If you practice for hours but your scores stay the same, you’re probably working on the wrong things. Most golfers guess at their weaknesses – “I need to putt better” or “my driving is terrible” – without data to back it up.

Strokes gained changed everything. It’s the metric that revolutionised professional golf and tells you exactly where you’re losing shots compared to other golfers. More importantly, it shows you precisely what to practice to drop your handicap fastest.

I’ve used strokes gained data to build practice plans for tour players and 20+ handicappers. The golfers who improve quickest aren’t necessarily the most talented – they’re the ones who understand their numbers and practice accordingly.

This guide will teach you what strokes gained is, how to read your data, and most importantly, how to use it to build practice plans that actually work. No fluff, no generic advice – just the systematic approach that gets results.

What is Strokes Gained?

Strokes gained measures how many shots you performed better or worse compared to a benchmark player from the same position on the course.

The genius is in the base unit – strokes. Golf is about completing holes in the fewest strokes possible, so every measurement uses the currency that actually matters for your score.

Here’s how it works: Every position on the golf course has been assigned an average number of strokes to complete the hole. When you hit a shot, we compare your starting position value to your finishing position value, minus the one shot you used.

The Formula: Starting Position Value – Finishing Position Value – 1 Shot = Strokes Gained

Strokes gained is broken into four main categories:

• Off the Tee (SG: OTT) – Tee shots on all holes
• Approach (SG: APP) – Shots aimed at the green from the fairway/rough
• Around the Green (SG: ATG) – Chips, pitches, bunker shots
• Putting (SG: Putting) – All putts

Your total strokes gained is the sum of all four categories.

Strokes Gained Quiz

If you want to test your knowledge before you start, try out this mini-quiz.

How Strokes Gained Works: Real Examples

Let’s walk through actual examples so you understand exactly how this works.

Example 1: Great Tee Shot on Par 3

You’re standing on the tee of a long par 3. The average number of shots to complete this hole is 3.2. You hit your tee shot to 16 feet from the pin.

• Starting position value: 3.2 strokes (from the tee)
• Finishing position value: 1.8 strokes (from 16 feet)
• Shot used: 1

Strokes Gained: 3.2 – 1.8 – 1 = +0.4

You gained 0.4 shots on the field with that tee shot. Excellent work.

Example 2: Average Drive on Tough Par 4

You’re on a 460-yard par 4. Tour players average 4.17 shots to complete this hole. You hit a 260-yard drive into the fairway, leaving 200 yards to the pin.

• Starting position value: 4.17 strokes (from the tee)
• Finishing position value: 3.19 strokes (fairway, 200 yards out)
• Shot used: 1

Strokes Gained: 4.17 – 3.19 – 1 = -0.02

You lost 0.02 shots – essentially dead average performance.

Example 3: Bomb Drive on Same Hole

Same 460-yard par 4, but this time you crush a 320-yard drive down the fairway, leaving just 140 yards to the pin.

• Starting position value: 4.17 strokes (from the tee)
• Finishing position value: 2.91 strokes (fairway, 140 yards out)
• Shot used: 1

Strokes Gained: 4.17 – 2.91 – 1 = +0.26

You gained 0.26 shots with that bomb. Now imagine replicating that advantage on all 14 driving holes – that’s 3.6 shots saved per round just from driving distance.

Below we have screenshots from the break x golf app that explain this process. The left-hand image shows how you enter in strokes gained data. You just tap where your ball finished and confirm the lie (fairway, rough, bunker, green…). The app then tallies all of the data for the round to give you a summary for each area of your game.

Reading Strokes Gained Numbers

• Positive = you performed better than benchmark
• Negative = you performed worse than benchmark
• Zero = exactly average performance

The important question is, how can we make this useful? The middle screen above shows a round of golf where I shot 6 over par and compares this to strokes gained data from tour. The total loss in strokes gained was -8.99 (because tour players shoot better than par on this kind of golf course), and we then have a breakdown of each area:

• SG Tee = -2.54
• SG Approach = -3.48
• SG Short Game = -1.65
• Sg Putting = -1.32

By ranking these area of my game I can work out what to focus on to shoot lower scores. We can see that Driving and approach play were the two areas costing me the most shots, so I should focus on those to lower my scores.

Below we have another screenshot from the Break X playing stats app. This allows me to dig deeper into my apporach play. This breaks that SG approach total down into different distances. With this screen I can see that 90-130 yards was the distance that I really struggle in, followed by 130-170 yards.

