92.4% of Golfers Report 'Score Collapse in the Back Nine'! Survey Investigates Causes of Increased Mistakes [Chicken Golf Research]
Clear Co., Ltd., operator of 'Chicken Golf,' surveyed 400 experienced golfers in April 2026 regarding back-nine score deterioration. 92.4% admitted to experiencing worse scores in the latter half. The leading cause was not physical fatigue, but a 'drop in concentration' (73.8%). Driver instability triggers a chain of mistakes for 55.8% of players. Many golfers attempt to manage this by adopting conservative course management strategies.
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- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 16:10
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 07:31
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Clear Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tomohisa Ichikawa), which operates the personal golf lesson service 'Chicken Golf,' conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 400 experienced golfers on its media platform, 'Golf no Manabiya,' regarding the collapse of scores in the back nine of a round. (Survey period: April 2026)
Many golfers have likely experienced the phenomenon of playing well in the front nine, only to see their scores suddenly collapse in the back nine.
It is not uncommon for golfers to suffer a series of mistakes in the latter half, such as failing to recover from erratic tee shots or losing their swing rhythm due to fatigue.
However, in reality, surprisingly few people have a clear understanding of the exact causes and specific countermeasures.
This time, the Chicken Golf editorial department investigated the actual state of back-nine score collapse, focusing on the causes, situations, and clubs associated with increased mistakes.
Golfers who feel that their 'scores easily collapse in the latter half' or that 'mistakes chain together the moment they hit the inward nine' should definitely take a look at the results of this survey.
Furthermore, those who want to fundamentally improve their back-nine score collapse should focus on building a highly reproducible swing.
Specific improvement methods and lesson contents are detailed in the Chicken Golf column.
Survey Overview
92.4% of Golfers Experience 'Score Collapse in the Back Nine'
When asked if their scores collapse in the back nine, 40.8% answered 'Often' and 51.6% answered 'Sometimes,' revealing that a total of 92.4% of golfers have experienced worsening scores in the latter half.
On the other hand, only 6.8% answered 'Rarely' and a mere 0.8% answered 'Never,' indicating that very few golfers can maintain stable performance throughout the back nine.
Looking at the responses by average score, the majority across all score ranges answered either 'Often' or 'Sometimes.'
Responses by Average Score:
- Under 79: Often 5 / Sometimes 4 / Rarely - / Never 1
- 80-89: Often 6 / Sometimes 16 / Rarely 3 / Never -
- 90-99: Often 17 / Sometimes 60 / Rarely 6 / Never 1
- 100-109: Often 36 / Sometimes 60 / Rarely 10 / Never -
- 110-119: Often 44 / Sometimes 37 / Rarely 3 / Never -
- 120 and over: Often 55 / Sometimes 30 / Rarely 5 / Never 1
From these results, it can be said that the collapse of scores in the back nine is not a problem limited to a specific segment of players, but a common challenge occurring among many golfers regardless of their skill level.
57.1% of Golfers Drop '5 or More Strokes' in the Back Nine Compared to the Front
Regarding the score difference between the front and back nines (among the 370 golfers who answered 'Often' or 'Sometimes'), '5 to 9 strokes worse in the back nine' was the most common at 47.6%. Combined with '+10 or more strokes worse' (9.5%), it was found that 57.1% of golfers drop 5 or more strokes in the second half.
Additionally, '1 to 4 strokes worse in the back nine' accounted for 28.7%, meaning that over 80% of the total respondents drop their scores in the latter half.
A difference of 5 or more strokes equates to a worsening of about 0.5 strokes per hole over the back nine holes, suggesting that a drop in performance in the latter half significantly impacts the overall score.
In particular, since performance drops in the second half have a large impact on the total score, stabilizing play during this period is a crucial point for overall score improvement.
Top Reason for Increased Mistakes in the Back Nine is 'Loss of Concentration' at 73.8%, Surpassing 'Physical Fatigue' (64.3%)
Regarding the perceived causes of increased mistakes in the back nine, 'Loss of concentration' was the most common at 73.8%, followed by 'Physical fatigue (tiredness, fatigue in legs and lower back)' at 64.3%.
While back-nine collapses are often thought of as physical stamina issues, this survey revealed that a drop in concentration has an even greater impact.
Furthermore, 'Mental factors (impatience, pressure)' accounted for a notable 36.5%, suggesting that mental aspects, as well as physical stamina, heavily influence the worsening of scores in the back nine.
In this way, unstable swings caused by drops in concentration and physical stamina lead to more mistakes, generating impatience and pressure, which in turn leads to a further increase in mistakes in the latter half.
