There are more mid handicappers than any other type of golfer. Are you one of them? Or are you trying to become one?
So, what is a mid handicapper? A mid-handicapper is a golfer with average scores. Most golfers are mid-handicappers. They also have a handicap index between 9 and 18. This means you usually shoot 9 to 18 over par for 18 holes. Low handicappers shoot better, and high handicappers shoot worse.
But there are actually 3 mid-handicapper categories, and you’ll want to understand where you sit, so you can know how to improve. You could be missing out on some low-hanging fruit opportunities to take a few strokes off your game.
Read on to learn more about the scores a mid-handicapper will shoot, the equipment they use, and provide tips on how you can become one.
What Is A Mid Handicapper?
The average handicap in golf of all US amateur males is 14.2. And according to the USGA handicapping statistics, more mid-handicapped male golfers exist than in any other segment—45% of handicapped players are here.
Mid handicappers who play on a par 72 course will tend to shoot a mid handicap score from the 80s to low 90s, meaning they play off anything from a 9 to an 18.
In other words, this isn’t in the score of the scratch golfers.
Read next: Would a new driver help you lower your handicap? These are the best drivers for mid-handicappers.
Mid Handicap Categories
When diving deeper into the question, what is a mid handicap in golf, you have three levels to the golf mid handicap range. Let’s cover them.
Lower Mid Handicap
Lower mid handicaps play off a 10 to 12, and while they tend to shoot low 80s. But they will break into the 70s on a good day. If you fit into this category, it is worth reading a post I wrote about low handicaps. Or if you aspire to this category, it guides you on how to break into the single digits.
Middle Mid-Handicap
Players in this segment regularly reach the mid to high 80s handicap score. This is your community if you play off of a 13 to 16.
Higher Mid-Handicap
These golfers graduated from the beginner ranks and are starting to gain more consistency in their game. This is your place if you play off of a 16 to 18. Higher mid-handicap golfers shoot in the high 80s to mid-90s. The USGA considers anything over 95 a high handicap.
What Equipment Does a Mid Handicapper Play With?
Now that we know what a mid handicapper is in golf let’s look at the gear you can use. As we lower our handicaps, we become more confident in our striking ability. When we gain confidence, we want to try new shots and increase our distance and spin.
However, as a mid handicap, we are imperfect and still have the odd mishit.
Therefore, players in this handicap category should use equipment that offers performance and forgiveness.
Drivers
If you are a mid handicapper, I recommend using a driver with 10.5 degrees or more of loft. Trying to keep the ball on the fairway is hard enough as if you don’t need to be worrying about the launch and carry distance.
You may want to check our detailed guide of Top Golf Drivers For Mid Handicappers.
Irons
As a mid-handicap player, it is not recommended to play with blades at this point. You should be using equipment that offers forgiveness and consistent distance.
Lower mid handicappers may feel ready to add players’ distance golf irons to the bag based on their look, feel, and all-around performance. If this is the route you want, make sure you get fitted and choose the irons offering the topmost forgiveness.
I recommend that mid-handicappers stick to game improvement irons and cavity back irons. Having an enhanced sweet spot on the clubface delivers consistent distance even on mishits.
Read more: The Best Irons for Mid-Handicappers
Wedges
Migher mid-handicappers may prefer a wedge with an optimized center of gravity to help you get under the ball on shots from up to 50 yards out.
Putters
Golfers have a variety of styles for putters to choose from. As a mid handicapper, I would stay clear of blade putters, as they were designed for superior players who can drain a putt on any green.
The mid to low handicapper may be attracted to peripheral weighted putters. These were built for the better putter, who still needs an element of forgiveness on the green.
Higher mid handicappers should keep a mallet putter in the bag. I understand that they are chunky in appearance, but the forgiving design will aid your efforts to reduce dreaded three-putts.
Balls
At this stage of your golfing career, stick with forgiving balls. While balls like the Titleist Pro V1 and Taylormade TP5x are incredible to strike. The enhanced spin rpm of the ball can result in nasty hooks and slices. Those shots often result in lost balls, costing $4 a ball.
If you are looking for forgiveness off the tee and something that will save you some loot, I recommend balls with ionomer covers.
Best Golf Models for Mid Handicappers
1. Taylormade Stealth Plus+ Driver
Your drives could improve up to 50 yards from the club, and it does a great deal for accuracy as well. It has a fast ball speed at about 4 mph faster than the top Titleist drivers, which helps with the ball spin, and you can get good control. When you go to take your swings, you will see it fly about as straight as you would want it to fly.
