Golf Handicap Explained [Low vs Mid vs High]

A golf handicap is one of the best ways to spot if a golfer is great at playing, or is still a newbie. And golf handicaps will help players of different levels to compete with one another.

A golfer’s handicap is estimated by how he plays each round, on average. Casual golfers may not easily establish their handicaps. However, handicaps are highly beneficial in setting fair matches for each player. A low handicap golfer is still relative. Because this will depend on the quality of players he will play with, the golf clubs used, and what he typically plays.

However, as necessary as it is to be aware of what golf handicaps are, they are one of the most difficult things to learn and understand, especially for new golfers. Keep reading below to know further about low, mid, and high handicap, as well as how to calculate your golf handicap.

What is a Golf Handicap and How Does it Work?

A golf’s handicap is the difference between the average number of strokes a golfer will play in an average of 10 games and the total golf course’s par.

If you’re wondering what par is, it is the number of strokes each player must take in order to finish playing the whole course.

Your golf handicap can be determined by the number of strokes you play, over to what is evaluated to be the average stroke in that course. For example, a par 4 would mean that it would take you 4 strokes in order to sink the golf ball.

Golf handicaps will be estimated through the average score you gained from the last 20 rounds you played to enhance the index that best suits your capabilities as a golfer.

The golf handicap index will be the one to provide the indication as to how many stoked for each you’re getting on an approximate shoot.

But keep in mind that the formula to gaining a golfer’s handicap can be more complicated than just relying on the number of strokes per par. This is because the process will be still taken into consideration through the courses you play, together with each score you shoot.

Also Read: Step by Step Guide to Calculate a Handicap 

Low vs. Mid vs. High Handicaps

Low Handicap

A low handicap is referred to as single digits. Meaning to say, it is a handicap that is between the digits 1 and 9.

However, golfers may have different interpretations and definitions of low handicap. Like,  a player that has a handicap of 2 may not believe that 9 is still low. Yet, any player that has single-digit handicaps are still considered to be a skilled golfer.

Low handicap is considered to be the best when it comes to the world of golf. A golfer that belongs to the low handicap categories knows fully how to play well from tee to green.

But that doesn’t simply end there, because low handicaps are still broken into different low handicap categories such as higher single-digit handicap, mid single-digit handicap, and lower single-digit handicap.

Categories of Low Handicap

Higher Single Digit Handicap

Higher single-digit handicappers are those who have a handicap of 7 to 9 ratings and can shoot high in the 70s, and low in the 80s.

So in your golfing journey, you must aim to break 80 consistently so you can move into the range of mid-single digit.

Mid Single Digit Handicap

Mid single-digit handicappers, on the other hand, are those who have a handicap of 4 and 6.

They can shoot between 76 to 79 in between rounds consistently

Lower Single Digit Handicap

Lastly, lower single-digit handicappers are those that play off with a handicap of 1 to 3.

Generally, their scorecards range from 73 to 75. If you’re a golfer who belongs to this category, it means you’re shooting under par rounds for a lower handicap to scratch.

What Performance Does the Lower Handicap Play?

There must be minimal errors from tee to green in order to belong to the category of low handicappers.

If you’re aiming to belong in this handicap, you must keep in mind of the following:

Distance Control - low handicaps have consistent and accurate distance control. And once you have it too, you will have the confidence to strike a golf club within the same distance every time.

Greens in Regulation - you must have an exceptional GIR, which means your scores must be consistently low. To do this, you need to attack the flag, then when the opposite, pick up each stroke.

Putts per Round - a mid or high handicapper mostly fall apart on the greens, but low handicappers don’t. Rather, this is where they perform outstandingly.

RELATED: Best Golf Putters

Ups and Downs - there are times that players will miss the dance floor. But if you’re a low handicapper, you can easily recover by leaving them with an easy tap in from an accurate chip.

Mid Handicap

Mid handicappers that are playing on a course of 72 par can shoot scores for the early 90s and low 80s. That being said, they play off anything between 9 to 18.

And like the low handicap, mid handicap also has different categories such as lower-mid handicap, mid-mid handicap, and higher mid-handicap.

Categories of Mid Handicap

The Lower Mid Handicap

Lower mid handicaps are those who can play off from 10 to 12. They can also shoot in the low 80s and break into the 70s.

The Mid Handicap

They are golfers who can score in the mid to high 80s regularly. If you think you can play off from 13 to 16, then you fit into this category.

The Higher Mid Handicap

Mid handicappers are those who have already graduated from the beginner ranks and are starting to develop more consistency in their play. If you play off from 16 to 18, then you belong to this category.

Higher-mid handicappers can also shoot from the high 80s and to mid 90s.

