How to break 10: becoming a single-digit handicap
Single digits is the milestone most golfers talk about. The gap between 12 and 9 is usually approach shots that find the green and saving par when they don't.
A single-digit Handicap Index generally means regularly shooting around the low 80s and occasionally breaking 80.
The plan
- 01
Know your real distances
Measure carry distances for every club. Most club golfers come up short far more often than long.
- 02
Hit more greens from 100–150 m
Make this your main practice zone — it's where most scoring shots are played.
- 03
Scramble
Practise up-and-downs from 10–20 metres. Saving par a few times per round is the difference.
- 04
Build a pre-shot routine
The same routine every shot keeps your game steady under pressure, in competition and on bad days.
- 05
Play the percentages
Aim at the centre of greens. Take on pins only with a wedge in hand.
Common questions
- What counts as a single-digit handicap?
- A Handicap Index of 9.9 or lower. At EARNED, a verified index below 10.0 unlocks SUB 10.
- Is a single-digit handicap rare?
- Single-digit players are a minority among club golfers, which is why it's worth wearing.
Already there?
You earned SUB 10. Wear it.
Verify your handicap once and unlock the SUB 10 collection for good — your earned level stays yours.