% mark.

However, this is the stat that instantly peaked my interest. Champion Golfer of The Year for 2024, Xander Schauffele, has a 1-putt percentage of just 36.99% in 2025. After struggling with the flatstick of late, that puts him less than 3% above some amateur golfers.

How Many 1-Putts Does The Average Amateur Golfer Make?

Considering the pedigree of some of those names mentioned, including a two-time Major Champion and two multiple DP World Tour winners, it's interesting to note that the gap between them and the most competent amateur golfers isn't that wide.

In fact, the average scratch golfer has a 1-putt percentage of 34%, as does a the average 5-handicapper, which is remarkably similar to the likes of Hojgaard et al.

a 25-handicapper falls some way short, at around 26%, but the average club golfer sits somewhere around the 30% mark.

While I am aware the greens that PGA Tour players are putting on cannot be compared to surfaces you'd expect to see at your midweek medal or Sunday stableford, I was still shocked by the data.

By improving the consistency with which you are able to hole your first putt, amateurs can close the gap on more accomplished players and slash their handicap in the process.

Every year we’re told about breakthroughs in golf swing analysis tools and club technology that promise longer drives, more greens hit and lower scores. But are golfers actually improving? We consulted with our data partner Shot Scope to analyze over 200,000 rounds of golf to compare how amateur golfers are performing in 2024 versus five years ago to find out if they have actually got any better in that time period.

WATCH: We compare the performance of golfers from 2019 vs 2024

Let’s start with the stats we all want to know about, that is average score and handicap, and interestingly among Shot Scope users, the average score per round improved slightly from 15.31 over par in 2019 to 14.97 over par in 2024. On average, in the same time period, the average handicap of users fell from 14.6 to 13.9. Now this could obviously be skewed by more low handicappers using Shot Scope products than high handicappers, but the data suggests that golfers are getting ever so slightly better.

But where are these improvements in scoring and handicap might be coming from? Let’s start on the tee box. Here, golfers have become marginally more accurate going from 34.8% of fairways found in 2019 to 35.1% in 2024 while the number of tee shots in trouble stayed flat. Distance was also up by just over five yards from 234.2 yards to 239.4 yards. So not only are golfers hitting it further now on average, they’re also managing to hit the ball a little bit straighter too, which suggests gains in clubhead speed, equipment efficiency, or user confidence in hitting driver more frequently and aggressively.

Greens in Regulation saw a nearly 2 percentage point improvement in that five year period going from 27.8% to 29.7%, signaling better approach play. Interestingly here, golfers are also now hitting their 7-iron around 3 yards longer on average which supports a trend toward stronger lofts but also better swing efficiency or improved technique.

Around the green, the up-and-down conversion rate improved slightly from 30.9% to 31.8% but bunker play actually got slightly worse. Fluffed short game shots, or the number of instances golfers required multiple shots from within 70 yards to hit the green, decreased by 0.5 times per round, which is a positive sign of less wasted shots.

Further improvements can be found on the green too with golfers in 2024 now taking fewer three putts versus golfers in 2019 from 2.1 three putts per round to 1.9. They’re also better from short range with the number of missed putts from inside 5 feet per round going down from 3.7 to 2.9, which represents a significant reduction of more than 20 percent.

So in summary, in most areas of the game it appears that golfers have got slightly better. Of course there are other factors at play but it’s reassuring to know that advances in technology and performance tracking is having a positive impact on our ability to play the game.

When it comes to data in golf, many amateurs are obsessed with how far the average amateur golfer hits their driver or how many birdies they make in a round, but have you ever considered how these incredible stats can help you lower your handicap?

Improving certain areas of your game could help you to swing the needle towards your target index, with data-informed knowledge helping you to source the best golf drills to support you in your pursuit of progress.

Well, according to the latest Shot Scope data, the following five statistical improvements could help you to slash your handicap in half - finally helping you to move from a 20-handicap all the way down to the brink of single figures...

5 Statistical Improvements That Could Slash Your Handicap

Digesting data and utilising it to inform decisions is something the best golfers in the world do, but it also helps many amateurs to achieve their goals - like breaking 80 for the first time.

Below, I have done a lot of the hard work for you by crunching the numbers and generating a practical plan to set you up for success...

1. Distance Off The Tee

It will come as no surprise that one of the most effective ways to get from a 20- to a 10-handicap is to increase your distance off the tee.

According to Shot Scope, a 20-handicapper averages 222 yards with their tee shots. This is 31 yards shorter than a 10-handicapper, who hits it 253 yards on average.

That data takes into account tee shots hit with driver, fairway woods and hybrids - the position remains the same... distance is king.

Sending your tee shots out a little further allows for shorter clubs into the green, a closer proximity to the hole from the second shot and therefore a better chance to bank birdies.

2. Approach To The Green

With danger often lurking short of the green, in the form of shot-sapping bunkers or penal hazards, taking enough club to reach the back of the green is a crucial strategy decision that 20-handicappers can make to lower their handicap.

The average 20-handicap player comes up short of the green from 150 yards around 50% of the time, which often leads to an uphill struggle (if you'll pardon the pun) to get up and down.

A 10-handicapper only comes up short around 35% of the time, perhaps using their bag more effectively to pull a club with enough juice to clear the danger.

The message is clear - stop forcing it from 150 yards. Take more club and swing it easy.

3. Short Game

Getting dialled in from inside 50 yards is a great way to cut your handicap index, and the latest shot scope data proves it.

A 10-handicap golfer leaves the ball within 15ft of the hole (average) from inside 50 yards, whereas a 20-handicap golfer ends up around 20ft away.

Five feet might not seem like a big deal, but a 20-handicapper is half as likely to make a 20ft putt (7%) than to make a 15ft putt (14%).

Perhaps it's time for a refresh on how to chip and pitch like a pro - as these lessons could transform your performances on the golf course.

4. Putting

Putting is an often neglected area of the game, in terms of practice, but improving with the flatstick can significantly improve your chances of reducing your handicap.

The average 20-handicap golfer 3-putts 13% of the time, but a 10-handicapper only falls foul of this frustrating occurrence 7% of the time.

A 20-handicapper therefore averages a 3-putt once every eight holes, while a 10-handicapper can go almost twice as long without one (14 holes).

Cutting out 3-putts is a great way to lower your handicap index, so head to the practice green for a few of the best putting tips and drills.

5. Scoring

This might sound obvious, but making sensible and strategic decisions on the golf course to avoid double bogey or worse is key to reaching a handicap index of 10.

In the average round, a 20-handicapper makes around six double-bogeys or worse, which is more than twice the amount of a 10-handicapper (2.88).

Common sense should prevail, but things like taking your medicine when out of position, not taking on unrealistic approach shots and setting up to utilise your shot shape off the tee can all help to limit these annoying big numbers from the scorecard.

Greenside bunker shots are something every golfer has to navigate on the course, but they can often take their toll on our scorecard and our sanity.

Learning how to hit a bunker shot is a crucial skill for all amateur golfers, especially when you consider the impact that finding the sand around the green has on your scoring.

Achieving better greenside bunker play requires the advice of an expert in the field, so I knew exactly who to reach out to for help.

Peter Finch earned a spot at 2025 Open Championship final qualifying thanks to a fantastic winning performance at the regional qualifier, but beyond his impressive playing abilities he has also helped vast numbers of amateur golfers to improve their game.

In this article and vertical video, Peter Finch explains how to play a greenside bunker shot like an elite tour pro, but also differentiates the technique to help players of all abilities to escape the sand unscathed...

Greenside Bunker Shots: What Does The Data Say?

Greenside bunker shots are a problem for almost every level of amateur golfer - with the green's last line of defence performing valiantly to repel our advances.

According to the latest Shot Scope data, even a scratch golfer only gets up and down from this spot 37% of the time, meaning more than six out of ten visits to the greenside bunker result in costly dropped shots.

That picture turns even bleaker for those at the top end of the handicap spectrum, with a success rate of around one in ten (10%) for a 25-handicapper.

As you can see, in the video below, there is a clear correlation between greenside bunker performance and reduced handicap indexes, so how can I help you to master this crucial golf shot?

There are different ways to play this one, so I am going to differentiate my advice in relation to your handicap, in order to give you the best chance of success from the sand.

How To Play A Greenside Bunker Shot: High-Handicappers

Start by placing the ball position just forward of centre in the stance, with the feet pointing just left of target for a right-handed golfer.

We need to open up the clubface, by rotating the handle of the club to the right and adding more loft, then take our normal golf grip.

Get your weight over to your lead side at address and keep it there throughout the swing to encourage a downward strike.

The idea is to hit the sand first, around an inch and a half before the golf ball. When you take the club back, you need a very quick wrist hinge to get the clubface pointing back at you.

Acceleration through impact is key, so don't quit on it. Aim to finish with the clubface once again pointing at you, and you should be able to watch the ball soar majestically onto the green.

Want a recap? Here are the key points to takeaway...

1. Ball position just forward of centre
2. Feet pointing left of target (right-handed golfer)
3. Open the clubface
4. Take normal golf grip
5. Weight on lead side throughout swing
6. Quick wrist hinge
7. Keep acceleration up through impact

How To Play A Greenside Bunker Shot: Mid- To Low-Handicappers

Mid- to low-handicappers might want to achieve a little more finesse and control from their greenside bunker shots, so I've got a slightly adapted set of guidelines for you.

