The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word GUESSWORK
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
G
U
E
S
S
W
O
R
K
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "estimate" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case estimate = guesswork.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GUESSWORK mean?
GUESSWORK noun- An estimate, judgment or opinion made by guessing, from limited information.