Miles Bennett
Strokes gained is a statistic that can be used to track a golfer's performance and improvement over time. It is a useful tool for golfers of all skill levels to understand how each part of their game is performing and what they can improve. To calculate strokes gained, golfers need to track the number of shots they take and the distance travelled for each shot. This data can be collected manually or through various apps and devices, such as Pinpoint Golf, Arccos, Shot Scope, and Break X Golf. These tools can provide insights into a golfer's strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to build personalised practice plans and strategies to improve their game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To understand how each part of your game is performing, what is costing you the most shots and what to improve |
| Calculation | Take the expected “strokes to hole out” from your starting position and subtract the “strokes to hole out” from your ending position |
| Tracking | Use a shot tracker or manually record the position of every shot and use data entry |
| Benefits | See how you are performing over time, find the areas of your game that need the most work, and track your progress |
| Tools | Pinpoint Golf, Break X Golf, Golf Pad, Arccos, MyRoundPro, Golf Metrics, DECADE, Shot Scope, V1 Game, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Strokes gained statistics: how to calculate and what they mean
Strokes gained is a statistic that compares a golfer's performance to a baseline, which is established by tracking a large number of shots by a large number of players. This baseline data is then used to calculate strokes gained for any future shots.
To calculate strokes gained for a single stroke, you take the expected "strokes to hole out" from your starting position and subtract the "strokes to hole out" from your ending position. This calculation can be done for every shot during a round of golf, and these numbers can then be added together to gain detailed analytics about overall performance relative to the baseline. For example, you might have a mix of positive and negative strokes gained from putting, but when you add them all up, you might see that overall, you gained +0.25 strokes, meaning you putted about a quarter of a shot better than your baseline.
Strokes gained can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses and improve performance. For example, you might think you are losing strokes on the fairway, but strokes gained data might show that you are actually losing more strokes in the rough and bunkers. This data can be used to create personalised practice plans, focusing on the areas with negative strokes gained.
There are several apps available that can help golfers track their strokes gained, such as Pinpoint Golf, Golf Pad, Break X Golf, Shot Scope, Arccos, Golf Metrics, Decade Golf, and MyRoundPro.
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Tracking strokes gained: manual methods and apps
Tracking strokes gained is an excellent way to understand your golf game and see how you are performing over time. While it can be a complicated process, involving the tracking of numerous shots by numerous players, there are now several methods and tools to help you do this.
Manual Methods
A simple way to manually track strokes gained is to use a regular scorecard. You can record the distance to the hole and the lie for each shot. For example, you could use the first letter of the lie, such as 'T' for tee, 'F' for fairway, 'R' for rough, and 'S' for sand. You can then transfer this data to a spreadsheet program such as Excel to calculate strokes gained.
Apps
There are now many apps available to help amateur golfers track strokes gained. Some of the most popular include:
- Arccos — This app uses sensors that attach to your clubs to automatically track strokes gained.
- ShotScope — Similar to Arccos, ShotScope uses tags that attach to the grip end of your clubs, and also offers a GPS watch that pairs with the tags.
- MyTaylorMade+ — Previously known as MyRoundPro, this app allows golfers to track their shots, rounds, and get strokes gained analysis.
- Golf Pad — This app has free shot tracking and offers strokes gained statistics with the premium version for a small yearly fee.
- Pinpoint Golf — This app uses GPS to collect data and compile them into averages, providing strokes gained statistics.
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Using strokes gained to improve your golf game
Strokes gained is a powerful tool for golfers of all skill levels to understand their game and improve their performance. It is a statistic that compares each shot you hit to a baseline, giving you insights into your strengths and weaknesses. By tracking strokes gained, you can identify areas of your game that need improvement and make targeted adjustments to lower your scores.
To calculate strokes gained, you need to track the shots of many golfers and establish a baseline. For amateur golfers, apps like Pinpoint Golf, Break X Golf, Shot Scope, Golf Pad, and MyRoundPro use GPS to collect data and provide strokes gained statistics. These apps allow you to analyse your performance over time and compare it to PGA averages.
When using strokes gained data, it's important to consider both accuracy and length to determine the unique value of each shot. For example, a tee shot that lands on the fairway may give you a "Fairway in Regulation," but if you're still far from the hole, did it positively impact your score? Strokes gained analysis can help you understand the outcome of different shots and make more informed decisions on the course.