Rather than opening the stance to the target, by pointing your feet left, let's set up parallel - like you would be on a normal shot.

Bend the knees to get nice and low, and keep the ball position the same as stated above.

Open the clubface again but this time, keep the hands a little lower towards the sand. The club is going to travel a little more around the body, as you can see me demonstrating in the video above, as this will shallow the angle of attack.

This is the technique used by pretty much every tour pro, ensuring a cleaner contact with the sand and producing those mesmeric shots we can easily recall from the greatest in the game.

It's recap time – with those changes for lower handicap players in bold...

1. Ball position just forward of centre
2. Feet parallel to target
3. Open the clubface
4. Take normal golf grip
5. Weight on lead side and bend knees to get lower
6. Hands lower towards sand
7. Swing more around body
8. Keep acceleration up through impact

So, you've found the fairway with your tee shot and left yourself around 150 yards into the green - how often are you executing that shot as intended?

The answer is, for most handicap golfers, not very often. When looking into how many greens in regulation an average golfer hits, I was surprised by the bleak picture the numbers painted.

Even those who dedicate time to work on the best ball striking drills often come up short (if you'll pardon the pun), because two key factors often hold amateur golfers back.

In this article, and accompanying instructional video, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Peter Finch uses the latest Shot Scope data to reveal how tricky this distance can be to get right for amateurs and offers some expert tips to improve your chances...

How To Hit More Greens From 150 Yards

According to the latest Shot Scope data, almost every level of amateur golfer (irrespective of handicap index) will miss more greens than they will hit from 150 yards out.

A scratch golfer understandably bucks that trend, hitting 55% of greens from 150 yards, but that drops to 30% for a 10-handicapper and just 17% for a 20-handicapper.

Interestingly, the higher your handicap rises up the scale - the more likely you are to miss the green short. This is often where a lot of the danger lurks, including nasty greenside bunkers and even more unpleasant penalty areas.

Those are sobering facts, but it's important to consider them when deciding on how to play your next shot.

If you want to make progress in your game, and defy the odds, my advice would be to know your club distances - and use that information to make smart decisions.

Note: It's even more important when conditions get tough, as this will help you to calculate distance in the wind.

The two reasons why many amateurs often struggle to hit greens from this crucial distance are course management and ego!

Just because you once, on a hot summer's day, hit your eight-iron 150 yards does not mean that you will necessarily repeat that feat every time.

In fact, taking more club and swinging easy is a much more effective strategy. If you have to pull out your 6-iron from this distance, that's absolutely fine.

Choosing to hit a club that will get you to the back of the green should help you to avoid coming up short, even if you don't strike it perfectly, but crucially it takes most of the danger around the green out of play.

The lesson here is simple. Rather than opting for a shorter club and trying to hit it as hard as you can, take a longer club and swing it easy - allowing your natural silky golf swing rhythm to shine through.

The key to shooting lower scores and getting your handicap down is not all about making a barrage of birdies (although that would certainly help), it’s actually more about keeping those double bogeys or worse off your scorecard. A 15 handicap golfer makes nearly five double bogeys a round, so taking steps to address this should be a priority.

With the help of data from Shot Scope, makers of some of the best golf watches and performance tracking technology, we’ve compiled eight proven strategies that are guaranteed to reduce the frequency with which double bogeys occur to unlock an improvement in your scores. Now it's worth pointing out that some of the points may slightly contradict eachother, but in isolation they will all help keep those damaging doubles off the card.

WATCH: We run through the 8 ways you can make fewer double bogeys

1. Hit it further off the tee

This sounds glaringly obvious (who doesn’t want to hit it further off the tee) but the data shows there is a clear and direct correlation between distance off the tee and score. The further you hit the ball, the less likely it is that you’ll make a double bogey so off the tee you should be making every effort to get as far down the hole as possible. We know there is very little accuracy benefit to hitting 3-wood versus driver and that being in the rough a long way down the hole is better than being in the fairway with a longer shot into the green.

Perhaps some speed training, with Superspeed Speed Sticks or the GForce driver swing trainer, is in order to gain more yardage. You could work on striking the ball better or curving the ball less through the air to maximise your distance output. So unless you know your driver at a normal distance is going to be reaching a penalty area or other very serious trouble, let her rip as fast as you can and deal with the consequence on the next shot.

2. Avoid penalty areas, bunkers and lost balls

Being as long as possible off the tee is key but not to the point where it brings serious trouble like bunkers, penalty areas and out of bounds into play. The stats show you’re half a shot worse off on a hole if you find a fairway bunker versus the fairway so those need to be avoided. Whether you favor distance (in point 1) or accuracy depends on a whole host of factors like the situation of the round, the wind, how you're playing on the day etc so you have to make a judgement call on what works for you in that moment.

A 25 handicapper loses nearly six balls a round, which is not only making the game incredibly expensive but it’s also massively hurting your scores. To help avoid these troublesome tee shots, use tech to help you get a better understanding of what lies in wait for you at your driving distance. Also try and develop a shot that you know curves one way - a two way miss is one of the most destructive traits any golfer can have. At least then you can allow for this with your aim and take one side of the course out of play.

3. Don’t get greedy from fairway bunkers

The temptation is to get as close to the green as possible from fairway bunkers, but playing shorter and making sure you get the ball out first time is a surefire way to reduce the risk of double bogey after a bad tee shot. The last thing you want to do is get too greedy, hit the lip and see your ball roll back into your divot and you’re faced with an even more difficult shot than before. Take your medicine by choosing a club that will definitely clear the lip and follow these fairway bunker play tips from Peter Finch to ensure you escape the sand first time and give yourself a chance of making bogey at worst.

4. Don’t follow a bad shot with another

The stats show there’s actually minimal difference between the number of birdies per round between many ability levels but the number of double bogeys goes up considerably by 2 per round from a 15 to 20 handicap golfer. Bad shots happen - we all know this - but it’s important to banish this from your brain and focus on hitting a good shot next time around. Compounding errors is something you never see the best players do and there’s a reason for that.

So the most important shot is always the next one, forget about what has gone before. Avoiding taking on the miracle shots, be it a 30-yard hook round a tree, attacking tucked away pins, long carries over water, is one way to stop compounding errors. This is slightly different in matchplay, which is a format that affords a more gung ho approach, but in strokeplay it pays to be more conservative most of the time.

5. Chip with less loft

Nearly all abilities of golfer have a lower shots-to-finish stat with a low lofted club like an 8 or 9 iron than they do a sand or lob wedge. So providing you don’t have an obstacle to go over that requires elevation, practice chipping with a lower lofted club where the ball is running towards the hole. A shorter swing means less can go wrong and if you apply more of a putting technique taking the wrists out of play, you should achieve better contact more consistently.

6. Develop a fail safe bunker technique

On average you’re about half as likely to get up and down from a bunker as you are anywhere else on the course. So clearly greenside bunkers are a problem and especially high handicappers who often struggle to get out of the sand at all on their first or second try and rack up a big score as a result. Not getting cute with tight flags is one way you could reduce the risk of making double - focusing on getting the ball out first time to the fat part of the green along with trying some of these bunker play tips and drills from Peter Finch should help your scores come down, especially if you’re a mid or high handicap golfer.

7. Reduce three putts

Poor lag putting leads to unnecessary strokes on the greens in the form of destructive three putts and so developing a system for controlling pace is critical. A good drill to try is to putt a ball 30 feet, then putt another ball just past it and another just short of it. This fine tunes your feel and the adjustments you need to make to your stroke length and tempo to send the ball different distances.

8. Hole more short range putts

The 3-6 feet is the area where golfers can make real progress, especially high handicappers given that 25 handicaps only make 48% of putts from this range whereas a tour player is up at around 85%.

Short putting doesn’t require physical attributes like speed, strength or flexibility, so pretty much anyone can improve this particular skill of returning the putter face back to square at impact on a consistent basis. A drill recommended by PGA Pro Joe Ferguson is to putt to a tee peg rather than a hole to narrow your focus and increase your margin for error on the course.

Putting performance is a crucial factor for determining success or failure on the golf course, often measured by how many putts players take in 18 holes (you can find out the average number in the video below).

There are plenty of ways to improve your performances on the green, like learning how to grip a putter or trying out some of the best putting drills, but there is no doubt that getting the ball closer to the hole on approach is crucial for avoiding 3-putts.

In this article, thanks to the latest Shot Scope data, we can reveal golf's putting precipice... the distance that a 3-putt becomes more likely than a 1-putt!

At What Distance Is A 3-Putt More Likely Than A 1-Putt?

As you might expect, the distance that a 3-putt becomes more likely than a 1-putt is dependant on a player's handicap, according to Shot Scope.

A scratch golfer reaches that precipice at 29ft, while a 10-handicapper is more likely to 3-putt at 28ft.

As you scale up the handicap indexes, the proximity where a 1-putt is more likely decreases further.

A 20-handicap player is more likely to 3-putt from 25ft and a 25-handicapper is more likely to do so from just 22ft.

When you consider that the average proximity to the hole from 50-100 yards for a 20-handicapper is 49ft, you can see how this will create a problem on the greens that often leads to big scores.