What Performance Does the Mid Handicap Play?

Since mid handicappers mostly drop their strokes in and around the greens, their consistency in iron and wood shots gradually improves. However, they are sometimes let down with three-putts, toothed bunker shots, or off-duffed chips.

So if you want to know how mid handicappers perform in the tee to green, here’s how:

Greens in Regulation - mid handicappers often encounter accuracy as a challenge, which often results in wayward approach shots. That being said, more performance of birdie shots is the best opportunity for mid handicappers to lower their scores. Thus, consistently doing this can make them suitable enough to fit the low handicap category.

Fairways in Regulation - mid handicappers are known to have positive averages in terms of the fairway in regulation. Yet, there are times the ball flies in different directions, which can be very challenging.

Distance Control - mid handicappers will still have to work on their distance control. They still need improvement in their confidence since their hits for each club may not go the same distance. This often results in tough birdie putts as you hit greens in regulation. This also leaves the risk of over or undercooking your strike. And this is how three-putts happen.

ALSO READ: What Golf Clubs Should I Carry In My Bag

Putts per Round - mid handicappers tend to drop unnecessary shots in this area too. This happens because of the adrenaline to stick in every approach shot closely, on which average mid handicappers tend to assertively knock their birdie putt through the hole. This can leave you with a tricky par putt on which you can eventually turn into a bogey.

Ups and Downs - mid handicaps don’t usually get up and down as much as they would need to. And because of this, they only drop a few strokes for each round. If you want to belong to the category of kid handicap, this is the area you should mostly be focusing on practicing.

High Handicap

High handicappers are those who can play off 19 and above. They are considered to be the golfer’s range of handicaps because they cover golfers who can play off 81% of female golfers and 54. 25% of male golfers.

Because of the wide number of golfers who belong to this category, they are divided into three again: the lower high handicap, the mid-high handicap, and the higher high handicap.

Categories of High Handicap

Lower High Handicap

Lower high handicaps are those players who can play off from 19 to 29 handicaps. They are the ones who can shoot from the low 90s up to an average of 100s. Golfers who have a 19 to 23 handicap will most likely acquire a few shots rounds in the high 80s.

However, they struggle in achieving these numbers consistently.

Golfers that have a handicap higher than 20 may need to focus more on consistently hitting the barrier of 100.

Mid High Handicap

Mid-high handicaps are those who can play off from 30 to 40. If you belong to this category, that means you have an average score of 100s and 110s.

If your handicap lies between the ranges of low to mid 30, you can start to aim on breaking 90 consistently in order to make your handicap lower to 20s.

If your handicap sits in the low 40s or higher 30s, you should start setting a target to break 110 regularly.

Higher High Handicap

Higher high handicaps are players that can play off the handicaps of between 41 and 54. They have the shooting rounds that range from 113 to high 120s.

If you belong to this category, one of your challenges is to decrease the number of triple bogeys from your scorecard. If you’re playing off from a low handicap of 40, you should start to aim at breaking 110 constantly. Because handicaps that are higher than 45 may need to minimize their triple bogeys while setting a goal to score with less than 120 strokes each round.

What Performance Does the High Handicap Play?

Greens in Regulation - this part is not the strongest point of high handicap golfers since they often drop their shots through missing the greens and not by getting it up or down.

Fairways in Regulation - the fairways in regulation belong to the lower side of the high handicaps. This often results in an incorrect setup because of the aim of trying to strike the golf ball harder than you can.

Putts per Round - when high handicaps once placed the ball on the green, they often have difficulty reading the speed and lines. This can easily convert the straightforward 5-footer par into a triple or double bogey. Because the stronger a golfer’s putting game is, the faster they will shave their strokes off the score.

Ups and Downs - short games are often a struggle for most high handicaps. Many shots are often dropped because of mistakes around the green.

The Bottom Line

In terms of assessing the skill level of the golfer, the lower the handicap, the better the golfer. And the higher the handicap, the more improvement a golfer needs.

If you have a high handicap, you will need to acquire more than the advised par in order to finish the rounds on a golf course.

Scratch golfers have zero handicaps, this means they already finished the holes par. If you belong to this category, you will be allowed to play with another scratch golfer without the given strokes.

But with golf professionals, have negative handicaps. It’s because they are aiming to finish the hole or course in just a few strokes.

In case you’re wondering if you can improve your golf handicap, yes you can. There are private clubs you can get a membership.

Golf handicaps can be adjusted during the first day and fifteenth of the month. If you are signed up in the handicap system, you can receive constant updates every time there are changes in your golf handicap index. Although for some players, they may receive positive results from index change. But for some that are not, it will cost them a few dollars before they can get into the next match.