Pros
- Great ball speed
- Gets good distance
- Flies straight
Cons
- Expensive
2. Cobra Golf LTDx Max Men’s Driver
The Cobra Golf LTDx Max Men’s Driver is a good quality driver, but it remains forgiving enough for the mid handicap golfers. You can hit this one consistently with a lower spin to get better forgiveness. Picking it up and striking the ball becomes an experience since the Cobra LTDx has a solid sound and feel. This ranks as one of the best drivers out there. After you swing the club, you will see a noticeable difference in the distance you can get.
Pros
- Good forgiveness
- Gives you extra distance
- Has a great sound to it
Cons
- Some durability issues
3. TaylorMade Golf P790 Irons
Not only do these clubs look great, but they’re easy to swing, and they have a crisp, clean striking point. You will see good distance and good accuracy. Swing the P790, you get a higher ball trajectory, and it comes with decent forgiveness to hit it well. You get good distance, and at the same time, you will get it more consistently.
Pros
- Great forgiveness
- Good distance on your shots
- Easy to swing and good accuracy
Cons
- More customization options when bought directly from TaylorMade
How Do Mid-Handicaps Perform?
Mid handicappers tend to drop strokes in and around the green. Their consistency has improved with their wood and iron shots, but they are let down with the odd duffed chip, toothed bunker shot, or three-putt.
This is how mid handicappers perform from tee to green. If you’d like to learn more about golf handicaps in general, check out this guide.
Fairways In Regulation (F.I.R)
Mid-handicappers have a positive average when it comes to fairways in regulation. However, in challenging conditions, the ball can fly in all directions. To lower your handicap, you need to learn how to scramble, and mid-handicap players are skilled in this art.
Greens In Regulation (G.I.R)
Accuracy is a challenge for mid-handicap golfers, often resulting in wayward approach shots. This forces players to scramble for par rather than lining up a simple birdie putt.
Accuracy and more birdie chances are the best way for mid handicappers to lower their scores and knock on the door of the lower handicap category.
Distance Control
Distance control is still a work in progress for mid-handicappers. They are not yet confident that each club will go the same distance on every occasion.
This results in challenging birdie putts when you hit a green in regulation, leaving you at risk of under or overcooking your strike—giving you a tester for par. This is how three-putts happen.
If you are serious about improving your distance control, invest in a launch monitor that gives you insight into your distance with each club. That will improve your muscle memory and allow you to hit the same length every time.
Up and Downs
Mid handicaps do not get up and down as much as they should, dropping a few strokes every round. This is where you should be spending more of your time practicing.
Putts Per Round
This is another area where mid-handicaps drop unnecessary shots. The adrenaline of sticking your approach shot close drives the average mid handicapper to knock their birdie putt to the hole aggressively. This leaves you with a tricky par putt and can quickly turn into a bogey.
In the words of Bobby Locke, “you drive for show but putt for dough.” That is why you need to spend more time on your putting game than anything else.
Tips on How to Move from a Mid to Low Handicapper
Tip #1: Take Fewer Penalty Shots
You must learn how to take the ball in play if you’d like to get a good golf handicap. Now, every golfer will take a bad shot from time to time, but you should understand when you made a mistake and adjust to improve your game. Doing this will take practice.
Tip #2: Practice Curving the Golf Ball
You must learn how to slice and hook the ball whenever the shot calls for it. You will see yourself taking better shots in this way. One of the best ways to make curve shots is to turn your hands in the same direction as your thumb and adjust the grip.
Tip #3: Improve Your Short Game
You want to take the time to practice your short game since most golf strokes happen within 100 yards. Those who don’t practice could be losing out on a better golf score. You might do this by signing up to a 9-hole game instead of 18 holes.
Tip #4: Tune up Your Golf Gear
Evaluate your current golf set to see if it meets your needs. In some cases, buying a new set of golf clubs may make sense if they hold you back. Other times, you can replace bad grips on your golf clubs or clean the grooves from your clubs to make better shots.
Tip #5: Find the Golf Hitting Zone
You can make a big improvement to your golf game when you find your hitting zone. When you can hit with a steady swing in the hitting zone, you will see your score move from the mid handicap to the low handicap range.
Final Thoughts
In answer to our question of, “What is a mid handicapper?” We see that they are players with handicaps between 10 and 18 who shoot scores between the 80s and low 90s. Hopefully, this covers what is considered a mid handicap.
If mid handicapper is the handicap category you fit into, the next step is to focus on breaking 80 consistently.
Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.