The data confirms that a lower handicap player is likely to possess better touch and feel on the greens, whereas a higher handicap golfer often lacks the required control over pace and distance to capitalise on their tee-to-green efforts.

Improving lag putting is a great way that mid- and high-handicappers can shoot lower scores, but this requires plenty of practice and time invested in putting drills.

Seeing a golf ball nestled in a fairway bunker is enough to send some golfers into a fear-induced frenzy, with the penal sand traps often sapping shots from their scorecard due to one common fault... the setup.

A large part of mastering how to hit out of fairway bunkers comes before you even move the golf club, with the setup arguably being the most crucial component for how to hit a bunker shot.

The latest Shot Scope data paints a bleak picture for amateur golfers in terms of their success when hitting out of a fairway bunker, but we are here to help you defy the odds.

In this article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach and PGA professional Peter Finch shares his expert tips on how to make four key fairway bunker setup changes so that you can escape the sand first time (every time)...

Fairway Bunker Setup Changes

Your first priority on any visit to a fairway bunker is to get out with your first shot. There are few things more frustrating than having to hit two, three (or more) shots to escape the sand, but this is the reality for so many amateur golfers.

However, by making a few crucial changes at setup, you can forget all of that and stride into the sand with confidence every single time.

Firstly, choose a club that gives you enough loft to clear the lip but also gives you a decent distance boost. This club might not allow you to reach the green, but sometimes you have to just take your medicine on the golf course.

Being too aggressive could leave you playing again before reaching for the rake, so in the video below you will see that I have opted for an 8-iron to strike that perfect balance.

Having the perfect ball position is also extremely important in a fairway bunker, so take time to ensure you have given this setup fundamental the necessary attention.

For an 8-iron, position the ball in the middle of your stance, and for a longer iron move it slightly further back to ensure a clean ball then sand contact.

An easy way to perfect your ball position is to stand with your feet together in line with the golf ball, then take a small step out with your lead and your trail foot to ensure the ball is nicely centred.

Shuffle your feet into the sand to create a nice stable base, and grip down the club a little to decrease the length of the club and to add some extra control in your swing. This will help to prevent the club from digging into the sand.

In terms of weight distribution, keep around 60 percent of your weight on your lead side throughout the swing, and grip the club firmly.

Implementing these simple adjustments at setup will drastically improve your ability to play fairway bunkers shots, helping you to shoot lower scores and lower your handicap.

For amateur golfers, knowing how you compare to other players of a similar ability is a great way to measure your progress, understand the strengths and weaknesses of your game, or simply have some fun with your mates in the clubhouse after the round.

Whether you are interested in how far the average amateur golfer hits their 3-wood or how many golf balls they lose on average per round, data can tell you a lot about your journey and the path you are taking to find progress in your game.

Driving distance is typically a favourite for most golfers when making comparisons, as we would all like to be the biggest hitter among our playing partners, but... what if we wanted to look a little further afield?

Thanks to the latest Shot Scope data, we can now reveal which country has the longest amateur driving distance - including a top-10 leaderboard that might surprise a few of you!

Which Country Has The Longest Amateur Driving Distance Average?

First things first, it's important to set out the parameters for this comparison.

Statistics were collated for any nation with more than 200 registered users and the driving distance was then calculated based on the performance average of that data set.

According to the latest Shot Scope data, the country with the longest average driving distance for amateur golfers is Australia - measuring a whopping 251 yards.

The United States, who I incorrectly predicted would top the table, came in second with an average of 248 yards, while Canada rounded out the top-3 with their score of 246 yards.

The remainder of the top-5 includes New Zealand (243 yards) and the highest ranked European country, Sweden (242 yards).

Perhaps surprisingly (and a little deflating) to a proud Englishman, the United Kingdom actually finished dead last in the table, ranking 10th with an average of just 234 yards.

Denmark (239 yards), Ireland (237 yards), Japan (236 yards) and Spain (235 yards) all ranked above the UK, but how does that driving distance average correlate to the average handicap of users in those countries?

What is the average handicap for amateur golfers in each country?

Before everyone outside of Australia, The USA and Canada heads off for an emergency driving range session, let's look at how the average handicap index of Shot Scope users compares across the same set of countries - and how that correlates to driving distance.

Golfers in the USA will be pleased to hear they have emerged victorious in this one, with an average handicap index of just 10.7 - which is very impressive and suggests a strong player pool overall.

Sweden followed closely in second, with an average handicap of 11.3, and Canada once again rounded out the top-3 at 11.7.

Interestingly, however, the big-hitting Australia fell some way short, recording an average of 13.2.

That's actually the same handicap index as 10th place United Kingdom, who also recorded an average of 13.2, perhaps highlighting a gulf in quality between the best players and those who are in pursuit of progress.

Japan had the highest average handicap index (16.0), followed by Spain (15.3) and Denmark (13.9), while Ireland (12.7) and New Zealand (12.3) found themselves in the middle of the pack.

The Tables

Below are the full standings for both driving distance average and handicap index average, based on the latest Shot Scope data.

We love the chance to compare ourselves to others on the golf course, adding a little spice to the competition and some friendly banter in the clubhouse.

Whether it's how far the average amateur hits their irons or how many birdies they make per round, there is always a desire to outhit or outscore your playing partners.

In this article, we are focusing on one of the most versatile clubs in the bag... specifically how far the average amateur hits their 3-wood.

Clearly, having one of the best fairway woods on the market will undoubtedly help with distance, but a solid technique is also crucial.

After all, according to the latest Shot Scope data, flushing your fairway woods will help to reduce your handicap...

How Far Does The Average Amateur Golfer Hit Their 3-Wood?

According to the latest 2025 Shot Scope data, the average amateur golfer hits their 3-wood 218 yards.

Unsurprisingly, a scratch golfers average is significantly higher (261 yards) and a 25-handicappers average distance is significantly lower (178 yards) than that figure.

The correlation between the distance you can hit your fairway woods and your handicap index is clear to see, with a player's handicap consistently decreasing as the average distance increases.

The smallest distance discrepancy between bands is between a 5- and 10-handicapper, measuring just 7 yards (as you can see in the table below).

Those figures are significantly lower than the average driving distance for male amateurs, measuring at 245 yards, but taking the 3-wood more often off the tee is a great way to balance distance with accuracy.

In fact, taking a 3-wood provides around a two or three percent increase to the average fairways hit for most amateur golfers - so definitely worth considering on those tighter or trickier holes at your golf club.

Quiz! 10 questions every golfer should know the answer to

There is no better feeling in golf than standing on the tee box and flushing one straight down the middle, but finding more fairways can be a difficult target to achieve for amateur golfers.

Despite a desire to improve your accuracy on the golf course, it appears the odds of finding the short grass might be slightly against you - according to the latest Shot Scope data.

The average amateur golfer hits around 47% of fairways off the tee, with a scratch golfer only averaging marginally above that (50%), but there is no need to be content with just being 'average'.

In this article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach and PGA Professional Peter Finch shares a simple golf hack to try on the driving range that will revolutionise your performance off the tee - but remember not to try this one on the golf course...

Peter Finch: Simple Golf Hack For Finding More Fairways

Improving your performance off the tee is a key component of the recipe for how to break 80 in golf, but it also allows us to be more positive with our second shot into the green.

If you are a 10-handicap or above, the stats suggest you are going to miss more fairways than you hit, but that in itself provides an opportunity - as if you can improve your driving accuracy then you should start to see a cut to your handicap index.

Much of this comes down to alignment on the tee box, which is something you can practice during your next driving range session using this very simple golf hack.

I must warn you, however, this is actually 'illegal' on the golf course, but every amateur golfer should absolutely try this when next hitting a bucket of balls while practicing at their local club.

Pick a target in the distance, then place a tee peg in the ground a few feet in front of your golf ball which is on that chosen target line. The tee peg now becomes your intermediate target, while the spot in the distance is your desired location.

Now, forget the desired location for a second and just focus on lining up the centre of the clubface with the intermediate target (the tee peg).

While you can't place a marker in the ground on the course, you can use an object or mark that is already there - so try to pick out a leaf, divot, twig or something else that can act as your intermediate target.

Try to imagine you are playing on the course, so don't spend too much time thinking about your swing mechanics - just let everything flow naturally.

The idea is to get the golf ball travelling over the intermediate target. As if by magic, I bet you will notice your tee shots ending up much closer to your desired location in the middle of the fairway.

As I head to the first of the four tricky par-3 holes at my home course, Sand Moor Golf Club, I know that I am about to reach a pivotal point in my round.

My performance on these short holes can often make or break my round, and according to the data it appears I am not alone.

Understanding how to play par-3s with a clear and consistent strategy is obviously key, but how well does the average amateur golfer perform?

Well, using Shot Scope data, I am now able to share the latest 2025 insights that helps us answer this question - so that you can compare yourself against the rest...

Do You Play Par-3s Better Than The Average Amateur Golfer?

Before we get started, I am aware that the answer to this question will depend on a number of factors, including the course you are playing, your handicap index and the weather conditions on the day.

For this data, we are looking at the average amateur golfer in each handicap index range playing the average par-3 hole (which is also broken down into distance brackets).

By chunking the data into three categories (hit green success, proximity and shots to finish), the Shot Scope data is able to give you a great insight into how you compare against your peers.

