Strokes Gained Putting Calculator
Track your strokes gained putting with our free sports calculator. Get personalized stats, rankings, and performance comparisons.
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist
Strokes Gained Putting Calculator
Calculator
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Formula: SG Putting = Expected Putts (Tour Avg) - Actual Putts Taken
Worked example — Strokes Gained: +0.700 (Excellent performance)
Formula
SG Putting = Expected Putts (Tour Avg) - Actual Putts Taken
Where Expected Putts is the PGA Tour average from the given distance, and Actual Putts Taken is how many putts the golfer used. Positive means better than tour average, negative means worse.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Tour-Level Putting Performance
Problem:A golfer faces a 15-foot putt and makes it in one putt. What is the strokes gained on this putt?
Solution:PGA Tour average from 15 feet = 1.70 putts Actual putts taken = 1 Strokes Gained = 1.70 - 1 = +0.70 The golfer gained 0.70 strokes versus the tour average on this single putt.
Result:Strokes Gained: +0.700 (Excellent performance)
Example 2: Three-Putt Analysis
Problem:A golfer three-putts from 25 feet. How many strokes did they lose?
Solution:PGA Tour average from 25 feet = 1.85 putts Actual putts taken = 3 Strokes Gained = 1.85 - 3 = -1.15 The golfer lost 1.15 strokes to the field on this hole from putting alone.
Result:Strokes Gained: -1.150 (Poor - lost over a full stroke)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is strokes gained putting and how is it calculated?
Strokes gained putting is a statistical measure developed by Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia Business School that quantifies how well a golfer putts relative to the PGA Tour average. It compares the actual number of putts taken to the expected number of putts a tour professional would take from the same distance. If you take fewer putts than the tour average from a given distance, you gain strokes. If you take more, you lose strokes. The formula is simply: SG Putting = Expected Putts (tour average) minus Actual Putts Taken. This metric revolutionized golf statistics by providing context that raw putt counts cannot.
Why is strokes gained better than traditional putting statistics?
Traditional putting statistics like putts per round or putts per green in regulation fail to account for the distance of putts attempted. A golfer who faces mostly long lag putts will naturally take more putts than one who hits approach shots close to the pin, even if the first golfer is the better putter. Strokes gained solves this problem by benchmarking each putt against the tour average from that specific distance. This means a two-putt from 40 feet can actually be a positive result, while a two-putt from 5 feet is clearly negative. It provides the most accurate assessment of putting skill available to golfers today.
What is a good strokes gained putting number for amateur golfers?
For amateur golfers, strokes gained putting values are measured against PGA Tour averages, so most amateurs will have negative numbers. A scratch golfer typically has an SG putting around negative 0.5 to 0 per round compared to tour pros. A 10-handicap golfer might see values around negative 1.5 to negative 2.0 per round. A 20-handicap golfer could be at negative 3.0 or worse. However, the real value for amateurs is tracking improvement over time rather than comparing directly to tour players. If your SG putting improves from negative 2.0 to negative 1.0 per round, that represents significant improvement regardless of how it compares to professionals.
How do PGA Tour averages for putting distances work in Strokes Gained Putting Calculator?
Strokes Gained Putting Calculator uses benchmark data derived from thousands of PGA Tour rounds analyzed using the strokes gained methodology. From 3 feet the tour average is approximately 1.045 putts. From 8 feet it rises to about 1.47 putts. From 20 feet the average is roughly 1.79 putts and from 40 feet it is approximately 1.92 putts. These averages represent the baseline against which your performance is measured. The data shows that even tour pros rarely one-putt from beyond 20 feet, making distance the single most important factor in putting statistics. Understanding these benchmarks helps golfers set realistic expectations for their performance.
How can I improve my strokes gained putting performance?
Improving strokes gained putting requires focused practice on the distances where you lose the most strokes. Most amateurs lose the most strokes on putts from 4 to 10 feet where tour pros make a significantly higher percentage. Practice drills like the gate drill for alignment, the clock drill for short putts from multiple angles, and lag putting exercises for distance control on longer putts are highly effective. Speed control is often more important than line especially on putts over 15 feet. Consider getting a putter fitting to ensure your equipment matches your stroke and use a putting mirror to check your alignment and eye position during practice sessions.
What is the difference between strokes gained putting and total strokes gained?
Strokes gained putting only measures performance on the putting green starting from the moment your ball reaches the green surface. Total strokes gained encompasses all aspects of the game including driving off the tee, approach shots from the fairway or rough to the green, shots around the green like chipping and pitching, and putting. Research by Mark Broadie has shown that long game performance including driving and approach actually accounts for roughly 65 percent of the scoring difference between professionals while putting accounts for about 35 percent. This is counterintuitive because many golfers believe putting is the single most important aspect of scoring.
How many putts per round is considered good on the PGA Tour?
On the PGA Tour the average number of putts per round is approximately 29.0 putts. The best putters on tour typically average between 27.5 and 28.5 putts per round. However raw putts per round can be misleading because it depends on how many greens in regulation a player hits. A player who hits all 18 greens will naturally have more putts than one who misses several greens and chips close for one-putts. This is precisely why strokes gained putting was developed as a superior metric. For amateur golfers averaging under 32 putts per round is generally considered good while averaging under 30 indicates excellent putting ability.
Can strokes gained putting be used for practice sessions?
Absolutely strokes gained putting is an excellent tool for structuring and evaluating practice sessions on the putting green. You can set up putts from various distances on the practice green, record your results, and calculate your strokes gained for each distance range. This data reveals your specific strengths and weaknesses in putting. For example you might discover you gain strokes from 15 to 25 feet but lose strokes from 5 to 8 feet, indicating you should spend more practice time on those shorter putts. Many putting practice apps now incorporate strokes gained tracking making it easy to monitor your progress over weeks and months of dedicated practice.
How does green speed affect strokes gained putting calculations?
Green speed measured in Stimpmeter readings significantly impacts putting difficulty but is not directly accounted for in standard strokes gained calculations. PGA Tour greens typically run between 11 and 13 on the Stimpmeter while most amateur courses run between 8 and 10. Faster greens require more precise speed control and make breaking putts more challenging because the ball curves more on slower-moving putts. When comparing your strokes gained putting to tour averages keep in mind that differences in green speed, slope, and condition create an inherent disadvantage for course conditions that differ significantly from tour standards. Some advanced tracking systems now adjust for green speed and difficulty.
What role does putting distance distribution play in scoring?
Putting distance distribution is crucial because it directly determines how many putts you will need per round. The average first putt distance for PGA Tour players is approximately 20 to 25 feet while the average amateur faces first putts closer to 30 to 35 feet. This difference alone accounts for a significant number of strokes per round. By improving your approach shots and getting closer to the hole you effectively reduce the difficulty of your putting task. Statistical analysis shows that reducing your average first putt distance by just 5 feet can save approximately 2 to 3 strokes per round even without any improvement in actual putting skill on the greens themselves.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist · Editorial policy
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