EJS GOLF BLOG
Learn about the golf swing and what you can do to improve your score on the golf course. Fill out the form below if you have any questions or want to set up a time to talk.
Mastering the Art of Golf with Coach Erik Schjolberg
I’m Coach Erik Schjolberg, and welcome to the EJS Golf blog—Scottsdale’s authority on science-driven ball-striking. Here you’ll find in-depth analyses of swing mechanics, data-backed breakdowns of impact and launch dynamics, and actionable practice routines designed to rewire your muscle memory from day one. Each post peels back the curtain on cause-and-effect in your swing, whether you’re chasing Tour-level precision, collegiate consistency, or lower weekend scores. Dive into our deep-dive articles, master the drills that drive real improvement, and transform your game with proven science and strategy.
But let’s be clear: golf isn’t only about perfecting swing mechanics. The mental battle you fight on each tee is often the one that determines whether you stay in the game or walk off the course. Here, we’ll tackle the psychological hurdles—the pressure of a tight leaderboard, the frustration when a swing fails under stress, the self-doubt that creeps in after a bad hole. You’ll learn evidence-based mental strategies—visualization routines, pre-shot rituals, stress-management techniques—that fortify your focus and resilience. Mastering these mind-set tools is just as critical as dialing in your impact position, and I’ll show you exactly how to integrate mental training into your practice for lasting confidence on every shot.
Explore Our Blogs
Guide to Lowering Your Scores with Simple Data
Percentage of Golfers that Break 70, 80, 90 & 100
Score % of Golfers How Long It Takes Breaking 70 5% 10-15 years Breaking 80 21% 5-10 years Breaking 90 26% 5 years Breaking 100 55% 1-2 years
How Long Does it Take to Break 70?
It’s very rare for golfers to be able to break 70 and if you can break 70, you’re more than great at golf, you’re incredible. Breaking 70 means you’re on par with pro golfers already.
So how long does it take to break 70? It can take a golfer 5 to 30 years to be able to ever break 70.
In the first place, many golfers aren’t talented enough to be able to break 70 in the first place. Many more also only golf for fun and don’t put in the work necessary to break 70 consistently. The amount of practice and experience a golfer needs to break 70 is insane.
What Percentage of Golfers can Break 70?
According to data collected by the United States Golf Association, only 0.92% of golfers break 70 consistently.
You can get an estimate of golfers who break 70 by looking at the handicap data collected by the USGA. 0.92% of golfers have a handicap of +1 and having a handicap of +1 or better shows that only 0.92% of golfers break 70 regularly because you need to break par very often to get a +1 handicap.
This data is further supported by the National Golf Foundation. According to data collected by the NGF, only 5% of adult golfers are able to get an average of score under 80. Only 5% of golfers average a score of under 70 or even break 70.
Polls taken on online forums also support all of the data above. Even online, where golfers tend to play up their abilities to show off, polls show that less than 5% of golfers can break 70.
In fact, because golfers are likely to make empty boasts, it’s likely that the number of golfers who break 70 is even lower than the online polls would have you believe.
How Long Does it Take to Break 80?
A golfer being able to break 80 is more common than a golfer who can break 70 but that’s not to put down anyone who breaks 80. If you can break 80, then there’s no question that you’re an excellent golfer.
It will take the average golfer 10 to 15 years of diligent practice to break 80.
Golfers not aiming to go pro are more likely to be able to break 80 than break 70. Regular golfers can break 80 by getting experience golfing for years, hiring a good trainer and doing the correct practice for years. If you’re a more talented golfer than normal, you could definitely break 80 in less than a decade.
What Percentage of Golfers can Break 80?
According to the United States Golf Association, 21.42% of golfers have a handicap of 7.9 or better. Therefore, it can be estimated that 21.42% of golfers can break 80.
These above figures are considered on the high side but still realistic.
