A 40 handicap shoots 112 on a good day and roughly 115 to 118 on a normal one. Here is what the published data says about golfers from 36 to 54, what it leaves out, and how a 40 compares to scratch through 30.
Across Arccos golfers, the average handicap goes from 9.6 under age 30 to 14.9 at 70 and over. Here is what the data says changes with age, and the stat line behind every handicap.
A scratch golfer shoots 37 or 38 for nine holes. A 15 handicap shoots about 45, and a 30 handicap about 53. Here is the typical 9-hole score at every level, with the stat line behind it.
The average US woman with a Handicap Index plays off 28.8, and nearly half are at 30 or higher. Here is where each handicap ranks for women and the stat line behind it.
You need about a 20 handicap to break 100 in a normal round, and a 15 to do it almost every time. A 25 gets there on a good day. Here is the stat line of a golfer who shoots in the 90s, next to every level from scratch to 30.
Shot Scope sells hardware with no subscription. Its alternatives are either other wearables or phone-only apps. Seven options compared on price, hardware, strokes gained and platforms, with prices checked on each vendor site.