Want to have your say? Comment below with your own success stories or abysmal accounts from your par-3 adventures...

1. Hit Green Success

As you can see in the table below, the success rate of amateur golfers hitting the green in regulation on par-3s varies based on handicap index and the distance of the hole.

The average amateur golfer hits the green 40% of the time from 10-150 yards, 27% of the time from 150-200 yards and just 14% of the time from 200+ yards.

Interestingly, other than a scratch golfer, players of all abilities tend to hit the green less than half of the time on par-3 holes.

The difference between the top and the bottom of the handicap index range is also quite stark.

As the handicap index increases, the disparity between the ranges tightens up a little - highlighting the fine margins between being a scratch golfer and being a low-handicapper.

2. Par-3 Proximity

You might think that you should be stuffing your tee shot on par-3 holes to within a few feet for birdie, but the data might just provide with a welcome dose of reality that could help to manage expectations and improve your mood.

The average amateur golfer has an average proximity of 51 feet from 100-150 yards, 79 feet from 150-200 yards and 120 feet from 200+ yards, so cut yourself a little slack if you leave a long putt or a chip shot around the green.

Even a scratch golfer has an average proximity of 31 feet from 100-150 yards, 43 feet from 150-200 yards and 56 feet from 200+ yards.

With plenty of par-3 holes protecting themselves with water hazards and a variety of other guarding forces - you can understand why the average amateur golfer loses a few golf balls per round to these tricky tests.

With players towards the bottom end of the handicap index ranges tending to get a shot on some of the par-3 holes, it might even be worth finding the safe miss and factoring that into your strategy. A four might end up being a great result here.

3. Shots To Finish Par-3s

By shots to finish, we mean the amount of shots taken to get the ball from the tee to the hole. You might expect this to be around par (3) for most golfers, but the data suggests that isn't really the case.

The average amateur golfer takes 3.5 shots to get the ball in the hole from 100-150 yards, 3.75 shots from 150-200 yards and 4.28 shots from 200+ yards.

A 25-handicapper actually averages a double-bogey on the longest par-3 holes, and anyone above a 10-handicap is struggling to avoid a bogey on the card.

When you consider that a scratch golfer averages 3.27 shots to complete par-3s, maybe it's time for a mindset refresh instead of throwing your putter in the lake after making a four.

We've all been in a position where we are left with a tough choice on the golf course - putt from the fringe or take our chances with a wedge in hand.

With the images of some common amateur golfer mistakes around the green still burned into my brain, I often opt to stick with the relative safety of my putting stroke - mainly due to the fact that I still haven't mastered how to spin chip shots.

There are obvious pros and cons for both options, but the data suggests there is only one winner. According to Shot Scope, players are far more likely to get up and down from around the green when opting to use the putter (but more on that later).

With that in mind, we asked Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Neil Marr to explain when you should (and shouldn't) putt from the fringe and to share some expert advice on how to get the best out of your flatstick when around the green...

When Should I Putt From The Fringe – What Does The Data Say?

As I mentioned earlier, the latest Shot Scope data overwhelmingly favours putting where possible around the greens. In fact, the average scratch golfer has a proximity of 5ft when opting for putter around the green and gets up and down 81% of the time.

This trend of increased short game success when choosing the flatstick continues for every handicap index range, but particular benefits are seen for high-handicap golfers.

A 25-handicapper gets up and down with putter 62% of the time on average, which despite being the lowest conversion percentage of any other handicap index (below 25) is still drastically better than when the same player goes with a pitching wedge (21%), gap wedge (22%), sand wedge (9%) or lob wedge (8%).

So, with the data apparently favouring the flat stick, what does a PGA professional with more than 35 years experience in the game think?

When Should I Putt From The Fringe – What Does The Pro Say?

1. When To Putt From The Fringe

It’s a handy shot on firm links-type courses, but you must assess each situation carefully to gauge how good the fringe is and whether any wetness could make it tricky to judge, particularly when putting through quite a bit of fringe.

But it takes the club/turf interaction out of the equation, and most golfers strike putts better than chips.

2. When Not To Putt From The Fringe

Putting may not be wise on undulating fringes or if there’s long grass behind the ball – a belly wedge or hybrid chip will be better choices here.

Many golfers who do putt from well off the green might be better off improving their understanding of how to chip or hit pitch shots, as flying it on to the green takes out the humps and hollows that make these putts hard to judge.

3. My Best Advice For Putting From The Fringe

If you like the idea of putting from more than a couple of feet off the green, you’ll need to practise these shots a little more to get used to the change in speed once the ball exits the fringe.

I would recommend adding this shot to your practice regime, and then taking a few more practice swings than usual out on the course to really get a feel for what is needed.

Are You A High-Handicap Golfer Who Wants To Shoot Lower Scores? Try These Four Bonus Tips...

In the video below, Golf Monthly deputy editor Joel Tadman uses decades of experience in the industry, along with the latest Shot Scope data, to share four ways that high-handicap golfers can shoot lower scores...

As a high-handicap golfer myself, I can truly relate to the struggle experienced by many in the pursuit of progress.

The optimist in me wants to learn how to break 80, much like many other amateur golfers who are much more competent than I, but in reality I would be happy with being able to shoot lower scores and reduce my handicap into the teens.

So, when I came across this excellent Instagram video from Golf Monthly Deputy Editor Joel Tadman, I was so excited to head out onto the course to try his great golf tips for myself.

Using the latest Shot Scope Data, Joel uses his extensive playing experience (as a 3-handicapper) and his wealth of industry experience gained over the last decade to assist me and other high-handicap golfers to shoot lower scores with four simple tips...

4 Tips For High-Handicap Golfers To Shoot Lower Scores

What Is A High-Handicapper?

Although there is some debate over the exact parameters, typically a high-handicapper in golf is a player with a handicap index of 20 or more.

The maximum handicap a player can receive is 54, with the majority of golfers falling into the high-handicap bracket.

4 Tips For High-Handicappers To Shoot Lower Scores

The video below outlines all four of my top tips for high-handicap golfers to shoot lower scores, utilising the excellent data and insights provided by Shot Scope.

I have also summarised my thoughts below, for anyone who prefers to read and perhaps revisit this advice.

As always, I'd love to hear if these tips have helped you to achieve your goal. Drop us a comment at the bottom of this page and we will share some of your best success stories with our audience in another article this season.

1. Choose The Right Equipment

Often, the downfall of many amateur golfers (including high-handicappers) is they don't choose the correct equipment to give them the best chance of success on the golf course.

One of the best things a high-handicap golfer can do it invest in a 5-wood, as it's much more forgiving than a 3-wood and a 3-hybrid.

This is also a much better option for getting the ball up in the air than a long iron, but how do you know which model is best?

Choosing the best fairway woods for high-handicappers couldn't be easier with our extensive guide, helping you to shoot your best scores on the course this season.

2. Play For Bogey On Par-5s

According to the latest Shot Scope data, a 20-handicap golfer has a scoring average of 6.3 on par-5 holes.

If you compare that to the average of a 15-handicapper (6.0), it's clear to see how beneficial banking a bogey could be and how damaging those doubles are to your momentum.

My best advice would be to break the longer holes down into manageable chunks, perhaps aiming to hit the green in four easy swings while also navigating away from the trouble en route.

3. Leave The Sand Wedge In The Bag For Chipping

So many high-handicap golfers inadvisedly reach for the sand wedge when chipping around the greens, but that could be costing you precious shots.

The Shot Scope data suggests that a 20-handicappers up and down percentage massively drops when opting for the sand wedge (18% success), but rockets up with a 9-iron (34% success) or even better... the putter (66%).

The data doesn't lie, so when you can get the flat stick on the back of the ball with a clear run to the hole - don't be too cute. It's time for the Texas wedge to take the glory.

Bonus Tip:

If you have a bunker, water or stretch of rough to clear between you and the flag, opt for a club that will favour being long rather than short.

Being at the back of the green with a long putt is much more preferable than a penalty drop or difficult short game shot.

4. Stop Leaving Your Putts Short

The data indicates that a 20-handicapper leaving 55% of their missed putts short of the hole. This might seem obvious, but a putt that doesn't reach the hole is never going to go in. Give yourself a chance with every attempt and never leave another putt short.

Key Takeaways

There are plenty of data-driven ideas there to help you shoot lower scores, so below I have summarised these into four key takeaways...

1. Invest in a 5-wood to increase forgiveness and improve ball striking
2. Play for a bogey on par-5 holes - a six would be a great result for your handicap
3. Putt where you can around the green, and if you need to chip the ball go for a lofted-iron over a sand wedge
4. Avoid leaving putts short - give them all a chance with a more ambitious stroke

FAQs

Comparing yourself against other players is just part of golf, and is a key feature of many individual sports. Knowing how far amateur golfers hit their irons allows us to benchmark ourselves against the rest, and decide which areas we need to improve on.

We previously also looked at how far the average PGA Tour player hits his 4-iron, and while their distance is impressive - it's perhaps not the most relatable of numbers.

So, in the interest of allowing the average amateur golfer to compare themselves to their peers, we utilised the latest Shot Scope data to get those clubhouse conversations started...

How Far Does The Average Amateur Golfer Hit Their 4-Iron?