Club Causing the Most Mistakes in the Back Nine is the 'Driver' at 55.8%
Regarding the clubs where mistakes increase the most in the back nine, the 'Driver (tee shot)' topped the list at 55.8%, followed by 'Approach wedge' at 32.5%, 'Putter' at 31.8%, and 'Iron' at 28.0%.
Of all the clubs, the driver requires the use of the entire body, making it the club where drops in concentration and physical stamina most easily affect swing reproducibility.
It is believed that erratic tee shots increase the difficulty of the second shot and beyond, making it easier for the score to collapse.
Furthermore, given that mistakes also increase with the approach wedge (32.5%) and putter (31.8%), erratic tee shots lead to more difficult situations around the green, causing mistakes to pile up.
Most Common Situation for Increased Mistakes in the Back Nine is 'Erratic Tee Shots' at 53.0%
Regarding situations where golfers feel mistakes increase in the back nine, 'Erratic tee shots' was the most common at 53.0%, followed by 'Increase in the number of putts' at 39.5% and 'Increase in mistakes around the green' at 37.8%.
From these results, it can be inferred that in the back nine, erratic tee shots act as the trigger for a chain reaction of mistakes.
When tee shots go wild, second shots become difficult, and missing the green leads to an increased number of approaches and putts, making mistakes more likely to compound.
The stability of the tee shot greatly affects the entirety of the subsequent play. Therefore, whether a golfer can maintain the stability of their driver even in the back nine is a key point that dictates the score.
What Golfers Keep in Mind to Stabilize Back-Nine Scores: 'Not Playing Overly Aggressively'
Regarding what golfers keep in mind to stabilize their scores in the back nine, 'Not playing overly aggressively' was the most common at 43.3%, followed by 'Trying to maintain concentration' at 34.8% and 'Frequently hydrating and taking nutrition' at 32.0%.
The reason 'Not playing overly aggressively' suggests that many golfers realize that in the back nine—where concentration and physical stamina are depleted—high-risk plays easily lead to mistakes.
Additionally, since answers like 'Concentration' and 'Hydration/nutrition' also garnered a certain number of responses, conditioning management, alongside technique, is considered vital for stabilizing back-nine scores.
Based on these results, to play stably in the back nine, course management awareness—such as making reasonable play selections tailored to one's own condition—is crucial.
Necessary Measure to Improve Back-Nine Performance is 'Building Stamina/Endurance' at 56.8%
While the most common reason given for increased mistakes in the back nine was 'Loss of concentration' (73.8%), necessary...
Many golfers have likely experienced the phenomenon of playing well in the front nine, only to see their scores suddenly collapse in the back nine.
It is not uncommon for golfers to suffer a series of mistakes in the latter half, such as failing to recover from erratic tee shots or losing their swing rhythm due to fatigue.
However, in reality, surprisingly few people have a clear understanding of the exact causes and specific countermeasures.
This time, the Chicken Golf editorial department investigated the actual state of back-nine score collapse, focusing on the causes, situations, and clubs associated with increased mistakes.
Golfers who feel that their 'scores easily collapse in the latter half' or that 'mistakes chain together the moment they hit the inward nine' should definitely take a look at the results of this survey.
Furthermore, those who want to fundamentally improve their back-nine score collapse should focus on building a highly reproducible swing.
Specific improvement methods and lesson contents are detailed in the Chicken Golf column.
Survey Overview
92.4% of Golfers Experience 'Score Collapse in the Back Nine'
When asked if their scores collapse in the back nine, 40.8% answered 'Often' and 51.6% answered 'Sometimes,' revealing that a total of 92.4% of golfers have experienced worsening scores in the latter half.
On the other hand, only 6.8% answered 'Rarely' and a mere 0.8% answered 'Never,' indicating that very few golfers can maintain stable performance throughout the back nine.
Looking at the responses by average score, the majority across all score ranges answered either 'Often' or 'Sometimes.'
Responses by Average Score:
- Under 79: Often 5 / Sometimes 4 / Rarely - / Never 1
- 80-89: Often 6 / Sometimes 16 / Rarely 3 / Never -
- 90-99: Often 17 / Sometimes 60 / Rarely 6 / Never 1
- 100-109: Often 36 / Sometimes 60 / Rarely 10 / Never -
- 110-119: Often 44 / Sometimes 37 / Rarely 3 / Never -
- 120 and over: Often 55 / Sometimes 30 / Rarely 5 / Never 1
From these results, it can be said that the collapse of scores in the back nine is not a problem limited to a specific segment of players, but a common challenge occurring among many golfers regardless of their skill level.
