Strokes Gained 101

What It Measures:

It evaluates how efficiently a golfer uses their strokes compared to an average player.

For example:

- If you take fewer strokes than average to complete a hole, you’ve gained strokes.
- If you take more strokes than average, you’ve lost strokes.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee: Measures performance on drives, focusing on distance and accuracy.

Strokes Gained: Approach: Evaluates shots from the fairway, rough, or other non-tee locations to the green.

Strokes Gained: Around the Green: Measures shots taken near the green (but not on it), like chips and bunker shots.

Strokes Gained: Putting: Assesses putting performance on the green.

Reference Values: Strokes Gained compares your performance to a benchmark, often based on data from professional tours or similar skill levels.

Example Calculation: Imagine you're 150 yards from the hole, and data shows the average player takes 3 strokes to hole out from this distance.

 

Here's how Strokes Gained would work:

• You flag it, and hit the ball onto the green and it lands 2 feet from the hole, data might say it now takes an average player 1 stroke to finish from there.
• The expected strokes from 150 were 3. 
• You have hit one in, and now made your putt. You gained a stroke on approach. 

 

But what if you missed your putt?

• The average player takes 1 putt from 2 feet. You took 2. 
• You lost a stroke putting. 

In this case, you gained a stroke on approach, reducing your average shots from 3 to 2. 

But lost one on putting, increasing your average putts from 2ft from 1 to 2. 

Overall you gained no strokes on the hole but you learned that your iron game is fine and your putting needs work.

This is an extreme example but illustrates the point well. 

Over many holes and many data points you can quickly see where you are losing and gaining strokes against "the field".

This helps you prioritize your practice to get the biggest bang for your buck against your competitors. 

Pinpoints Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Instead of guessing what’s holding you back, Strokes Gained tells you exactly where you excel or struggle.
• For example:
  • If you’re losing strokes in putting, you can focus on green reading or putting mechanics.
  • If you’re gaining strokes off the tee, you know driving is a strength.

Provides Context:

• It accounts for situational difficulty. A drive that lands in the fairway on a tough hole might gain strokes, while the same drive on an easy hole might lose strokes.

Improves Practice Efficiency:

• By knowing which areas cost you strokes, you can direct your practice time more effectively.

Final Summary:

Strokes Gained is a powerful tool for analyzing your golf game, helping pinpoint strengths and weaknesses across driving, approach shots, short game, and putting. It allows you to practice smarter and focus on areas that will have the greatest impact on your scores.

However, Strokes Gained isn’t without its challenges for amateur golfers. Check out our next blog to learn more about these issues and how they might affect your game!