After doing some quick maths, I can now reveal that the average amateur golfer hits their 4-iron just shy of 160 yards (159.6).

That shot would get you to the back of the green on the 12th at Augusta National or close to the middle of the green on the rowdy 16th at TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), depending on strike, wind conditions and whether you can overcome your nerves!

The distance that a 4-iron shot travels is heavily dependant on the handicap index of the player, with a scratch golfer hitting it the furthest (197 yards). That's a whopping 37 yards longer than the average amateur golfer, making it a useful club to have in the bag.

At the other end of the spectrum, a 25-handicapper hits their 4-iron around 122 yards on average, 38 yards shorter than the average amateur and 77 yards shorter than a scratch golfer.

The trend follows the expected pattern with the distances of a 4-iron shot increasing in line with handicap indexes reducing, as outlined below:

• 20-handicapper – 144 yards
• 15-handicapper – 154 yards
• 10-handicapper – 171 yards
• 5-handicapper – 170 yards

Interestingly, a 10-handicapper is actually hitting their 4-iron marginally further (1 yard) than a 5-handicap golfer – highlighting the narrow margins in performance as handicap indexes get into the single figures.

Want to get involved? Let us know how far you hit your 4-iron by dropping us a comment below...

A player who knows how to break 80 is one who rarely has to endure the agonising despair of missing out by one shot on the final green, as much of the hard work has already been efficiently taken care of earlier in the round.

You can spend season after season working on the perfect golf grip or hit bucket after bucket of balls working out how to spin your chip shots, but ultimately - achieving this special milestone comes down to a number of key factors.

While only a small proportion of golfers actually manage to break 80 in golf, it is possible if you approach the task methodically and strategically.

In a bid to help you join this exclusive club, and using the latest Shot Scope Data, Golf Monthly deputy editor Joel Tadman has compiled the ultimate guide for how to break 80 in golf. Complete with an excellent tutorial video, Joel uses his extensive playing experience of breaking 80 to share seven key things that the data suggests can help you to post low scores more consistently...

How To Break 80 In Golf

What Does 'Break 80' Mean In Golf?

To break 80, a player needs to shoot a score of 79 or better during a round of golf. This is thought of as one of the most impressive milestones in amateur golf, but golfers find this difficult to achieve due to a number of factors including their handicap index, the course being played or the weather conditions on the day.

How Many Golfers Break 80 in Golf?

Based on the wide dataset of Shot Scope users, the number of players who break 80 in golf is just over 20%.

That means four out of five golfers struggle to achieve this goal, but that could be for a number of reasons. Many amateur golfers would benefit from a clear and repeatable strategy for breaking 80 on the golf course, and that is where we come in...

How To Break 80 In Golf: 7 Top Tips

Breaking 80 in golf is something many amateurs can achieve with a balance of the right strategy, course management and technical improvements.

I play off a handicap of 3 and regularly break 80 on the golf course, but each of these tips play a crucial role in helping me to do so.

But, don't just take my word for it. The latest Shot Scope data proves that mastering these seven elements could improve your ability to shoot scores in the 70s more often.

1. Driving Distance

There is a direct correlation between increasing how far amateur golfers hit their drives and the ability to shoot lower scores.

The data suggests that players who regularly shoot rounds in the 70s have an average driving distance of 261 yards, a whopping 25 yards further than players shooting in the 80s (261 yards).

Clearly, increasing driver distance without also honing your accuracy will be detrimental to your game.

Hitting a long ball that ends up in a penalty area or out of bounds is no good, so be sure to work on both in your next practice session at the range.

2. Hit More Greens

Hitting greens in regulation, meaning in two shots for a par-4 or in three shots for a par-5, can seriously improve your scoring too.

The data suggests that those who shoot scores in the 80s hit the green in regulation around 5.9 times per round, which is significantly less than the nine greens hit for a player regularly scoring in the 70s.

How can you find more greens in regulation? Your chances improve if you are playing from the fairway, as opposed to the rough, but there is also another mistake many amateurs make that costs them in this statistical measure.

The danger on a hole is typically short of the green, so taking a club that can get you slightly beyond the flag will also help in the case of poor strikes or other factors affecting the flight of the golf ball.

3. Pitching From 70-Yards

This is an area where players shooting in the 80s (or above) tend to waste a lot of shots.

In fact, a player with these types of scores will chip more than once from inside 70-yards on almost three occasions during a round, which is almost double a player shooting in the 70s (1.7 per round).

So, other than a good short game practice routine, how can you improve your success rate from this key distance? A clean strike where you get ball then turf is crucially important, but a reliable system can also go a long way to increasing confidence.

A simple clock-face process can work wonders. Understanding how far your nine-o-clock swing goes with your different wedges, and replicating that with 10- or 11-o-clock too, can really help to get dialled in and increase your ability to execute under pressure.

4. Eradicate Troublesome Tee Shots

The term 'troublesome tee shots' refers to a scenario where your ball ends up in a fairway bunker, out of bounds, in a hazard or completely lost.

Again, the difference between a player shooting in the 70s (2.1 per round) and a player shooting in the 80s (3.8 per round) is stark - with almost double the amount of instances in the average round.

A great way to mitigate against these annoying occurrences is to scope out the hole before you tee off. In the video above, there is a huge water hazard right in front of the tee box, but off to my right there are a few trees that could also cause me a problem.

You could use a rangefinder to work out the distance to those hazards, picking a shot that allows you to navigate your way without any unnecessary interactions with them.

You could also use wearable technology that allows you to view the hole using mapping systems - identifying hazards and the distances to those areas.

Either way, planning a solid strategy on the tee can save you plenty of shots and help you to get closer to this often elusive milestone.

5. Fewer Three Putts

Granted, this one might seem obvious. But, so many amateur golfers throw away shots with careless and costly three-putts.

This happens once more per round on average for a player shooting in the 80s (2.5) in comparison to a player shooting in the 70s (1.5), causing an avoidable leak from your scorecard.

As a low-handicap golfer myself, there are certain things that have really helped me to reduce the number of three-putts I have per round.

First, even if you are short of time before your round, spend a few minutes hitting some long putts on the putting green. This will help you understand how the ball is rolling on the day and calibrate your distance control ready for the course.

The second, focusing on how to read the greens, I always break it down into thirds. Focusing more on the final third is key, as that's when the ball slows down and is most affected by the slopes.

6. Chip It Closer

Golfers who are consistently shooting in the 70s are getting up and down more often than those shooting in the 80s, so sharpening up your short game is crucial.

The data suggests that a 5-handicap golfer, who is shooting in the 70s most of the time, has a scramble success rating of 47%, which is 8% better than a 10-handicapper (39%) who might not achieve a sub-80 score very consistently.

Club selection is key here, so it's important to survey the shot you have before reaching into your bag.

The mantra of 'aim small, miss small' is also a positive one to adopt, so setup with the intention to hole the chip shot and you should at the very least give yourself an easy tap in for a great up and down.

7. Putting Inside 5-Feet

Missing a putt from inside 5-feet is a total momentum killer, and for many golfers this can be the thing that derails their next few holes (or even their round).

A player shooting scores in the 70s misses around 1.9 putts per round from this critical distance, while a player shooting in the 80s goes through this heartache slightly more regularly - with 2.8 putts per round missed.

There are a few things I like to do in order to reduce the amount of times that I miss from inside 5-feet.

Once I have read the line I pick a spot in between the ball and the hole to roll my putt over. Alternatively, I also sometimes pick an imperfection at the back of the cup which can help me to be a bit more committed through the stroke.

Finally, I like to use a ball with some alignment assistance on it. Either go for a model that already has a line printed on it, or draw one on yourself, and use it to ensure your alignment in spot on before rolling the ball home.

3 Key Takeaways

There are plenty of data-driven ideas there to help you break 80 in golf, either for the first time or more consistently, but if I had to provide just three key takeaways these would be my best tips...

1. Hit at least nine greens in regulation
2. No more than two three-putts per round
3. No more than two failed chip or pitch shots from inside 70-yards

FAQs

Let's be honest, we have all dreamed of playing the 12th hole at Augusta National.

After seeing the top players in the game take it on at The Masters every year, witnessing the full spectrum of outcomes ranging from delightful to disastrous, it can't just be me that wonders how I would get on if given the chance.

Unless you are as lucky as my colleague Dan Parker, who played Augusta National while covering The Masters for Golf Monthly last year, you might have to be a little more creative in your search for answers - but we can help you to find them.

According to the latest Shot Scope data, the average amateur might need to purchase a few more golf balls before taking on the famous Amen Corner par 3...

Augusta National's 12th Hole: Could You Hit The Famous Green At Amen Corner?

When players are in pursuit of a Green Jacket, and teeing it up in front of a gallery of expectant patrons, you can understand why this hole provides such volatility in scoring.

This 155 yard par 3 requires ultimate precision, with the penalty of Rae's Creek short and a trio of perilous bunkers positioned at the front and back of the putting surface.

The 12th historically plays over-par, at around 3.27 shots, making it the fourth hardest hole at Augusta National.

Competitors at The Masters get up-and-down around 62% of the time when missing the green, leading to costly dropped shots over the course of four tournament rounds, which could be the difference between victory and defeat.

