Strokes Gained Calculator: Measure Any Golf Shot

Understanding strokes gained transforms how you analyze your golf game. Instead of guessing which parts of your game need work, you can measure exactly where you gain and lose strokes. Our strokes gained calculator makes this concept tangible.

How the Strokes Gained Calculator Works

The calculator uses the same methodology developed by Mark Broadie and adopted by the PGA Tour. Every position on a golf course has an expected number of strokes to hole out, based on millions of shots from professional golfers.

To calculate strokes gained for any shot:

1. Enter the starting position - the lie (tee, fairway, rough, sand) and distance to the hole
2. Enter the ending position - where the ball finished and its distance to the hole
3. The calculator computes the benchmark for each position and determines your strokes gained

The formula is: Strokes Gained = Starting Benchmark - 1 - Ending Benchmark

If you start with a benchmark of 2.8 strokes, hit your shot (1 stroke), and finish with a benchmark of 1.5 strokes, you gained 0.3 strokes on that shot (2.8 - 1 - 1.5 = 0.3).

Example Calculations

Here are some common scenarios to help you understand the strokes gained values:

A solid approach shot:

• Starting: 150 yards, fairway (benchmark: 2.82)
• Ending: 12 feet, green (benchmark: 1.58)
• Strokes gained: +0.24

This shot beat expectations. The average PGA Tour player from 150 yards finishes closer than 12 feet, but not by much. A positive value means you outperformed the benchmark.

A poor drive:

• Starting: 380 yards, tee (benchmark: 3.99)
• Ending: 200 yards, rough (benchmark: 3.20)
• Strokes gained: -0.21

Hitting from 380 out to 200 yards remaining in the rough costs you about a fifth of a stroke compared to average.

An excellent bunker shot:

• Starting: 25 yards, sand (benchmark: 2.53)
• Ending: 4 feet, green (benchmark: 1.15)
• Strokes gained: +0.38

Getting up and down from a greenside bunker is never easy, but hitting it to 4 feet gives you a great chance to save par and beats the benchmark significantly.

Try the Strokes Gained Calculator

Ready to experiment? Visit our strokes gained calculator and try different scenarios:

• Compare a 250-yard drive in the fairway versus a 280-yard drive in the rough
• See how much a three-putt costs compared to two-putting from the same distance
• Measure the value of hitting a green versus missing it

Playing with the calculator builds intuition about shot values. You start to understand why certain shots matter more than others and where the real scoring opportunities exist.

Putting Has Its Own Calculator

Putting involves unique benchmarks based on putt length, break, and green conditions. Our strokes gained putting calculator focuses specifically on the green, letting you measure the value of your putts from any distance.

From 30 feet, the benchmark is about 1.99 putts to hole out. If you lag it to 2 feet (benchmark: 1.04), you gained 0.95 strokes on the putt. But if you leave it 6 feet short (benchmark: 1.46), you only gained 0.53 strokes and left half a stroke on the table.

From Calculator to Course

The calculator teaches you how strokes gained works. To apply this knowledge to your actual game, track your rounds shot-by-shot in golfity. The app calculates strokes gained automatically for every shot, accumulating data over multiple rounds to reveal your true strengths and weaknesses.

After five or more tracked rounds, patterns emerge. You might discover your approach play is stronger than you thought, or that your short game costs you more strokes than putting. This data directs your practice time where it matters most.

Check out our features page to see how golfity turns shot-by-shot data into actionable insights for your game.