However, data collected by the National Golf Foundation shows that the USGA figures are high. According to the NGF, only 5% of adult golfers get an average score of under 80. This is generally considered low-balling the amount of golfers that can break 80.
It’s believed that the National Golf Foundation has more accurate data which shows that about 5% of golfers get an average score of under 80.
Online forums that do polls on golfer’s average score show numbers closer to those given by the United States Golf Association but polls online should generally be taken with a grain of salt as golfers online tend to exaggerate their skills.
How Long Does it Take to Break 90?
Being able to break 90 means that you’re better than most golfers. It’ll take two to five years of golfing and frequent practice before you reach this point. However it’s certainly easier as well as less time consuming than trying to break 80 or break 70.
So how long does it take to break 80? By golfing on a regular basis, most golfers can break 80 in five years.
The five year estimate is actually quite high, as many golfers say that it took them one to three years to break 90. Some talented golfers are even able to break 90 in their first season of golfing.
What Percentage of Golfers can Break 90?
Data collected by the United States Golf Association shows that 73.4% of golfers have a handicap of 17.9 or better. This means that 73.4% of golfers can regularly break 90.
The above percentage given by the USGA is highly dubious as most golfers think it’s impossible or just downright ridiculous that 73.4% of golfers consistently break 90.
The National Golf Foundation on the other hand gives what is considered a much more realistic and accurate percentage. According to the NGF, only 21% of golfers get an average score of 80 to 89. This would mean that only 26% of golfers regularly break 90.
Online polls taken from golf forums online also match more closely to the data collected by the NGF and as said before online poll numbers tend to skew higher than reality.
How Long Does it Take to Break 100?
Being able to break 100 is a goal that pretty much every beginner golfer has. A talented beginner can break 100 in six months by golfing and practicing regularly. However, being able to break 100 in six months is definitely not the norm.
Beginners normally take anywhere from 1-2 years of golfing to break 100.
It takes slightly longer than that to break 100 consistently. That said talented beginners who can break 100 in their first season of golfing are actually fairly common.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t break 100 in your first season though! Anyone can break 100 fairly quickly with enough golfing and practice!
What Percentage of Golfers can Break 100?
According to the United States Golf Association, 95.69% of golfers have a handicap of 27.0 to 27.9. That would mean 95.69% of golfers regularly break 100.
Like the percentage given above for golfers that can break 90, the percentage of golfers that regularly break 100 given by the USGA also seems unrealistically high.
According to the National Golf Foundation, 55% of adult golfers can break 100. Only 29% of adult golfers report an average score of 90 to 99. This is much lower than the numbers provided by the USGA and is generally considered to be more accurate.
Online forums and polls give numbers and percentages closer to the National Golf Foundation’s data.
How Long Does it Take to Break 120?
Generally, most beginner golfers can break 120 in six months, basically their first season of golfing. This means you should be able to break 120 in your first season.
Breaking 120 is a baseline for golf and pretty much anyone can do it with enough practice and time. Don’t quit just because it takes longer than you think it should.
What Percentage of Golfers can Break 120?
The United States Golf Association shows that 98.84% of golfers have a handicap of 33 or better. This means that according to the USGA, 98.84% of golfers can break 120 consistently.
The figures above are higher than the data given by the National Golf Foundation, but is still considered realistic.
The survey done by the National Golf Foundation shows that 89% of adult golfers break 120 regularly. It also shows that 10% of adult golfers surveyed by the NGF said they had an average score of 110 to 119. This is generally seen as accurate by trainers and veteran golfers.
Golf forums and polls done online also show numbers close to the one’s given by the National Golf Foundation. Interestingly though, they actually skew lower than the numbers given by the NGF. This is probably because golfers online don’t want to admit that their best is breaking 120.
What You Can Expect from Our Blog
1. Expert Insights on Swing Mechanics:
With over 25 years of experience as a PGA Professional Golf Instructor, I delve deep into the nuances of golf swing mechanics. My articles break down complex theories into understandable concepts, focusing on ground reaction forces (GRFs), biomechanics, and efficient energy transfer.