When taking data from shots of a similar distance (150 yards), you'll be unsurprised to hear that the likelihood of amateur golfers finding the green decreases as the handicap index increases.

On average, a scratch golfer finds the green 55% of the time from 150 yards. That probability drops to 30% for a 10-handicapper and 17% for a 20-handicapper.

While the shape, depth and width of the green will impact those figures, I am surprised that most mid- to high-handicappers would struggle to hit the green four times out of ten attempts.

The popular miss tends to be short, which spells danger on a hole like the 12th at Augusta National - often leading to penalty shots and big scores on the card.

From this distance, the average scratch golfer misses short 19% of the time, rising to 35% for a 10-handicapper and 50% for a 20-handicapper. That's a lot of balls holding up in that famous swirling wind above Amen Corner and resulting in a wet conclusion.

Long is far less common for amateur golfers, meaning visits to the back bunkers behind the green or even the foliage surrounding them is not as likely.

Irrespective of handicap index, players miss long from 150 yards between 4% and 6% of the time, perhaps providing some relief in the knowledge that the danger beyond is not really in-play for most.

As you can see in the table above, players are generally just as likely to miss to the left as they are to the right, unless you look specifically at higher-handicap players who favour a right miss.

Proximity is also interesting when you consider the narrow hour-glass shape of the green on the 12th hole at Augusta National.

Based on the data in the table above, those that find the putting surface are likely to have an unlikely long-putt for birdie, or more likely a tricky two-putt for par.

I'll be honest - I'd take that. Especially after spending my entire backswing silently screaming at myself not to shank it into Rae's Creek.

The Masters Quiz: How Well Do You Know Multiple Masters Champions?

Every golfer dreams of hitting long, straight drives down the fairway, but in reality, distance and accuracy don’t always go hand in hand. While some players prioritise power off the tee, others focus on control to keep the ball in play.

In the women’s game, stats reveal fascinating trends across handicap levels, showing who hits it the farthest and who finds the most fairways.

While the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour such as Nelly Korda and Emily Pedersen average around 280 yards off the tee, club-level distances are understandably more modest.

The average driving distance for a female handicap golfer is 177 yards.Thanks to performance data supplied by Shot Scope, our official data partner, we can break down driver total distances and accuracy for female amateur golfers by handicap, as seen in the table below. This offers a clear picture of how far you might expect to hit, depending on your level of play.

When comparing handicaps, it’s no surprise that lower-handicap players hit the ball farther, proving that strong technique plays a major role in driving distance. Among the scratch or better golfers and 1-5 handicappers, they average 252 and 235 yards off the tee respectively.

Distance steadily declines with those women playing off a handicap of 26+, hitting the ball an average total distance of 166 yards. Just as distances drop as the handicap level increases for female golfers, it's the same trend for male players.

But accuracy tells a slightly different story. When it comes to fairways hit, the most accurate group of female players are within the scratch or better category, managing 60%, but women with a handicap of 21-25 are not far behind, hitting 59% fairways.

The least accurate are the 1-5 handicappers at 54% and this reinforces the idea that slower swing speeds can lead to better control off the tee.

You have probably played golf with someone who, after shaking your hand on the 18th green, says something like, ‘Well, I managed to play with the same ball for the whole round’?

It’s not really much of a boast, is it? However, if you’ve been struggling with the big stick and need to improve your driver set-up and fundamentals, sometimes playing 18 holes without having to reach into your bag for another golf ball can feel like quite an accomplishment.

In fact, when you look at the statistics, getting round a course without losing a single ball is something that doesn’t happen very often for a lot of golfers. Golf, as we so often say, is hard.

According to Shot Scope, our official data partner, a 15-handicap golfer loses an average of 2.8 golf balls per round.

The number of balls lost during a round of golf can vary significantly based on the difficulty of the course and other factors such as weather conditions.

It’s hard not to picture your own course and wonder whether it sounds about right. In the summer when the rough is up, off the back tees, players are likely to lose more balls.

In the winter, however, with little rough, off the forward tees, you might not find yourself having to reload so often.

However, this data from Shot Scope does at least provide a good idea of how many balls are lost per round by the average golfer - and it gets really interesting when we compare these numbers to players with different handicaps.

For example, and using additional data from Shot Scope, we can see that a 25-handicap golfer loses an average of 5.6 balls per round.

A 5-handicap golfer, meanwhile - a player who’s not just technically better but also someone who normally makes smarter decisions on the course - loses an average of just 0.9 balls per round.

One statistic that probably won’t come as a surprise is that across all skill levels, the majority of lost balls are from the tee.

Quiz: 10 questions every golfer should know the answer to

What does this tell us? Clearly, high handicap players have a lot to gain by controlling the ball better off the tee.

It’s often said that the quickest way to shoot lower scores is to work on your short game and putting, but if you’re losing nearly four balls per round off the tee, there’s clearly significant room for improvement in the long game department, too.

Even the average player can tidy us in this area, with the data showing us that a 15-handicap player loses an average of 1.9 balls per round off the tee.

These numbers might explain why some golfers don’t play with a premium golf ball. Losing half a dozen of the best golf balls on the market over the course of one round is expensive.

And it probably explains why some golfers play with colored golf balls. If we had the data for the average number of balls lost by players using yellow golf balls, we’d share it.

Our guess is that it would be quite a bit lower compared to those players using white balls.

We know what you’re thinking - not another pace of play article. Well, we make no apologies - slow play on the golf course remains a scourge.

We’ve covered this topic a lot over the past 12 months. Recently, Golf Monthly’s Joe Ferguson suggested a plan to speed up play on tour: get rid of caddies (not quite literally - just no loopers in professional tournaments).

Ok, this radical solution is something we’re unlikely to ever see, but some kind of action is necessary, otherwise those five-hour rounds on tour will just continue.

We digress, slightly.

Is there a slow play problem at club level? This depends on where you play. You might find that your club has tackled the issue head on and that you can play a competition at the weekend in three-and-a-half hours, maybe even a little less if you play in two or three-balls.

However, just as we’re seeing on tour, you might be experiencing super slow rounds at your own club and when you visit other golf courses, especially during weekends.

We receive hundreds of emails and letters every month, and we still hear from a lot of disgruntled golfers who feel as though 18 holes of golf is taking far too long.

What The Data Says

In an attempt to find out how long amateur golfers take to play one round, we asked our official data partners, Shot Scope, to run some numbers - and the results might just surprise you.

The average round duration for Shot Scope users in the UK, which includes a mix of casual and competition rounds with varying group sizes, is three hours and 51 minutes.

Most golfers would probably be happy enough to get around in anything under four hours - it’s when you start nudging towards four and a quarter hours that your patience starts to get tested.

In the table below, we’ve broken down the average round durations by handicap.

Interestingly, there's not much difference across all handicaps, with 30-handicap golfers taking just 10 minutes longer than 15-handicap golfers.

As expected, scratch golfers get round the quickest, taking an average of three hours and 45 minutes, which is most likely due to the fact they tend to lose fewer golf balls and make smarter decisions.

This particular set of data would suggest that slow play is not caused by high handicap golfers.

In terms of age groups, the fastest is 41-50 (3hr 41m), followed by 31-40 (3hr 57m). The slowest, perhaps unsurprisingly, is 71-80 (3hr 57m), then 61-70 (3hr 56m). Those between the ages of 21 and 30 are also slower than average, too.

The Variables

There are, of course, lots of different factors that can affect how long it takes to play a round of golf, including weather conditions, group size, skill level, course difficulty, and course length.

The data provided above also includes a mix of casual and competition rounds. You would expect competition rounds, especially medal rounds where most players will putt out and not pick up, to take longer.

Social rounds of golf, where gimmes can speed up play and players tend to be less concerned about hitting provisionals and taking so much time over the ball, are likely to be quicker.

Although it might come as a surprise to see that there is little difference in round times across the handicap spectrum, we should state that a golfer is only as quick as the slowest person in their group.

In other words, a mix of golfers with different handicaps playing in the same group together will all record the same round time.

Although low handicap players often gravitate towards playing with better players, and high handicap players often feel more comfortable playing with those of a similar level, there are obviously times when golfers of all different abilities play together, both in social golf and in club competitions.

Therefore, it can make it difficult to get a truly accurate idea of how long it takes the average golfer to play 18 holes.

However, the data supplied here by Shot Scope does at least provide an interesting, and useful, guide.

Nelly Korda is getting her game ready for her Ford Championship title defense next week in Arizona, where she will make her third start of the year.

As well as grinding on her swing, the World No.1 looks to have been having some fun on the range after showcasing some impressive numbers with an old persimmon-headed MacGregor driver.

Korda, who is one of the longest hitters in the women's game, took to social media to post an image of her Trackman that showed she had hit the old-school club a very decent distance of over 265 yards.

Her shot featured a 0.0 face to path angle and travelled 194.7 yards in the air with a mammoth 73-yard rollout to take it to 267.7 yards.

Her drive launched at 9.1 degrees, which is well below the 12.6 degree average on the LPGA Tour, while she managed the 70+ yards of rollout thanks to just 1921rpm of spin - again well below the tour average of 2506 with modern driver heads.

According to Shot Scope data, the average 5-handicap golfer hits their drive 261 yards...meaning they'd be outdriven by Korda using a persimmon!

