How strokes gained works
Strokes gained = expected strokes from the start − expected strokes from the finish − strokes used.
From 160 yards in the fairway a tour player averages 2.98 strokes to hole out. Hit it to 20 feet, where the average is 1.87, and the shot scores 2.98 − 1.87 − 1 = +0.11. Hit it to 40 feet and it scores −0.14. Same swing count, different value. That is what strokes gained sees and fairways hit cannot.
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Off the tee
Tee shots on par 4s and par 5s.
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Approach
Shots from over 50 yards, including par 3 tee shots.
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Around the green
Shots from 50 yards or closer, off the green.
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Putting
Every shot that starts on the green.
The PGA Tour draws the around the green line at 30 yards from the edge of the green. A distance to the hole cannot see the edge, so we use 50 yards to the hole.
See the PGA Tour baseline tables
PGA Tour averages from ShotLink data, 2004 to 2012, as published by Mark Broadie in Every Shot Counts. Values between rows are interpolated in a straight line. These are the exact numbers the calculator uses.
Expected strokes to hole out, off the green
| Yards | Tee | Fairway | Rough | Sand | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2.40 | 2.59 | 2.53 | ||
| 40 | 2.60 | 2.78 | 2.82 | ||
| 60 | 2.70 | 2.91 | 3.15 | ||
| 80 | 2.75 | 2.96 | 3.24 | ||
| 100 | 2.92 | 2.80 | 3.02 | 3.23 | 3.80 |
| 120 | 2.99 | 2.85 | 3.08 | 3.21 | 3.78 |
| 140 | 2.97 | 2.91 | 3.15 | 3.22 | 3.80 |
| 160 | 2.99 | 2.98 | 3.23 | 3.28 | 3.81 |
| 180 | 3.05 | 3.08 | 3.31 | 3.40 | 3.82 |
| 200 | 3.12 | 3.19 | 3.42 | 3.55 | 3.87 |
| 220 | 3.17 | 3.32 | 3.53 | 3.70 | 3.92 |
| 240 | 3.25 | 3.45 | 3.64 | 3.84 | 3.97 |
| 260 | 3.45 | 3.58 | 3.74 | 3.93 | 4.03 |
| 280 | 3.65 | 3.69 | 3.83 | 4.00 | 4.10 |
| 300 | 3.71 | 3.78 | 3.90 | 4.04 | 4.20 |
| 320 | 3.79 | 3.84 | 3.95 | 4.12 | 4.31 |
| 340 | 3.86 | 3.88 | 4.02 | 4.26 | 4.44 |
| 360 | 3.92 | 3.95 | 4.11 | 4.41 | 4.56 |
| 380 | 3.96 | 4.03 | 4.21 | 4.55 | 4.66 |
| 400 | 3.99 | 4.11 | 4.30 | 4.69 | 4.75 |
| 420 | 4.02 | 4.15 | 4.34 | 4.73 | 4.79 |
| 440 | 4.08 | 4.20 | 4.39 | 4.78 | 4.84 |
| 460 | 4.17 | 4.29 | 4.48 | 4.87 | 4.93 |
| 480 | 4.28 | 4.40 | 4.59 | 4.98 | 5.04 |
| 500 | 4.41 | 4.53 | 4.72 | 5.11 | 5.17 |
| 520 | 4.54 | 4.66 | 4.85 | 5.24 | 5.30 |
| 540 | 4.65 | 4.78 | 4.97 | 5.36 | 5.42 |
| 560 | 4.74 | 4.86 | 5.05 | 5.44 | 5.50 |
| 580 | 4.79 | 4.91 | 5.10 | 5.49 | 5.55 |
| 600 | 4.82 | 4.94 | 5.13 | 5.52 | 5.58 |
Blank cells have no published value. Tee shots under 100 yards use the fairway column. Recovery shots under 100 yards use the rough column plus half a stroke.
Expected putts, on the green
| Feet | Expected putts |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.00 |
| 2 | 1.01 |
| 3 | 1.05 |
| 4 | 1.13 |
| 5 | 1.23 |
| 6 | 1.34 |
| 7 | 1.42 |
| 8 | 1.50 |
| 10 | 1.61 |
| 15 | 1.78 |
| 20 | 1.87 |
| 25 | 1.94 |
| 30 | 2.00 |
| 40 | 2.12 |
| 50 | 2.21 |
| 60 | 2.28 |
| 90 | 2.40 |
| 100 | 2.45 |
Questions
How do you calculate strokes gained?
Expected strokes from where the shot started, minus expected strokes from where it finished, minus the strokes you used. From 160 yards in the fairway (2.98) to 20 feet (1.87) is 2.98 minus 1.87 minus 1, which is plus 0.11.
What baseline does this calculator use?
PGA Tour averages from ShotLink data, 2004 to 2012, as published by Mark Broadie in Every Shot Counts. The full tables are on this page.
Is strokes gained negative for amateurs?
Almost always, against a tour baseline. What matters is which category loses the most, not the total. How to read your number.
How do I enter a penalty or a ball out of bounds?
Enter where you play the next shot from and tick the penalty box. Out of bounds from the tee finishes on the tee (choose Re-tee), which scores minus 2.00.
Can I track strokes gained for a whole round?
Yes, in the free WhyGolf app. It scores every shot of the round automatically on the hole map and splits it into the four categories, so there is nothing to type.