Golf metrics

Strokes gained approach sounds technical, but the meaning is simple: it grades every shot you hit at a green against what an average player would do from the same spot.

Your handicap index is not a mystery the federation computes in a back room. It is a short formula you can run by hand. Here is the WHS math, step by step, with the numbers worked out.

Three apps. Three approaches to golf analytics. Arccos requires sensors. Shot Scope requires a watch. golfity requires nothing but your phone. Here is what each one actually delivers.

Sensor systems like Arccos and Shot Scope are useful, but you can build a serious analytics picture with nothing but a scorecard, a phone, and a few seconds per hole.

You sit between beginner and advanced, using analytics tools built around tour pros. Here is what your strokes gained should actually look like, and what your numbers tell you to do next.

Strokes gained against a PGA Tour pro tells you the size of the mountain. Strokes gained against a 10 handicap tells you which step to take next. Here is when the smaller benchmark is the better one.