⚙️ How It Works
1. Benchmark
A statistical benchmark is established using millions of golf shots. Each shot type — from a drive on a par 5 to a putt from 10 feet — has an average number of strokes it takes to finish the hole from that position.
For example:
From 150 yards in the fairway, it might take a scratch golfer 2.98 strokes on average to hole out.
From 8 feet on the green, it might take 1.5 strokes on average.
These averages form the foundation of the Strokes Gained system.
2. The Calculation
Each time you play a shot, your performance is compared to these averages.
The general formula is:
Strokes Gained = (Average Strokes from Starting Location) – (Average Strokes from Ending Location) – 1
In other words, we look at:
How many strokes a typical player would take to finish from your starting position,
How many strokes a typical player would take from your ending position,
Subtract the one stroke you just played.
3. Example
Let’s say you’re 150 yards from the hole in the fairway:
The benchmark average from that spot = 2.98 strokes to finish.
You hit your approach to 8 feet from the hole, where the benchmark average = 1.5 strokes.
Now apply the formula:
2.98 (start) – 1.5 (end) – 1 = +0.48
➡️ You gained 0.48 strokes compared to the benchmark — meaning your shot was better than average.
If your shot had finished in the rough instead, where the average might be 2.3 strokes to finish, your Strokes Gained would be:
2.98 – 2.3 – 1 = -0.32
➡️ You lost 0.4 strokes compared to the benchmark.
📈 How It’s Used
By adding up all your Strokes Gained values throughout the round, Condor Golf can show your performance across four key categories:
SG: Off the Tee (OTT) – Driving performance on par 4s and par 5s.
SG: Approach (APP) – Approach shots from the fairway, rough, or other non-green areas.
SG: Around the Green (ATG) – Short game shots within 30 yards of the green (excluding putts).
SG: Putting (PUTT) – All strokes taken on the green.
Each category reveals how efficiently you perform compared to the benchmark — helping you understand where you gain or lose strokes.
🚀 Why It’s Revolutionary
Traditional golf stats only tell part of the story.
Fairways hit, greens in regulation, or number of putts don’t account for difficulty or context.
A 30-foot putt holed and a 3-foot tap-in both count as “one putt,” even though the first is far more impressive.
Strokes Gained changes that. It considers every shot in its real context — distance, lie, and expected outcome — giving you a much more accurate picture of your true performance.
With Condor Golf’s analysis, you can:
🔍 Identify your strengths and weaknesses across all areas of your game.
🎯 Focus your practice on the parts that matter most.
📊 Track your progress over time and see how changes in technique or equipment affect results.
In short: Strokes Gained helps you understand where your shots truly make a difference.
It’s not about how many fairways or greens you hit — it’s about how efficiently you play each shot compared to what’s statistically expected.