10-handicappers average 259 yards off the tee while 20-handicappers have an average of 225 - putting them a long way back of the World No.1 with a persimmon in hand.

Korda has averaged 276.38 off the tee for the 2025 LPGA Tour season so far, which ranks her 7th. She sat 20th in the driving distance charts last year during her seven-win season with an average of 269.7 yards.

The Floridian makes her third start of the year next week after opening 2025 with a runner-up finish at the Hilton Vacations Tournament of Champions before a T7 at the Founders Cup.

She was unable to defend her Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship this week due to the event being cancelled. The event's underwriter failed "to fulfill any portion of its payment obligations to the LPGA Tour for the 2024 and 2025 events" according to the LPGA Tour.

The putting surfaces can look very small when we’re not playing our best, and it wouldn’t be unusual for even a fairly handy golfer to go 18 holes without finding more than a couple of greens in regulation. In fact, there are probably times when you’ve recorded a big fat zero in this column.

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, ‘green in regulation’ (G.I.R) is a statistical category that identifies when a player reaches the green in the expected number of strokes in relation to par.

Another way of putting it is that a green is considered hit in regulation if any part of the ball is touching the putting surface and the number of strokes taken is two or less than par (first stroke on a par 3, second stroke on a par 4, third stroke on a par 5).

As you’d expect, the best players in the world hit a lot of greens in regulation. The best of the best in 2024, Scottie Scheffler, averaged 73.16% (698 greens hit out of 954 holes). The PGA Tour average was 66.75%, and only two players bettered the World No.1 in this department.

On the LPGA Tour, Jeeno Thitikul topped the G.I.R table in 2024 with 77.20%. Nelly Korda, meanwhile, averaged 76.02%, which, like Scheffler, put her third. When you consider the pair won an incredible 16 times between them, it shows what hitting lots of greens can mean.

So, how does the average golfer compare? We’ve obtained the G.I.R stats from our official data partner, Shot Scope, which are revealed in the table below.

Greens In Regulation By Handicap

Source: Shot Scope

Of course, this is just one statistic. On its own, G.I.R won't tell you everything about how a player has performed. For example, a player might miss a lot of greens and still score well or have a fairly low handicap because of their scrambling and putting ability.

There are lots of different ways you can look at greens in regulation statistics. So far as Tour professionals are concerned, the extra distance they're able to achieve off the tee can make it easier to find greens, especially if they're hitting lots more wedges with their approach shots.

However, what makes the tour level player greens in regulation statistics so impressive is the difficulty of the courses and greens they are playing from week to week.

The bottom line is this: it's a lot easier to put a good score together when you're hitting greens in regulation.

What can you learn from this? Your first thought might be to improve your approach play and work on your irons. However, maybe you're missing lots of greens because your driver is wayward and putting you in too much trouble off the tee.

The best way to find out what you need to work on is to start analyzing your own data.

How often do you come up short on a hole? Whether you're hitting a fairway wood, hybrid, or iron into the green, many golfers tend to overestimate their distances.

Even with the most advanced GPS devices or laser rangefinders confirming the yardage, there's often a tendency to mistrust the technology, believing in ability over accuracy, only to club down and fall short.

In recent years, both professional and amateur golfers have benefited from advancements in club technology, seeing their distances gradually increase. It’s therefore key to know your exact yardages and trust the club you're using for each distance.

Take six-time LPGA winner Celine Boutier as an example. She’s not one of the longest hitters on tour, but she’s made notable progress. When she joined the LPGA Tour in 2017, her average driving distance was 235 yards. In 2024 that number climbed to 255 yards.

Let’s consider the 7-iron, which is a club most amateurs pick up first because it’s one of the easiest to learn with. It remains popular in the bag, as it's versatile enough for a variety of shots. Looking at 2024 Trackman data, LPGA pros carry a 7-iron with an average of 143 yards. But how does that distance compare to the average female club golfer?

Thanks to performance data supplied by Shot Scope, our official data partner, we can break down 7-iron total distances for female amateur golfers by handicap, as seen in the table below. This offers a clear picture of how far you might expect to hit, depending on your level of play.

Of course, these are averages, ranging from scratch golfers to those with handicaps of 26+. It’s food for thought, and if you're unsure of your yardages, investing in a GPS device might be exactly what you need to sharpen your accuracy from tee to green.

Most golfers will have heard the expression, ‘You drive for show and putt for dough.’ In other words, it doesn’t matter how well you drive the ball off the tee, it counts for nothing if you can’t get the ball in the hole.

Take Cameron Champ as an example. The American led driving distance on the PGA Tour last year with a healthy average of 322.8 yards off the tee. Less impressive was the number of putts he took per round, with an average of 29.82 only good enough for 171st spot.

We should make the point that statistics alone don’t always tell the full story of how a has performed, and at times they can be misleading. However, this one statistic might partly explain why Champ missed so many cuts in 2024 and ended up losing his PGA Tour card.

We’ll all have had rounds where we struck the ball well tee to green, only to somehow walk off the 18th with 28 points - and a lot of the time it’s because we’ve frittered shots away with the putter.

Many of us would like to trade places with Champ, not least because of how far he can drive the golf ball. Compared to the average club golfer, an average of 29.82 putts per round is very good. On the PGA Tour, however, Sam Burns averaged more than two putts per round better last year - a significant difference.

So, how many putts does the average golfer take per 18 holes? We’ve had a look at the numbers supplied by our official data partner, Shot Scope, and if we call the ‘average amateur’ a 15-handicapper, that number is 32.1 putts per round.

If we break these stats down further, we get a bigger picture of how a typical 15-handicap golfer performs on the greens: 2.1 putts per green in regulation; 29% 1-putt percentage; 60% 2-putt percentage; 11% 3-putt percentage; and 9.7 average number of holes per 3-putt.

How does this compare to a scratch golfer? Again, using data supplied by Shot Scope, the numbers are as follows: 29.9 putts per round; 1.85 putts per green in regulation; 34% 1-putt percentage; 62% 2-putt percentage; 3% 3-putt percentage; and 35.7 average number of holes per 3-putt.

How Does Your Putting Compare?

A lot of players, especially club golfers, are guilty of overestimating how far they hit the golf ball. We all know someone who thinks they regularly hit their drives beyond 320 yards (maybe that's you) - but what does the data say?

Modern technology - so shot tracking, GPS devices, lasers and Toptracer at the driving range - provide a much more accurate picture, however. You can’t kid technology.

When we looked at the 2023 statistics, according to Trackman the total carry distance for a 7-iron on the PGA Tour was 176 yards.

Of course, tour professionals play a slightly different game to the average club golfer. It’s not just that these players are in very good physical shape - it’s their rhythm and ball-striking skills that set them apart.

Looking at the numbers of club golfers reveals a significant drop off in distance, not just for the 7-iron, but right the way through the bag.

So, how does the average club golfer compare to the tour player?

We’ve been through data supplied by Shot Scope, our official data partner, and it makes for interesting reading; in fact, what follows might just give you a better idea of how far you hit your clubs and/or encourage you to invest in a GPS device that will help you improve your course management.

According to a piece of research undertaken by golf.com, the average handicap index among golfers in the United States in 2021 was 14.

We have the stats for a 15-handicapper, so let’s start here. How far does a 15-handicapper hit their 7-iron?

The answer is 154 yards (total distance). We should stress that we are talking averages here and there will of course be those players in this handicap category who hit a longer ball, as well as those who fall below that number.

So, that’s 22 yards further that the average PGA Tour player will hit their 7-iron compared to the average (15-handicap) golfer - and that's remembering that the 176 yards is just carry distance.

Maybe this explains why you keep coming up short on that little par-3 that just looks so easy when you’re standing on the tee. Maybe take an extra club.

How Far Does The Average 5-Handicap Golfer Hit Their 7-Iron?

As you’d also expect, the lower the handicap the greater the average distance. According to data supplied by Shot Scope, the average 5-handicapper averages 164 yards with their 7-iron (total distance).

In case it sounds like we’re getting a little carried away by how far the best golfers in the world hit the ball, the larger sweetspots and extra forgiveness on off-center strikes has certainly contributed towards an increase in average distances over the years.

How Far Does The Average Club Golfer Hit Each Club?

Now you know how far the average club golfer hits their 7-iron, what about every other club in the bag?

Golf is a game of constant comparisons, whether it be a friendly verbal joust about handicap indexes between you and a playing partner or a long drive competition off the first tee.

Our individual scores and performances are ultimately what counts on competition day, but the clubhouse conversations that follow the round are often based on nuances of the game - and bragging rights are arguably just as important.

The parameters will likely change, depending on your ability, with better golfers discussing how close they got to the PGA Tour average distance for hitting a 7-iron while higher handicappers compare themselves to other amateur golfers with an iron in hand.

Either way, we love the competition.

In this article, we look at some fresh data from Shot Scope, our official data partner, which reveals some interesting numbers around driving distances.

According to Shot Scope data, a 50-something (50-59) male golfer drives the ball, on average, 243 yards.

This distance is the 'Performance Average', which is the figure after all outliers have been removed, such as a topped drive that only goes 30 yards.

Now, we're all guilty of hitting shots such as this, as well as the odd wild hook or slice, but Performance Average gives a true representation of the distance a well struck golf shot travels.