This again, helps me to dial into what I need to work on. The icing on the cake is the dispersion graph which shows me where my shots are finishing relative to my target. I can see that there is good dispersion but too many shots are finishing short and right of the target.

This is just a start, but you can start to see how useful strokes gained data can be for helping you get better.

ps – this is exactly what the Break X Golf app does for you. Collect or enter your playing stats and it builds you a personliased practice plan.

Breaking Down Each Strokes Gained Category

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

What it measures: All tee shots on every par 4 and 5 – driver, 3-wood, irons, whatever club you choose. Par 3 holes are counted as ‘approach shots’.

Real Example from the Data: On a 460-yard par 4, tour players average 4.17 strokes to complete the hole from the tee. Your drive options:

• 280-yard drive, fairway (leaves 180 yards): 4.17 – 3.08 – 1 = +0.09 SG
• 280-yard drive, rough (leaves 180 yards): 4.17 – 3.31 – 1 = -0.14 SG
• 250-yard drive, fairway (leaves 210 yards): 4.17 – 3.26 – 1 = -0.09 SG

Key Insight: The longer, accurate drive gains you strokes. Missing the fairway costs you 0.23 shots compared to hitting it straight. Over 14 driving holes, that’s 3.2 strokes per round just from accuracy.

Strokes Gained: Approach

What it measures: Shots aimed at the green from fairway, rough, or sand – your iron play. Also includes tee shots on par 3s.

Real Examples Using Your Problem Areas:

• 90 yards, fairway to 25 feet: 2.77 – 1.90 – 1 = -0.13 SG (below average)
• 90 yards, fairway to 15 feet: 2.77 – 1.77 – 1 = -0.00 SG (average)
• 90 yards, fairway to 8 feet: 2.77 – 1.50 – 1 = +0.27 SG (very good)
• 90 yards, fairway to 3 feet: 2.77 – 1.01 – 1 = +0.76 SG (exceptional)

The Reality Check: Getting from 25 feet to 8 feet saves you 0.40 shots per approach. Stick it to 3 feet and you gain 0.89 shots compared to your 25-foot effort. This is where elite iron players separate themselves – they convert approaches into tap-ins.

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

What it measures: Chips, pitches, and bunker shots typically under 50 yards from the green.

Real Examples:

• 20 yards, fairway to 8 feet: 2.59 – 1.50 – 1 = +0.09 SG
• 20 yards, fairway to 20 feet: 2.59 – 1.86 – 1 = -0.27 SG
• 20 yards, sand to 8 feet: 2.51 – 1.50 – 1 = +0.01 SG
• 20 yards, sand to 25 feet: 2.51 – 1.90 – 1 = -0.39 SG

Key Insight: Tour players gain strokes even from bunkers when they execute well. For amateurs, poor short game execution creates the big numbers that ruin scorecards. Focus on consistent contact and getting it close to the hole.

Strokes Gained: Putting

What it measures: All putts, from 1 foot to 60+ feet.

Real Examples from the Data:

• 3-foot putt made: 1.01 – 1.00 – 1 = +0.01 SG (expected)
• 3-foot putt missed: 1.01 – 1.01 – 1 = -1.00 SG (disaster)
• 8-foot putt made: 1.50 – 1.00 – 1 = +0.50 SG (very good)
• 20-foot putt made: 1.86 – 1.00 – 1 = +0.86 SG (excellent)
• 20-foot putt to 3 feet: 1.86 – 1.01 – 1 = +0.85 SG (almost as good)

Where Great Putters Separate Themselves: Most tour players rarely miss inside 5 feet, and no one consistently makes putts from 15+ feet over a full season. The real separation happens from 6-12 feet – this is where the best putters in the world gain most of their strokes. Focus on making these mid-range putts and lagging long putts to tap-in range.

We have a free strokes gained putting calculator here if you want to analyse your own game.

Strokes Gained: Tee to Green Explained

What it measures: The combination of your driving and approach performance.

Tee to green is simply: SG Off the Tee + SG Approach = SG Tee to Green

Why it matters: This metric isolates your “ball-striking” ability. However, you can easily just look at your SG Driving and SG Approach and work this out manually.

Real Example: Your round breakdown: SG Off the Tee = -0.5, SG Approach = -1.2 Your SG Tee to Green = -1.7 total

This tells you that your ball-striking (driving + irons) cost you 1.7 shots compared to tour players, or your SG benchmark. Even if your short game and putting were perfect, you’d still shoot 1.7 over tour average just from tee-to-green performance.

