What is Strokes Gained?
Strokes gained is a golf statistic that measures how many shots you gain or lose compared to a baseline. Unlike traditional stats like fairways hit or greens in regulation, strokes gained accounts for distance, lie, and difficulty—giving you an accurate picture of your performance on every shot.
The metric was created by Mark Broadie, a professor at Columbia Business School and author of Every Shot Counts. Using millions of shots from PGA Tour ShotLink data, Broadie developed benchmarks that show how many strokes it takes, on average, to hole out from any position on the course.
Why Strokes Gained is Better Than Traditional Golf Stats
Traditional statistics lie. A player who hits 10 fairways at 220 yards looks identical to one who hits 10 fairways at 290 yards. Greens in regulation treats a 30-footer the same as a tap-in. Putts per round penalizes players who hit more greens.
Strokes gained solves these problems by measuring actual value. Every shot is compared against a benchmark, revealing exactly how much each shot helped or hurt your score.
The Key Insight
A shot that advances the ball 250 yards down the fairway is worth more than a shot that goes 150 yards into the rough. Strokes gained quantifies exactly how much more.
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The Strokes Gained Formula
The strokes gained calculation compares where you started to where you finished, accounting for the shot you took:
Strokes Gained = Starting Benchmark − Finishing Benchmark − 1
The benchmark (also called "strokes to hole" or "expected strokes") represents the average number of shots needed to complete the hole from any given position. These benchmarks come from millions of tracked shots on the PGA Tour.
Understanding the Benchmark
Every position on the course has a benchmark value based on distance and lie:
| Position | PGA Tour Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Tee, 450 yards (par 4) | 4.10 strokes |
| Fairway, 150 yards | 2.98 strokes |
| Rough, 150 yards | 3.15 strokes |
| Sand, 30 yards | 2.53 strokes |
| Green, 20 feet | 1.87 strokes |
| Green, 5 feet | 1.15 strokes |
| In the hole | 0.00 strokes |
Strokes Gained Calculation Example
You're playing a 446-yard par 4. The benchmark from the tee is 4.10 strokes.
You hit a solid drive that lands in the fairway, 116 yards from the hole. The benchmark from 116 yards in the fairway is 2.825 strokes.
Your strokes gained for the drive:
4.10 − 2.825 − 1 = +0.275 strokes gained
Your drive was 0.275 strokes better than average
Full Hole Breakdown
Here's how strokes gained accumulates across an entire hole:
| Shot | Position After Shot | Benchmark | Strokes Gained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Drive) | 116 yards, Fairway | 2.825 | +0.275 |
| 2 (Approach) | 17 feet, Green | 1.826 | −0.001 |
| 3 (Putt) | Holed | 0.000 | +0.826 |
| Total Strokes Gained | +1.10 | ||
You scored 3 (birdie) on a hole where the benchmark was 4.10. Your total strokes gained of +1.10 confirms you played 1.10 strokes better than the PGA Tour average on this hole.
The Four Strokes Gained Categories
Individual shot analysis is useful, but the real power comes from grouping shots into categories. This reveals where your game excels and where you lose strokes.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Measures driving performance on par 4s and par 5s. Accounts for both distance and accuracy. A 280-yard drive in the fairway gains more strokes than a 250-yard drive in the rough.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Measures shots hit toward the green from 100+ yards. This is typically the most important category for scoring—Mark Broadie's research shows approach shots explain the largest portion of scoring differences between players.
Strokes Gained: Around the Green
Measures short game shots within 50 yards of the green (excluding putts). Includes chips, pitches, bunker shots, and flop shots.
Strokes Gained: Putting
Measures all putts on the green. Unlike "putts per round," strokes gained putting accounts for putt length. Making a 25-footer gains more strokes than making a 3-footer.
What the Numbers Mean
- Positive strokes gained: You're performing better than the benchmark
- Negative strokes gained: You're performing worse than the benchmark
- Zero: You're exactly average
Strokes Gained Benchmarks for Amateur Golfers
PGA Tour benchmarks show what's possible, but most golfers should compare against amateur benchmarks for actionable insights. Here's how strokes gained typically breaks down by handicap:
| Handicap | Total SG vs. Scratch | Biggest Loss Area |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch (0) | 0 | — |
| 5 handicap | −5 per round | Approach |
| 10 handicap | −10 per round | Approach, Short Game |
| 15 handicap | −15 per round | All categories |
| 20 handicap | −20 per round | Approach, Off the Tee |
golfity lets you choose your benchmark—compare against PGA Tour pros, scratch golfers, or players at your own handicap level.
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Learn More About Strokes Gained
Explore these articles for deeper understanding:
Common Questions
Strokes Gained FAQ
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