You might have heard stats around “strokes gained” mentioned in golf broadcasts, but what actually is it, what does it mean and how do you calculate it?
In simple terms it is is a modern performance metric in golf that measures a player’s effectiveness by comparing each shot to a statistical average.
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LIV Golf, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour all run with key info about players and strokes gain in putting, with irons and in driving.
It is more advanced than traditional stats like “putts per round”, as it accounts for the difficulty and context of every shot and reveals strengths and weaknesses across different areas of the game.
You can use it to assess your game too with the Shots Gained key to telling you the areas that need most improvement with golf practice at home or on the range.
What Is Strokes Gained in Golf?
Strokes Gained was developed by Professor Mark Broadie and quantifies exactly how much a shot or series of shots improved or worsened your score compared to a defined benchmark.
- A positive Strokes Gained value means your shot was better than the benchmark average.
- A negative value shows where you lost strokes compared to your peer group.
The statistic breaks down performance into categories including off the tee, approach shots, around the green, and putting, allowing objective analysis of each facet of play.
How Is Strokes Gained Calculated?
The basic formula is: Strokes Gained = Benchmark Average (start position) − Benchmark Average (end position) – 1
- The benchmark represents the average strokes needed to hole out from a certain location, based on massive datasets from professional and amateur golf.
- After each shot, subtract the new “shots to hole out” value from the previous value, then minus one for the shot just taken. This tells you whether you gained or lost strokes compared to the benchmark.
Example Calculation
Say you have a tee shot on a par 4:
- The average number of strokes to hole out from the tee (440 yards, PGA Tour) = 4.08
- You drive the ball to the rough, 100 yards from the green; benchmark “shots to hole out” from there = 3.02.
- Applying the formula: Strokes Gained = 4.08 − 3.02 −1 = 0.06
- You gained 0.06 strokes compared to the benchmark.
For a 160-yard approach to 10 feet:
- Average to hole out from 160 yards = 2.98
- Average to hole out from 10 feet on the green = 1.61
- Strokes Gained = 2.98 − 1.61 −1 = 0.37
A positive Strokes Gained shows above-average performance for those shots.
Strokes Gained Calculator For Amateurs
Many amateur golfers can now use tracking systems like the Arccos or shot-tracking apps such as Shot Scope to calculate their stats against appropriate benchmarks.
This approach helps identify which parts of the game offer the biggest opportunity for improvement, from putting to driving.
Objective measurements like these reveal real strengths not just intuitive feelings in different elements of play and provide clear identification of areas needing focus aids smarter practice or better course strategy.
How to Calculate Strokes Gained for Putting
Strokes Gained for putting in golf is calculated by comparing the expected number of putts (benchmark) needed to hole out from a given distance on the green to the actual number of putts the player takes.
The calculation measures how many strokes a player gains or loses relative to an average professional’s putting performance from the same distance.
The formula for Strokes Gained Putting is: Strokes Gained Putting = Expected Number of Putts (Benchmark) − Putts Taken
The expected number of putts is derived from statistical data, usually from PGA Tour players, showing how many putts a typical pro takes from various distances on the green.
For example, from 10 feet, the average number of putts expected is about 1.6. If a player makes the putt in 1 stroke, they gain 0.6 strokes (1.6 – 1 = 0.6).
But if the player misses and takes 2 putts, they lose 0.4 strokes (1.6 – 2 = -0.4) compared to the benchmark.
To find total Strokes Gained Putting for the entire round, you add up the values for all your putts. Positive totals indicate better-than-average putting performance, while negative totals show room for improvement.
This approach offers a precise measurement of putting that adjusts for the distance and difficulty of each putt rather than counting total putts or putts per round.
James is an avid golfer and reviews golf equipment and new gear for GolfReviewsGuide.com as well as providing the latest golf news. You will find him on a golf course wherever possible.
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