Additionally, strokes gained can help you identify the shots that will have the most significant impact on your scoring. While some shots, like being 3 feet closer to the hole, may have a minimal effect, others, like hitting a pitch shot to 3 feet instead of 6 feet, can save you 0.3 of a shot. By focusing on these high-impact shots and addressing your weaknesses, you can elevate your golf game to the next level.
Finally, tracking strokes gained can provide directional data that links performance to ball flight and coaching. It helps to identify patterns in your misses and allows you to work on improving your accuracy and overall game. By utilising strokes gained analysis and practising the right shots, you can make measurable improvements and see your progress clearly.
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Strokes gained and the PGA Tour
Strokes gained is a statistic that can be used by golfers to improve their game. It allows golfers to understand how each part of their game is performing and what is costing them the most shots. This data can then be used to create a personalised plan to improve their game.
To calculate strokes gained, golfers need to track a large number of shots by a large number of players. The PGA Tour uses the ShotLink system to gather data on millions of shots and establish baselines. This data is then used to calculate the expected number of "strokes to hole out" from different positions on the course.
For amateur golfers, tracking technology has only recently become available. Apps like Pinpoint Golf, Golf Pad, and Break X Golf use GPS to collect data and compile them into averages, allowing amateur golfers to access strokes gained statistics. These apps can be used to track trends in scores, handicaps, and traditional golf stats, and to compare performance to the average PGA strokes gained.
By using strokes gained data, golfers can identify the areas of their game that need the most work and create targeted practice plans. For example, a golfer might find that their longer approach shots are costing them more strokes than their shorter approach shots, and can then focus their practice on improving those longer shots.
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Free tools to track strokes gained
Golf technology has evolved significantly in the last five years, with personal launch monitors, GPS watches, apps, and shot trackers becoming available to amateur golfers at affordable price points. Strokes gained analysis, a metric previously only available to professionals, has now become more widely available to amateurs.
There are several free tools available to track strokes gained in golf:
MyRoundPro/MyTaylorMade+
MyRoundPro by TaylorMade is a free app that provides strokes gained analysis. It allows you to track your rounds and gives you strokes gained performance. You can compare your performance to the average PGA strokes gained. While some users have mentioned that the app started charging them after the first round, it is still a solid option for those seeking a free tool. The app has undergone several name changes and is now known as MyTaylorMade+, which offers basic strokes gained statistics and allows you to sync with your USGA handicap.
Arccos
Arccos is a popular stat-tracking app that provides automatic shot tracking. Sensors are screwed into your club grips, and you can review strokes gained data and other stats after your round. Arccos is known for its user-friendly interface and is considered one of the best tools for strokes gained analysis.
Break X Golf
Break X Golf offers a free strokes gained calculator for golfers who want to compute their strokes gained for 9 or 18 holes. This tool is based on Mark Broadie's strokes gained methodology and benchmarks your performance against the PGA Tour. It helps you understand how each part of your game is performing and identifies areas for improvement.
Circles
Circles is a platform that helps golfers understand where they should focus their efforts to optimize their training and achieve faster results. It offers a free five-round trial, providing comprehensive performance insights, clear and actionable recommendations, and the ability to share data with your coach. Circles also has exceptional customer support and utilizes advanced data science and machine learning to analyze your performance.
Golf Pad
Golf Pad is a free app that offers shot tracking and provides strokes gained statistics with its premium version for a low cost of $20 per year.
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Frequently asked questions
Strokes gained is a statistic that compares each shot you hit to a baseline. It's calculated by taking the expected number of "strokes to hole out" from your starting position and subtracting the "strokes to hole out" from your ending position.
There are several ways to track strokes gained, including using a shot tracker or a Strokes Gained Calculator. Shot trackers can be in the form of a watch, club sensors, or an app. You can also manually record the position of each shot and input the data into a spreadsheet or app.
Yes, there are several free apps available for tracking strokes gained, including the myroundpro taylormade app, Golf Pad (with a premium version available), and the Break X Golf app.
Strokes gained data can help you understand how each part of your game is performing and identify areas that need improvement. It can also help you eliminate bias and see how you are performing over time.
Strokes gained can help you identify which clubs or shots are costing you the most strokes. For example, you may find that your longer approach shots are costing you more strokes than your shorter ones, and you can adjust your practice plan accordingly.
