From 6 to 12 feet, even a scratch golfer holes only 42.8% of putts, and from 12 to 18 feet it drops to 25.1%. The make rate only stays high inside six feet. Find your handicap column below, then use the blank row to see where your own putts fall.
The ChartMake percentage by distance and handicap
| Distance | 0 handicap | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 ft | 92.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% | 84.4% | 84.0% | 82.5% |
| 6 to 12 ft | 42.8% | 41.4% | 38.1% | 39.6% | 37.8% | 35.0% |
| 12 to 18 ft | 25.1% | 23.9% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 18.8% | 16.0% |
| 18 to 24 ft | 14.5% | 13.0% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 11.8% | 10.1% |
| 24 to 30 ft | 8.3% | 10.1% | 5.4% | 7.8% | 6.8% | 6.3% |
| 30 ft and over | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% |
Source: Shot Scope, "Putting make percentages by handicap: how do you compare?"
A few cells run against the handicap order, such as 39.6% for a 15 handicap beside 38.1% for a 10 in the 6 to 12 ft row. They are printed as Shot Scope has them. Read each row as a slope from left to right, not as a ladder where every step has to drop.
Shot Scope groups putts into six-foot bands. A 10 foot putt is in the 6 to 12 ft row, and a 20 foot putt is in the 18 to 24 ft row. For how these players do on the rest of the round, see the golf stats by handicap chart.
Short PuttsThree feet and two feet, from TrackMan
The six-foot band hides the putts people ask about most. TrackMan prints make rates for two closer distances.
| Distance | Tour player | Other golfers |
|---|---|---|
| From 3 ft | 96% | 84% (bogey golfer) |
| Inside 2 ft | 99% | 95% (amateurs) |
Source: TrackMan, "Performance Putting: The Evaluator."
Even three feet is not a gimme for a bogey golfer. For more on short putts that go wrong, see our guide to putters for the yips.
How to Use ItWhat the numbers mean for practice
- Inside six feet is where the makes are. The 0 to 6 ft row runs from 92.8% at scratch to 82.5% at a 25. Every other row is under 43% for every handicap. Short putts are also the ones a golfer can most easily practice.
- Misses from 6 to 12 feet are normal. No column in that row reaches 43%. Missing more than you make from here is how golf works at every handicap, so do not read a few misses as a problem with your stroke.
- Past 18 feet, the job is the next putt. No column in the 18 to 24 ft row is above 14.5%, and no column past 30 feet is above 4.3%. From there, the aim is to roll the first putt close enough that the second one is short.
- A drill you can count. Take ten balls to three feet and ten to six feet. Write down how many drop from each and compare them with the table.
Your PuttsFill in your own numbers
Print this page or copy the rows onto a scorecard. Count every putt by where it started, then divide the makes by the tries. A few rounds together is steadier than one.
| 0 to 6 ft | 6 to 12 ft | 12 to 18 ft | 18 to 24 ft | 24 to 30 ft | 30 ft and over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putts tried | ||||||
| Putts made | ||||||
| My make % | ||||||
| My handicap's column |
Your make percentage is putts made divided by putts tried, times 100. Ten tries and four makes is 40%.
Good to KnowCommon mistakes
Comparing yourself with Tour numbers. A 15 handicap measured against a Tour player's 96% from three feet will feel worse than it should. Use the column for your own handicap.
Judging a band from a handful of putts. Three tries from 15 feet tell you almost nothing. Add rounds before you decide a distance is a weakness.
Filing a putt in the wrong band. A putt that starts at 6.5 feet is a 6 to 12 ft putt. Pace the distance or use a rangefinder or green-reading app the same way every time, so your rows can be compared.
Reading make percentage alone. A golfer who hits more greens faces more long putts, which lowers the overall make rate. Look at putts per round next to greens in regulation.
FAQQuick answers
What is the make percentage from 10 feet?
Shot Scope groups putts into bands, and 10 feet sits in the 6 to 12 ft band. That band reads 42.8% at scratch, 41.4% at a 5, 38.1% at a 10, 39.6% at a 15, 37.8% at a 20 and 35.0% at a 25.
How often does a scratch golfer make a 6 foot putt?
Shot Scope does not print a figure for exactly 6 feet. Its 0 to 6 ft band is 92.8% for a scratch golfer and its 6 to 12 ft band is 42.8%, so a 6 foot putt sits at the edge between the two.
What is the make percentage for a 15 handicap?
For a 15 handicap Shot Scope lists 84.4% from 0 to 6 ft, 39.6% from 6 to 12 ft, 20.2% from 12 to 18 ft, 11.2% from 18 to 24 ft, 7.8% from 24 to 30 ft and 3.2% from 30 ft and over.
How many 3 foot putts do golfers make?
TrackMan puts the make rate from 3 ft at 96% for a PGA Tour player and 84% for a bogey golfer.
Why do some numbers go against the handicap order?
In the 6 to 12 ft row a 15 handicap is printed at 39.6% and a 10 handicap at 38.1%. Shot Scope prints it that way and the gaps are small. Read each row as a slope from left to right, not as a ladder where every step must drop.
How do I track my own make percentage?
For each putt, note which distance band it started in and whether it dropped. Divide the makes by the tries for each band and write the result in the fill-in row on this page.