Benchmarks

Eight apps that calculate real strokes gained, compared on price, hardware, categories, platforms and the one thing that changes your numbers most: which benchmark you are measured against.

You need about a 5 handicap to break 80 in a normal round. A 7 to 9 does it on their best days. Here is the stat line of a golfer who shoots in the 70s, next to every level from scratch to 30.

A scratch golfer averages 74 to 76, not par. Here is the stat line behind a 0 handicap, side by side with every handicap from 5 to 30.

A scratch golfer makes almost nine birdies for every double bogey. A 15 handicap makes thirteen doubles for every birdie. Here are birdies and doubles per round from 0 to 25, with the rest of the stat line next to them.

A scratch golfer drives it about 60 yards past a 20 handicap, but a 5 and a 10 hit it almost the same distance. Here is the average drive by handicap from 0 to 30, with the rest of the stat line next to it.

A scratch golfer takes a penalty about every other round. A 25 handicap takes one every four holes. Here are penalty strokes per round from 0 to 25, with the rest of the stat line next to them.