Let’s be honest: three-putts are frustrating. You do the hard work, find the fairway, hit the green in regulation and then give away a shot with a three-putt. To find out how common this mistake is, we asked Shot Scope to share some of their putting data. Spoiler alert: Three-putts happen more often than you might think.
How common is a three-putt in golf?
Here is a look at how often golfers three-putt according to handicap. The three-putt percentage shown is the percentage of three-putts per round.
| Handicap | Three-Putt % | Holes Per 3-Putt | Avg. 2nd Putt Distance (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6% | 16.7 | 7.9 |
| 15 | 11% | 9.7 | 8.0 |
| 25 | 13% | 7.6 | 8.2 |
Higher-handicaps three-putt more frequently
The higher-handicap golfers three-putt more often than the lower-handicap players. We saw that one coming.
The average five-handicap golfer three-putts about once per round. The 25-handicap golfer three-putts two or three times per round.
Higher-handicap golfers often struggle with speed control on longer putts. This issue is compounded by the location of the higher-handicappers’ approach shots which are often 40 or more feet from the pin.
It’s easy to leave yourself a seven- or eight-foot second putt when your first putt is nowhere near the hole.
Second-putt distance is surprisingly consistent
One of the most interesting things about this data is how consistent the second-putt distance stays across all handicaps. The average second-putt distance is around eight feet regardless of handicap.
This shows us the reason for three-putting isn’t necessarily about the first putt ending up drastically farther from the hole.
The challenge for golfers is consistently converting putts in the seven- to eight-foot range.
One simple drill to reduce three-putts
Speed control is the first thing to focus on if you want to cut down on three-putts. This drill is simple but trains your feel for distance and helps you practice the correct length putts to reduce three-putts.
How to Do It:
- Place four tees or ball markers at 20, 30, 40 and 50 feet on a practice green.
- Start at 20 feet. Your goal is to get the ball to stop within three feet of the hole.
- Once you succeed at 20, move to 30, then 40, then 50.
- If you leave it short or blow it long, return to the starting position.
Track your three-putts and improve
If you really want to improve your putting performance, consider using a shot-tracking product like the Shot Scope CONNEX, the X5 GPS Watch or the V5 GPS Watch.
These devices automatically track your putting statistics including putt distances and three-putt frequency. You’ll know exactly what to practice.
Final thoughts
Better lag putting that puts you within eight feet of the hole for your second putt should help you cut down on a few unnecessary strokes. Fewer three-putts could be your key to lower scores and less frustration.
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