2. Advanced Technological Guidance:
Our academy is equipped with state-of-the-art tools like the Trackman 4 Launch Monitor, 3D Pressure Plates, and Hackmotion, among others. On the blog, I share how to leverage these technologies to gain precise feedback on your swing, helping you make informed adjustments and see measurable improvements.
3. Tailored Practice Routines:
My philosophy is built on the belief that improvement should be evident from the first lesson. I advocate a '15 minutes per day' practice model, designed to fit into your busy schedule while ensuring consistent progress. Each blog post aims to offer practice drills and routines that are easy to implement and effective in refining your skills.
4. Real Success Stories:
Read about the experiences of those who have trained at EJS Golf Academy. These testimonials not only inspire but also illustrate the practical application of our teaching methodologies and the real results achieved.
5. Interactive Learning:
We occasionally feature video tutorials and interactive content that allows you to visually grasp techniques and corrections. This blended approach helps reinforce learning and allows you to engage with the content actively.
How Our Blog Helps Golfers Get Better
Every post is crafted with the intent to educate. We cover everything from basic fundamentals to advanced techniques, ensuring there's something valuable for every skill level. By presenting data and evidence-backed strategies, our blog demystifies the 'why' and 'how' behind effective golf training. This analytical approach empowers you to make smarter decisions about your practice and play. We understand that generic advice does not suit everyone. Our blog posts are designed to help you identify your own needs and adapt our techniques accordingly. Whether it’s adjusting your grip, stance, or swing path, you’ll find personalized tips that resonate with your specific challenges. Beyond just reading, our blog serves as a community hub where you can interact with fellow golfers and share your experiences. This supportive environment encourages learning and improvement through collective wisdom.
Join Us on Your Path to Mastery
Whether you’re looking to refine your swing, understand the biomechanics of your body, or simply get more enjoyment out of the game, our blog at EJS Golf Academy is your go-to resource. Bookmark our page, subscribe to updates, and start transforming your game today.
Remember, at EJS Golf, we don’t just teach golf; we craft master golfers. Let’s begin this journey together. Visit us atEJSGolf.com to learn more about our programs and start your training online or at our Scottsdale location. Let’s make every swing count!
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phone: 480.861.9370 email: [email protected]
I've taken multiple private lessons with Erik and he's been by far the best swing coach I have ever worked with. He has the ability to dissect your swing and make small changes for big improvements. What I love most about his lessons is they go far beyond the 1 or 2 hours you're with him. He follows up with videos of how you can improve at home and on the range. The value he provides is absolutely worth the cost of his sessions. I would recommend any golfer at any level who truly wants to get better to go see Erik.”
- Reanol H.
Erik is the best! and that is not an exaggeration. There has not been a single lesson where I haven't walked out and felt like a far better golfer than before. What can't be praised enough is the effort and dedication that Eric puts into each of his students, as his approach to fixing and improving my golf swing was specific to me. While teaching, Erik takes the extra time to truly dive into what he is trying to convey rather than just telling you, allowing for a better understanding. Beyond the instruction at the course, Erik sends specific drills to you from an app that allows for slow motion replays, letting you break down everything and work on your game at any time. I genuinely mean it when I say that I would recommend Erik to anyone wanting to improve their golf game, as he is not only a top not instructor but also a top notch person who cares about his students.
- Brennan K.
Erik is flat out a great coach and mentor! I highly recommend him! Working from the ground up, my swing is healthier and smooth! I wanted a coach that shared the same main principles as the late Tony Manzoni and Erik hits the mark! Found Erik by listening to the Golf Smarter podcast by Fred Greene and connected with EJS Golf through the Perfect Motion app. Erik is motivated and incredibly gifted at his craft!
- Bryan B., Indiana, USA
