Strokes Gained is the most powerful analytical framework in modern golf. Developed by Columbia professor Mark Broadie, it's used by every PGA Tour player and caddie. And now it's accessible to amateurs too.
What Is Strokes Gained?
Traditional golf stats — fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per round — each measure one isolated aspect of your game. Strokes Gained measures how each shot contributes to your overall score compared to a baseline.
In simple terms: every shot you hit either gains strokes or loses strokes compared to what an average golfer would do from the same position.
A Quick Example
You're 150 yards from the pin. The average golfer takes 2.95 strokes to hole out from here. You hit your approach to 8 feet (where the average golfer takes 1.50 strokes to hole out). Your Strokes Gained on that approach shot:
SG = 2.95 - 1 (your shot) - 1.50 = +0.45 strokes gained
You gained nearly half a stroke on the field with that one shot.
The Four Categories
Strokes Gained breaks your game into four categories:
| Category | What It Measures | Typical Shots |
|---|---|---|
| SG: Off the Tee | Tee shots on par 4s and par 5s | Driver, 3-wood |
| SG: Approach | Shots from 100+ yards (not tee shots) | Irons, hybrids |
| SG: Around the Green | Shots within 30 yards (not on green) | Chips, pitches, bunker |
| SG: Putting | All putts | Putter |
Your total Strokes Gained across all four categories equals your scoring difference from the baseline.
Why Traditional Stats Are Misleading
Consider two scenarios:
Golfer A: Hits 10 fairways, 7 GIR, 30 putts → Looks great on paper Golfer B: Hits 6 fairways, 4 GIR, 34 putts → Looks mediocre
But what if Golfer A missed every fairway into terrible positions, barely scrambled onto greens from 40+ feet, and had "low" putts because they were all short? And Golfer B drove it into light rough, hit approaches to 15 feet, and had "high" putts because every green was hit?
Strokes Gained captures these nuances. It measures the quality of each shot, not just binary outcomes.
Strokes Gained for a Typical Amateur
Here's what a typical 15-handicapper's SG breakdown looks like (compared to a scratch golfer):
| Category | SG Value | Strokes Lost/Round |
|---|---|---|
| Off the Tee | -2.5 | 2.5 strokes |
| Approach | -5.0 | 5.0 strokes |
| Around the Green | -3.5 | 3.5 strokes |
| Putting | -4.0 | 4.0 strokes |
| Total | -15.0 | 15 strokes |
This breakdown reveals that approach shots — the area most amateurs spend the least time practicing — account for the largest share of lost strokes.
How Amateurs Can Use Strokes Gained
You don't need PGA Tour-level shot tracking to benefit from SG thinking:
- Track your stats consistently — Score, fairways, GIR, putts, and penalties per round
- Look at relative weaknesses — Which category loses you the most strokes compared to your handicap level?
- Practice where you lose the most — If your SG: Approach is your worst category, prioritize iron practice
- Measure improvement in each category — Watch your SG numbers trend over time
Getting Started with Strokes Gained Analysis
GolScore's Strokes Gained dashboard calculates your SG values automatically from your round data. Enter your per-hole stats (score, putts, fairway, GIR), and the system breaks down where you're gaining and losing strokes relative to players at different levels.
Summary
Strokes Gained is the gold standard for understanding your golf game. It goes beyond simple stat counting to reveal the true quality of your shots across all four categories. Use SG analysis tools to find where you're losing the most strokes, then focus your practice time there for the fastest improvement.