Strokes Gained for Individual Shots: Find Your Best and Worst Shots
golfity shows strokes gained for every individual shot so you can identify which shots helped or hurt your score the most.
Most strokes gained analysis focuses on aggregate categories. The PGA Tour presents strokes gained data in four groups: off-the-tee, approach-the-green, around-the-green, and putting. These categories help identify which parts of your game need work, and golfity displays them on every round scorecard.
But strokes gained is calculated for every single shot. That 3-wood from the fairway that stopped two feet from the pin? There’s a strokes gained number for that. The approach shot that found the bunker? That has a number too.
golfity shows you strokes gained for every individual shot in your round, revealing exactly which shots helped and hurt your score.
How Individual Shot Analysis Works
Strokes gained measures how much a shot improves (or worsens) your expected score. The calculation compares where you started to where you ended up, relative to benchmark data.
Use our strokes gained calculator to see this in action: enter a starting position and ending position, and the calculator shows exactly how many strokes that shot gained or lost.
Breaking Down a Single Shot
Consider this scenario:
- Starting position: 150 yards from the hole, in the fairway
- Expected strokes from here: 2.85 strokes (PGA Tour benchmark)
- Shot result: Lands 20 feet from the hole on the green
- Expected strokes from new position: 1.75 putts to finish
Strokes gained calculation: 2.85 - 1 (shot taken) - 1.75 = +0.10 strokes gained
That approach shot gained 0.10 strokes compared to what a tour player would typically do from that position.
Real Examples from golfity
Looking at the image for this post, you can see individual shot strokes gained data from an actual round:
Shot 1, Hole 2: -0.54 strokes This tee shot lost over half a stroke—likely a drive that found trouble or came up significantly short.
Shot 2, Hole 4: +0.12 strokes This shot from the rough actually gained 0.12 strokes, meaning it ended up closer to the hole than expected given the starting position.
These numbers tell stories that traditional stats miss entirely.
Finding Patterns in Your Shot Data
Individual shot strokes gained reveals patterns invisible in aggregate data:
Identifying Costly Mistakes
A round where you lose 3.0 strokes off-the-tee might include:
- 10 drives averaging -0.15 strokes each (consistently below average)
- 2 drives at -0.50 strokes each (significant errors)
- 2 drives at +0.25 strokes each (good drives)
The aggregate says “driving needs work.” The individual data says “two specific drives cost you a full stroke.”
Spotting Hidden Wins
Your putting might show -0.5 strokes for the round, suggesting weak putting. But individual shot data might reveal:
- You made several lag putts that gained strokes
- One three-putt from 15 feet cost you 0.8 strokes
- Your short putts were solid
The aggregate hides that your putting fundamentals are fine—you just had one costly mistake.
Using Individual Shot Data for Improvement
Review Your Worst Shots
Sort shots by strokes gained to find your biggest stroke-losers. Common patterns include:
Penalty shots: These always show large negative numbers (-1.0 to -2.0 strokes) Short-sided misses: Landing on the wrong side of the green often costs 0.3-0.5 strokes Three-putts from makeable distance: Usually -0.5 to -1.0 strokes lost
Celebrate Your Best Shots
Finding your biggest positive strokes gained shots reminds you what you’re capable of:
- Approach shots that land inside 10 feet from 150+ yards
- Up-and-downs from difficult lies
- Long putts that find the bottom of the cup
These shots prove you have the skills—now you need consistency.
The Power of Shot-Level Tracking
Traditional golf stats tell you outcomes (fairways hit, greens in regulation, total putts). Strokes gained tells you value—how much each shot actually contributed to or detracted from your score.
When you track shots in golfity, every single shot gets a strokes gained value. Over time, this data shows exactly where your strokes are going and helps you make informed decisions about practice priorities.
Getting Started with Shot-by-Shot Tracking
Start tracking your golf with golfity to see strokes gained for every shot. You can track directly on your phone during the round or use manual shot entry on a paper scorecard and enter the data afterward.
Either way, you’ll get the granular shot-level insights that serious golfers need to improve efficiently. See which shots really helped and which ones really hurt—then use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
For more background on how strokes gained calculations work, read what is strokes gained or explore Mark Broadie’s research that created this analytical framework.
