Q&A with the pro

How difficult is it to break 80? Is it a realistic goal for most golfers?

Blake S., Camdenton

This a difficult question to answer but I can tell you these statistics. It is much easier to break 100 and then 90 than it is to get to 80. Continuing to work on your game, taking golf lessons, finding out where you are deficient and eliminating round-killing mistakes can help your score drop in a hurry.

If you look at the national averages 45 percent of golfers average over 100 strokes per 18 holes. These statistics are based on the player playing the ball as it lies, no “Gimmies,” and no free drop from a lost ball or out of bounds. In other words, playing by the rules of golf. Only 26 percent of all golfers can break 90 and that number goes down to a whopping 2 to 5 percent of all golfers who can break 80. That is why golf continues to be played and agonized over by so many in hopes of getting to the holy grail of golf “Breaking 80.”

Don’t give up the dream Blake, anything is possible if you believe.

How far should the average guy hit a driver?

Bob. D., Sunrise Beach

This is a difficult question to answer without knowing your game. I’ll give you some statistics that may surprise you.

Many golfers inflate how far they think they hit their drive. Most often they take the farthest drive they have ever hit, not taking into account elevation change, firmness of the ground or wind at their back, and think that is their average driving distance. With launch monitors more relatively available, statistics have gotten better.

You might be surprised to know that the largest segment of male players drive the ball 200 to 224 yards on average. Only 29 percent of male golfers drive the ball more than 250 yards, and only four percent of all male golfers drive the ball over 300 yards. If you have a club head speed of 100 miles per hour you can drive the ball at best 270 yards.

For female golfers the average for all players is 147 yards off the tee. If you are hitting the ball over 200 yards on average, you are above average.

My dad always told me “you drive for show and putt for dough,” so don’t get too hung up on hitting the long ball.

Should I be tracking my golf statistics to improve, and which ones should I track?

Jeremy R., Osage Beach

story by Charis Patires