How Many Putts Should You Have Per Round (Based On Your Handicap)

We all know the goal: two putts or fewer per hole. But how many total putts should you be taking each round? How much does that number change depending on your handicap?

We asked Shot Scope for real-world putting data across a range of handicaps, and what we found might surprise you. The difference between a 25-handicap and a scratch golfer isn’t always what you think. Eliminating just one or two three-putts per round might be the easiest path to shaving strokes off your game.

Average putts per round by handicap

You’d expect better players to putt better—but the total number of putts per round doesn’t change all that much. The biggest change you’ll see is the three-putt percentage. A scratch golfer three-putts just three percent of the time, whereas a 25-handicap golfer three-putts 13 percent of the time.

Keep in mind that three-putts are usually a proximity problem first. Approach accuracy, greens in regulation and short-game distance control all play a big role.

Handicap	Avg Putts/Round	3-Putts/Round
0	29.9	0.8
5	30.3	1.5
10	31.2	2.4
15	32.1	3.8
20	33.4	4.6
25	34.3	5.8

Make percentages by distance

We’ve already seen how higher-handicap golfers rack up more three-putts, often because they’re putting from longer distances. But missed short putts are just as costly and they happen more often than most players realize.

The make percentage inside six feet falls off fast as handicap goes up. A scratch golfer makes about three out of four (+/-75 percent) from three to six feet. At a 25 handicap, it’s down to just 48 percent.

Putt Distance	0 HCP	10 HCP	25 HCP
0–3 ft	98%	96%	88%
3–6 ft	76%	65%	48%
6–9 ft	49%	39%	30%
9–12 ft	34%	26%	17%
18–24 ft	12%	10%	6%
30 ft+	4%	3%	2%

Think better players always hit it close? Not exactly.

A lot of golfers assume scratch players hit every green in regulation and stick it close. While it’s true they hit more greens, nearly 60 percent compared to just nine percent for a 25 handicap, they’re not exactly leaving themselves tap-ins each time.

From 150 yards out, scratch players average around 40 feet from the hole. At a 25 handicap, that number climbs to over 100 feet. Neither player in this situation is in guaranteed two-putt range.

Here’s where higher-handicap golfers can gain an edge. You often miss greens but that means your next shot is a chip or pitch instead of a long lag putt. If you can get that shot inside six feet, you’ve got roughly a 50 percent chance of making the putt. But if you’re leaving it at 15 to 20 feet, your make percentage drops into the single digits, and now you’re just trying to avoid a three-putt.

Most high handicappers chip to 20 or 30 feet, then three-putt from there.

If you want to lower your total putts per round:

• Work on consistently getting your chips and pitches inside 10 feet.
• Work on making more putts from three to six feet, where make percentages drop fast for higher handicaps

What to do with this information

Data is great but taking the data and turning it into ways to lower your handicap is what matters. Here are some ways to use this information to help lower your scores.

• Track your three-putts: Write them down, circle them and figure out what distances or situations cause them most often.
• Practice lag putting: You’ll never eliminate three-putts, but controlling speed from 30-plus feet is a highly valuable putting skill.
• Focus on 3–6 footers: Especially if you’re shooting in the 80s or 90s, improving your make percentage in this range could save you a couple of strokes immediately.
• Get better around the greens: You’re going to miss greens. That’s inevitable. The key is learning to chip or pitch to 10–15 feet instead of 25–30.

Final thoughts

Every time I hit a scoring milestone —breaking 90, 80, 70 —the putter was the common denominator. It wasn’t about hitting 15 greens or driving it 280. It was fewer three-putts, more one-putts. Putting won’t fix everything in your game but its impact is quickly seen.