57.1% of Golfers Drop '5 or More Strokes' in the Back Nine Compared to the Front
Regarding the score difference between the front and back nines (among the 370 golfers who answered 'Often' or 'Sometimes'), '5 to 9 strokes worse in the back nine' was the most common at 47.6%. Combined with '+10 or more strokes worse' (9.5%), it was found that 57.1% of golfers drop 5 or more strokes in the second half.
Additionally, '1 to 4 strokes worse in the back nine' accounted for 28.7%, meaning that over 80% of the total respondents drop their scores in the latter half.
A difference of 5 or more strokes equates to a worsening of about 0.5 strokes per hole over the back nine holes, suggesting that a drop in performance in the latter half significantly impacts the overall score.
In particular, since performance drops in the second half have a large impact on the total score, stabilizing play during this period is a crucial point for overall score improvement.
Top Reason for Increased Mistakes in the Back Nine is 'Loss of Concentration' at 73.8%, Surpassing 'Physical Fatigue' (64.3%)
Regarding the perceived causes of increased mistakes in the back nine, 'Loss of concentration' was the most common at 73.8%, followed by 'Physical fatigue (tiredness, fatigue in legs and lower back)' at 64.3%.
While back-nine collapses are often thought of as physical stamina issues, this survey revealed that a drop in concentration has an even greater impact.
Furthermore, 'Mental factors (impatience, pressure)' accounted for a notable 36.5%, suggesting that mental aspects, as well as physical stamina, heavily influence the worsening of scores in the back nine.
In this way, unstable swings caused by drops in concentration and physical stamina lead to more mistakes, generating impatience and pressure, which in turn leads to a further increase in mistakes in the latter half.
Club Causing the Most Mistakes in the Back Nine is the 'Driver' at 55.8%
Regarding the clubs where mistakes increase the most in the back nine, the 'Driver (tee shot)' topped the list at 55.8%, followed by 'Approach wedge' at 32.5%, 'Putter' at 31.8%, and 'Iron' at 28.0%.
Of all the clubs, the driver requires the use of the entire body, making it the club where drops in concentration and physical stamina most easily affect swing reproducibility.
It is believed that erratic tee shots increase the difficulty of the second shot and beyond, making it easier for the score to collapse.
Furthermore, given that mistakes also increase with the approach wedge (32.5%) and putter (31.8%), erratic tee shots lead to more difficult situations around the green, causing mistakes to pile up.
Most Common Situation for Increased Mistakes in the Back Nine is 'Erratic Tee Shots' at 53.0%
Regarding situations where golfers feel mistakes increase in the back nine, 'Erratic tee shots' was the most common at 53.0%, followed by 'Increase in the number of putts' at 39.5% and 'Increase in mistakes around the green' at 37.8%.
From these results, it can be inferred that in the back nine, erratic tee shots act as the trigger for a chain reaction of mistakes.
When tee shots go wild, second shots become difficult, and missing the green leads to an increased number of approaches and putts, making mistakes more likely to compound.
The stability of the tee shot greatly affects the entirety of the subsequent play. Therefore, whether a golfer can maintain the stability of their driver even in the back nine is a key point that dictates the score.
What Golfers Keep in Mind to Stabilize Back-Nine Scores: 'Not Playing Overly Aggressively'
Regarding what golfers keep in mind to stabilize their scores in the back nine, 'Not playing overly aggressively' was the most common at 43.3%, followed by 'Trying to maintain concentration' at 34.8% and 'Frequently hydrating and taking nutrition' at 32.0%.
The reason 'Not playing overly aggressively' suggests that many golfers realize that in the back nine—where concentration and physical stamina are depleted—high-risk plays easily lead to mistakes.
Additionally, since answers like 'Concentration' and 'Hydration/nutrition' also garnered a certain number of responses, conditioning management, alongside technique, is considered vital for stabilizing back-nine scores.
Based on these results, to play stably in the back nine, course management awareness—such as making reasonable play selections tailored to one's own condition—is crucial.
Necessary Measure to Improve Back-Nine Performance is 'Building Stamina/Endurance' at 56.8%
While the most common reason given for increased mistakes in the back nine was 'Loss of concentration' (73.8%), necessary...
FAQ
What is the main reason for golf scores dropping in the back nine?
According to Chicken Golf's survey, 73.8% of golfers cite a 'loss of concentration,' making it the leading cause over physical fatigue (64.3%).
Which golf club causes the most mistakes in the second half?
The driver is the most problematic (55.8%). Since it requires full-body movement, a drop in concentration or stamina easily impacts the swing.
How can I prevent my score from dropping in the back nine?
Avoiding overly aggressive or risky plays is the top strategy (43.3%). Ultimately, building a reproducible swing that withstands fatigue is recommended.