What is Strokes Gained and How Does It Work?

Ever wonder where your game is really winning—or losing? That’s where Strokes Gained comes in. Strokes Gained shows you how well you’re doing in different parts of your game—like driving, approach shots, or putting—compared to other players. Unlike traditional stats that only tell you what happened (like fairways hit or greens in regulation), Strokes Gained dives deeper, giving you a complete picture of where you’re gaining or losing strokes. This helps you zero in on where to focus your practice and make those all-important improvements.

So, how does it work? Every shot you take is compared to the average performance of other golfers taking the same shot. The difference between your performance and the benchmark is calculated and expressed as strokes gained (positive) or lost (negative). For instance, if you make a 30-foot putt in 1 stroke where the average golfer would take 2 strokes to make the same putt, you’ve just gained a stroke. On the other side, if you 3 putt from that 30-foot put you’ve lost a stroke. Pretty sweet, right?

The Benefits of Using Strokes Gained

Strokes Gained is like having a secret weapon in your golf bag. It not only shows you where you're gaining or losing strokes compared to others but also helps you set more realistic goals and gain that little edge over your friends on your next round. Imagine knowing exactly where to focus your practice—whether it’s dialing in your drives, mastering your short game, or sinking more putts. Sure, it takes a little effort to track your Strokes Gained, but trust us, the payoff is huge. Not only will you see your scores drop, but you’ll also make the game more fun as you watch those birdies sink. Who knew a little data could bring so much excitement to your round?

Strokes Gained Calculations

Understanding where you gain or lose strokes on the course is key to improving your game, and that’s exactly what Strokes Gained is all about. Let’s break it down:

• Overall: Your all-in-one metric that shows how you’re performing across every aspect of your game.
• Tee-to-Green: All the shots from the tee box to the green, giving a big-picture view of how well you navigate the course.
• Off-the-Tee: Evaluate your driving game on par 4s and par 5s. See how that big stick is working for you.
• Approach: Measures shots from more than 100 yards out, including tee shots on par 3s and second shots on par 4s and 5s. If you're looking to dial in your approach shots, this one’s for you.
• Wedges: Tracks performance between 20 and 100 yards. Perfect for sharpening your short approaches.
• Around-the-Green: All about the short game—chips, pitches, and recovery shots within 20 yards of the green.
• Greenside Sand: Tracks how you’re performing from greenside bunkers.
• Putting: How well are you doing with the flat stick? This metric shows how many strokes you're gaining (or losing) on the greens. 

Each of these metrics gives you a clear picture of your strengths and where you might need a little extra work. The best part? It’s all broken down for you in the Strokes Gained feature on 18Birdies.

So, how do we calculate Strokes Gained for any shot? It’s simpler than you might think. Here’s the formula:

Strokes Gained = Starting Position Benchmark − Finishing Position Benchmark − 1

Let’s say you’re on the fairway, and the average number of strokes to get in the hole from your spot is 2.5. You hit a great shot that lands you in a position where the average is now just 1.25 strokes. Here’s the math:

Strokes Gained = 2.5 − 1.25 − 1 = 0.25

In this case, you’ve gained 0.25 strokes— A quarter of a stroke for a single shot is great! This equation applies to every shot you take, whether it’s off the tee, an approach, around the green, or putting. Each shot gets a Strokes Gained value, and these numbers can be positive (strokes gained) or negative (strokes lost). 

A common struggle for golfers is consistency with long irons (see our guide on golf clubs). Using Stats generated by Strokes Gained, you will be able to identify if these shots are costing you strokes compared to the average golfer at your skill level. As another example, a golfer who tends to miss the green frequently but is great from the sand, Strokes Gained will reveal how their bunker play compensates for missed greens.

Strokes Gained is all about giving you the insight you need to focus your practice and improve your game.

Understanding Strokes Gained Benchmarks

Benchmarks in Strokes Gained are reference points that allow you to compare your performance against other golfers. These benchmarks are determined by analyzing the data of thousands of rounds played by golfers at different skill levels.  At 18Birdies, we go beyond the typical PGA Tour player benchmarks to provide you with a more relevant comparison. Our benchmarks cover a wide range of handicap levels allowing you to gauge your performance against golfers with similar abilities.  This means you can see exactly where you need to focus your efforts to improve and reach your next Scoring Goal.

Whether you’re aiming to shave a few strokes off your game or break through to a new scoring tier, 18Birdies’ Strokes Gained benchmarks provide the insights you need to focus your practice and make meaningful strides in your game.

Tailored Insights for Women

Here at 18Birdies, we get it—golf isn’t a one-size-fits-all game, especially for the ladies out there working on their swings. That’s why we’ve tailored our Strokes Gained comparisons just for you. Instead of comparing your stats to the PGA Tour, we’ve set them against the LPGA and women of different handicaps, giving you insights that truly reflect your performance.  

Comparing your game to men’s benchmarks can skew the data—especially in areas like driving distance and approach shots. Our tailored approach ensures you get a more insightful assessment of where to focus, helping you improve faster and play your best game.