How Many Greens Do 5, 15 and 25 Handicappers Hit? Shot Scope Data
By Staff Writer
2 min read
Mheref36 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Key takeaways
- A 5-handicap golfer hits about 41% of greens in regulation, roughly seven per round, according to 2026 Shot Scope data.
- A 15-handicap golfer hits 21% of greens, about three per round.
- A 25-handicap golfer hits just 9% of greens, about one per round.
- PGA Tour pros average around 66% of greens in regulation.
Shot Scope's 2026 tracking data shows a wide gap in greens in regulation between single-figure and high-handicap amateur golfers, based on shots recorded by the company's GPS and stat-tracking devices.
How many greens in regulation does the average golfer hit?
A green in regulation is a green reached in one shot on a par 3, two shots on a par 4, or three shots on a par 5. Shot Scope's data puts 5-handicap golfers at 41% of greens in regulation, or about seven per round. That figure drops to 21% for 15-handicappers, roughly three greens per round, and to 9% for 25-handicappers, about one green per round. By comparison, PGA Tour pros average close to 66% for the season.
| Handicap Index | GIR % | Greens per round |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 41% | ~7 |
| 15 | 21% | ~3 |
| 25 | 9% | ~1 |
| PGA Tour average | ~66% | ~12 |
Where do amateur approach shots miss most?
Shot Scope's broader approach-shot data shows amateurs come up short of the green about 30% of the time from 100-150 yards, rising to 40% from 150-200 yards and 65% from 200-plus yards. The company's data also shows a hybrid outperforms a long iron statistically from 175 yards and beyond.
The gap between single-figure and high-handicap golfers isn't in how far they hit it, but in how often they find the green.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a green in regulation?
A green is hit in regulation when a player reaches the putting surface in one stroke on a par 3, two strokes on a par 4, or three strokes on a par 5.
How many greens in regulation should a 10-handicap golfer expect to hit?
Shot Scope's data places 5-handicap golfers at 41% and 15-handicap golfers at 21%, so a 10-handicap golfer typically falls between the two, around four to five greens per round.
Do PGA Tour pros hit every green in regulation?
No. Tour pros average close to 66% of greens in regulation for a season, meaning they miss roughly six greens in an average round.
Is a hybrid better than a long iron for approach shots?
Shot Scope's data shows hybrids statistically outperform long irons for amateur golfers on approach shots of 175 yards or more.
- greens in regulation
- Shot Scope
- handicap statistics
- approach shots
- golf statistics