In the table below, you can see how the average distance varies between age groups, with those players in their 20s and 30s averaging the greatest distance.

It's important to note that the numbers above are for golfers of all skill levels, just in case you're a 50-year-old scratch golfer who knows for a fact you average 270 yards off the tee.

However, even taking this into account, it provides a good idea of how far golfers of differences ages typically hit the ball with a driver.

How Far Does The Average 50-Year-Old Male Amateur Hit Their 3-Wood?

How about the 3-wood? In the table below, you can see that a 50-something male amateur golfer hits their 3-wood, on average, 214 yards (again, this is the Performance Average).

Again, it's important to stress that these average numbers include golfers of all handicap levels.

So, there will be those golfers in their 50s, especially low handicap players, who average more than 214 yards with a 3-wood.

Still, as with the driving average, it gives a good idea of how far the average 50-year-old male golfer hits this club.

Making a 3-putt has got to be up there with topping the golf ball and leaving a bunker shot in the sand as one of the most annoying occurrences on the golf course.

It's quite rare to see a professional golfer 3-putt, but for us mere mortals it happens all too frequently.

Before we look at the statistics for amateur golfers, take a moment to let this one sink in.

On the PGA Tour, in 2024 Russell Henley 3-putted just 13 times - that's all season, during which he played a total of 1,314 holes. Impressive.

So, how do you compare?

We asked our data partner, Shot Scope, to run some numbers - and these are shown in the table below.

As you would expect, scratch golfers 3-putt less regularly, averaging 35.7 holes before suffering a '3-jack'. Not bad, not bad at all.

One of the most surprising statistics in the table above is the big fall to just 16.7 holes on average for the 5-handicap golfer.

Of course, generally speaking, scratch golfers are superior in every department of the game, including approach play, so they are going to 3-putt fewer greens if they're hitting the ball closer to the hole.

In the table below, we've picked out one more set of numbers from the Shot Scope data that also helps to explain the numbers above.

Think of that 3-6ft range that you might struggle with - and then compare it to other handicap levels below.

We've shown these numbers because it's that kind of distance where a lot of club golfer fritter away shots.

A lot of coaches will also tell you that club golfers have a tendency to come up short with their putts.

And if you come up short, how many times do you then miss from this kind of distance?

We can pick out lots of different putting statistics - but the bottom line is that club golfers could shoot lower scores by keeping 3-putts off the card.

Simple, right?

If you're struggling on the greens, our panel of Top 50 Coaches can offer plenty of tips on how to stop 3-putting.

Perhaps you'd benefit from a new putter, one that offers you better feel or helps you to produce a more reliable stroke - in which way be sure to check out the best putters on the market, most of which have been tested by our equipment experts.

Failing that, maybe try and get in touch with Mr Henley for a few words of advice.

The best players in the world only have eyes for the pin with their approach shots, right? Actually, that's a bit of a misconception.

Yes, it's not unusual to see professionals firing straight at the flag, especially if they're trying to make up ground on a Sunday afternoon.

However, there are occasions when they're just happy to find the center of the green and make a safe par with two putts.

Ask the average club golfer whether they'd take the center of the putting surface and two putts and most of them would bite your hand off every time.

To find out how close club golfers hit their approach shots from a range of yardages, we asked our official data partner, Shot Scope, to run some numbers.

In the table table below, you can see how you compare.

To get a good idea on approach play quality, we've displayed proximity to the pin for a range of distances.

It should come as no surprise that the lower the handicap, the lower the average proximity to the hole.

Generally speaking, better players aren't only able to rely on better technique, be it from wedge range or with a mid to long iron in hand, but they're also able to hit the ball further.

And when you can hit the ball further with each club, you have a better chance of hitting the ball closer to the pin.

We know that scratch players hit the ball longer distances than mid to high handicap players, so this is another strength that helps them to hit the ball closer.

For example, a scratch player 150 yards from the pin might only need to hit a wedge to get it close; whereas a 20-handicap golfer might be hitting an 8-iron.

If this is hard to picture, the table below is another way of showing the difference in proximity to the hole by handicap level.

Again, these numbers have been supplied by Shot Scope.

The bottom line is that the better the golfer, the closer they hit the ball to the pin from short, mid and long range, which will come as no surprise.

And when you can hit the ball closer to the pin with your approach shots, you're going to make more birdies.

Well, you should do.

For any amateur golfer trying to improve their game, adding distance is usually high on the priority list.

How far you hit your clubs is usually directly correlated to your handicap index, and despite golf being an individual sport, it's hard not to compare yourself to other players.

Understanding where you sit in the overall picture can help to pinpoint areas of strength and weakness in your game, with shot tracking playing a crucial role in providing key insights to help you improve.

In this article, we use the latest numbers from our official data partner, Shot Scope, to share how far golfers hit their irons on average.

In the table below, you can see that a scratch golfer hits their 7-iron, on average, 178 yards (that's total distance, not carry).

For clarity, Performance Average removes all outlier shot distances (for example, a shot that strikes a tree 40 yards away) to give the true representation of the distance a well struck golf shot travels.

How, then, do these figures compare to golfers with higher handicaps?

In the table below, we've displayed average iron distances (Performance Average) for the 10-, 15- and 20-handicap golfer.

As you'd expect, the average distance falls in each category.

These drops offs are larger in the long irons, with the average distances closer at the bottom end of the bag.

If you're wondering how far the average PGA Tour players hit their irons, some of the most recent data we have from Trackman reveals a carry distance of 176 yards, which is with a 7-iron.

And to re-emphasize, this is total carry, not total distance, which are displayed in the tables above.

If you want to hit your iron shots further, we can offer plenty of iron play tips and drills - most of which focus on sound fundamentals and technique.

In other words, to hit iron shots further, it's not simply about swinging the golf club as fast as you can.

If you're really struggling to get the yards you need, you may want to check out the best distance irons, as equipment can also give you significant performance benefits.

Whether you are a scratch golfer or a high-handicapper, double bogeys are never good news - they can wreck your card.

It seems logical that limiting these big numbers should help cut your handicap, but with the help of Shot Scope, our official data partner, we can share just how costly those dreaded doubles are.

In the table below, you can see how many double bogeys golfers make on average per round (18 holes) of golf, across different handicap levels.

The numbers above make for interesting reading, especially the column on the right which displays the average number of double bogeys or worse.

Whereas a scratch golfers averages just 0.27 doubles or worse per round, the 25-handicapper typically makes one approximately every other hole. Ouch.

This opens up a whole big debate about where they can make improvements in order to shoot lower scores.

Club golfers of all levels have room for improvement in every department, even low handicap players, especially if we're comparing the standard to tour level.

However, for the mid to high handicap player, especially, you'd have to say there would be some quick wins in the short game department that could help bring the handicap down sharply.

Better players are obviously able to turn bogeys into pars and reduce the damage to a single shot when they find themselves in trouble.

Higher handicap players have a tendency to follow one bad shot with another, and make poor strategic decisions.

We've all seen this type of golfer in action, and we've all seen better players (and tour pros) take their medicine to keep their scorecard as clean as possible.

The 'or worse' part of doubles is also worth mentioning, because quite often we're not just dropping two shots (a double) but a fair few more.

When you consider that a 25-handicap player loses an average of 5.6 balls per round, it's safe to say some of those 9.18 doubles or worse will fall under 'or worse'.

And when you start making sevens, eights and nines, your scores really are going to suffer.

However, if you can turn just a few of the double bogeys or worse into just bogeys, you'll start to get that handicap down.

This might be easy to say, of course, but the statistics are clear to see.

Hitting a green in regulation - no matter your skill level - is a wonderful feeling. Striking a ball just as you had intended into the heart of the green and leaving yourself at least a birdie putt can take a lot of stress out of your game and, of course, ability to score.

And as a batch of data from Shot Scope, our official data partner, has proven, successful birdie attempts can actually be few and far between for mid-to-high handicappers.

But how many greens in regulation does your average Joseph or Josephine hit when participating in a full round? Well, using the exhaustive data from Shot Scope, we can gain a very good idea.

Let's start by defining the 'average' golfer. For the point of this article, we've taken the Shot Scope statistics for a 15-handicapper. However, in the table below we've also listed the G.I.R statistics for a range of handicaps to give you an idea of how your game might compare against other players.

A 15-handicapper, on average, hits 23% of greens in regulation over the course of a round, which is a little over four (4.14). A scratch golfer, meanwhile, hits 52% of greens in regulation. Over 18 holes, on average, that's a fraction over five more greens.

When you look at the numbers that the best players in the world are managing, it becomes clear just how accurate these golfers are, and how they're able to consistently shoot such low numbers.

If you were to look now at the G.I.R leaders on the PGA and LPGA Tours, they'd comfortably be averaging somewhere in the mid to high 70s. In other words, they're giving themselves lots of birdie chances.

How Many Greens In Regulation Does An Average Golfer Hit?

Source: Shot Scope

What can you take away from this? Maybe you need to find a way to improve your approach play. However, perhaps you're missing lots of greens because your driver is putting you in too much trouble off the tee, often leaving you no choice but to hack it out back onto the fairway.

Perhaps the best way to learn what you need to work on is to start tracking your shots and analyzing your data.