Do you assume you’ll make every putt and get annoyed when you don’t? While you don’t want to set the bar too high or too low, it helps to know which distances you should be making most of the time.
We pulled Shot Scope data showing make percentages from a variety of distances for each handicap level. Take a look at how your putting game stacks up.
Putting make percentage by handicap (Full chart)
| Distance | 0 HCP | 5 HCP | 10 HCP | 15 HCP | 20 HCP | 25 HCP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 ft | 98% | 96% | 96% | 93% | 90% | 88% |
| 3–6 ft | 76% | 67% | 65% | 59% | 55% | 48% |
| 6–9 ft | 49% | 44% | 39% | 36% | 33% | 30% |
| 9–12 ft | 34% | 34% | 26% | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| 12–18 ft | 19% | 19% | 18% | 16% | 14% | 12% |
| 18–24 ft | 12% | 13% | 10% | 9% | 7% | 6% |
| 24–30 ft | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 4% |
| 30 ft+ | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Where the biggest gaps are
The short putts are where you’ll see the largest difference between high- and low-handicap golfers. While 0-3 feet is telling the largest separator in overall performance is in the 3- to 6-foot range.
- Scratch golfers make 76 percent from this distance.
- 25 handicaps make just 48 percent
For context, PGA Tour players make around 87 percent from 3–5 feet. Even scratch amateurs still have room to improve here. The 3- to 6-foot range is where you will see a lot of par-saving putts, and when these can’t convert, there’s a big impact on the scorecard.
Why long putts don’t separate golfers as much
From 18 feet and beyond, the make percentages between low and high handicaps flatten out. In most cases, it’s only a 6 to 8 percentage point difference. While it might sound like good news for higher handicaps, it’s a bit misleading.
The real difference shows up in lag putting and three-putt avoidance:
- Putts per GIR: 1.85 for scratch versus 2.18 for 25 handicaps
- 3-putt percentage: 3 percent for scratch versus 13 for 25 handicaps
- Number of 3-putts per round: 0.8 for scratch versus 5.8 for 25 handicaps.
Better players don’t necessarily make more long putts but they are leaving them closer than the higher handicaps. The result is fewer three-putts.
How to practice the 3– to 6-foot range
Now that you know the problem area, that 3- to 6-foot range, it makes sense to spend a little more time practicing from here. One of the simplest and most effective ways to work on it is the Around the World Drill.
The Around the World Drill
- Set up tees or ball markers in a circle around the hole at four distances: 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet.
- Start at the 3-foot station and hit one putt from each spot in the circle.
- Move out to 4 feet and repeat the process. Continue to 5 feet and then 6.
- If you miss, start again from the beginning or keep a score to track your improvement over time.
Final thoughts
The 3– to 6-foot range is where most golfers can save strokes. Spend more time practicing here and you’ll start turning those frustrating missed pars into confident makes that keep your rounds on track.
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