Strokes Gained Benchmarks: What’s Good for Your Handicap?

Most golfers want to know if their strokes gained numbers are good or terrible, but the reality is that they are what they are – it is a transparent number that tells you how many shots you are losing against your benchmark in every area of your game.

Here’s what to expect based for strokes gained vs PGA Tour player for your skill level. It is worth remembering PGA pros would shoot 2 to 6 under par on a standard course, and although strokes gained data takes in hole length, it doesn’t account for rough thickness, green speed, pin placement..etc.

Scratch Golfers (0 handicap) vs PGA Tour:

• SG Off the Tee: -0.5 to -1.5
• SG Approach: -0.8 to -2.5
• SG Around Green: -0.2 to -1.0
• SG Putting: -0.1 to -1.5
• Total: -1.6 to -6.5 shots per round

5 Handicap vs PGA Tour:

• SG Off the Tee: -1.2 to -2.5
• SG Approach: -2.0 to -4.0
• SG Around Green: -0.8 to -2.0
• SG Putting: -0.5 to -2.0
• Total: -4.5 to -10.5 shots per round

10 Handicap vs PGA Tour:

• SG Off the Tee: -2.0 to -3.5
• SG Approach: -3.5 to -6.0
• SG Around Green: -1.5 to -3.0
• SG Putting: -1.0 to -2.5
• Total: -8.0 to -15.0 shots per round

15 Handicap vs PGA Tour:

• SG Off the Tee: -3.0 to -5.0
• SG Approach: -5.0 to -8.0
• SG Around Green: -2.0 to -4.0
• SG Putting: -1.5 to -3.0
• Total: -11.5 to -20.0 shots per round

20 Handicap vs PGA Tour:

• SG Off the Tee: -4.5 to -7.0
• SG Approach: -7.0 to -11.0
• SG Around Green: -3.0 to -5.0
• SG Putting: -2.0 to -4.0
• Total: -16.5 to -27.0 shots per round

Key Insights:

• Driving distance matters – higher handicappers often lose 2-4 shots per round just from shorter drives. Pros hit it long and straight.
• Approach play deteriorates quickly – the gap between good and poor iron players is large. Partly because they are so good, but also because they have much more loft in their hands compared to amateurs from a given distance.
• Your worst category is your priority – if you’re a 10-handicapper losing 5 or more shots in approach play, that’s where you should focus your attention. The Break X Golf app does this for you and gives you fun skills games to improve your ability.

Reality Check: These numbers show why improvement takes time. Moving from 15 to 10 handicap means finding 5+ shots per round across categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many rounds of strokes gained should I look at?

Even one round of strokes gained data can be useful, but for most golfers, 3-5 rounds will give the best data on general game trends and form.

Should I compare myself to PGA Tour players or my own handicap?

Both have value. Tour strokes gained data is the most widely researched and robust, but if you are a high handicapper it can feel tough to see large minus numbers across the board. If you do use tour data you need to be aware that not hitting the ball very far off the tee will nearly always result in a strokes gained loss.

Comparing against your own handicap or your target handicap means you aren’t comparing yourself to players who hit the golf ball 280-300 yards. However, the data isn’t as robust, as every strokes gained app has to develop their own database, and all data is input from players around the world.

How often should I review my strokes gained data?

Review after every 3-5 rounds to identify trends. Don’t react to single-round data – golf has too much variance. The Break X Golf app does this automatically and lets you know when there is a more optimum way for your to practice.

Can strokes gained help with course management?

Strokes gained data can help with course management. Once you know where you are losing shots you should give into dispersion data to find out how you can pick better targets.

Who invented strokes gaiend?

Strokes gained was first applied to golf by Mark Broadie, a Columbia Business School professor, in the early 2010s. His research, published in “Every Shot Counts,” fundamentally changed how we understand golf performance.

Summary

That wraps up our guide to strokes gained and how it can be used to help you shoot lower scores. If you have strokes gained data and what to turn it into a personalised practice plan, suited for your level and how much time you have to practice, check out our Break X Golf app.

If you are keen to start using strokes gained data, we have a free strokes gained calculator here, and now every Break X Golf subscriber can use our Beta strokes gained app that you’ve seen used throughout this article. Just sign up and send us an email.

Feel free to drop any questions below and I’ll get back to you.

Happy golfing – Will @ Break X Golf