If you’re a golf enthusiast looking to sharpen your putting skills, understanding your strokes gained putting is crucial. This metric, popularized by the PGA Tour, helps golfers evaluate how many strokes they gain or lose relative to an average professional player on the tour from various distances.
Our Strokes Gained Putting Calculator is designed to provide quick, accurate insights into your putting performance by comparing your putt distances and number of putts taken against PGA Tour averages. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, this tool can help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your short game, helping you lower your score and enhance your overall golf performance.
Strokes Gained Putting Calculator
What is Strokes Gained Putting?
Strokes gained putting measures the effectiveness of your putting strokes compared to a baseline average—typically PGA Tour data. For example, if a PGA pro averages 1.3 putts from 10 feet, and you take only 1 putt from the same distance, you gain 0.3 strokes on the field. Conversely, if you take 2 putts, you lose 0.7 strokes.
This metric goes beyond simple putt counts by factoring in the distance, providing a nuanced view of your putting skill.
How to Use the Strokes Gained Putting Calculator
Using this calculator is straightforward:
- Enter Putt Distance (feet): Input the distance from which you are putting. The tool uses PGA Tour averages from 1 foot up to 60 feet to benchmark your performance.
- Enter Number of Putts Taken: Enter how many putts you took to hole out from that distance.
- Click Calculate: The calculator will instantly compute your strokes gained putting value.
- View Results: The output will tell you whether you gained or lost strokes compared to PGA Tour averages, along with an explanation of your result.
Resetting the Calculator
If you want to perform another calculation, simply click the reset button to clear all fields and start fresh.
Why Use the Strokes Gained Putting Calculator?
- Track Improvement: Monitor your putting progress over time by comparing strokes gained from different distances.
- Identify Weak Spots: Pinpoint specific putt distances where you lose strokes and focus your practice there.
- Compare to Pros: Measure your performance against PGA Tour pros to set realistic goals and benchmarks.
- Optimize Practice Sessions: Use data-driven insights to create effective, targeted putting drills.
Example Calculation
Suppose you attempted a putt from 15 feet and took 2 putts to hole out:
- According to PGA Tour averages, the average number of putts from 15 feet is approximately 1.88.
- Your number of putts taken is 2.
- The calculator subtracts your putts from the average: 1.88 – 2 = -0.12 strokes.
- Result: You lost 0.12 strokes compared to the PGA Tour average on this putt.
This tells you there is a slight room for improvement on your putts from 15 feet.
Understanding the Results
- Positive Result (> 0): You outperformed the PGA Tour average from this distance, gaining strokes.
- Zero Result (= 0): You performed exactly as well as the PGA Tour average.
- Negative Result (< 0): You took more strokes than the PGA Tour average and lost strokes.
Benefits of Tracking Strokes Gained Putting
- Insightful Metrics: Instead of guessing your putting skill, get clear data.
- Performance Analysis: Analyze your putting under different course conditions.
- Motivation: Seeing your improvement numerically boosts confidence.
- Competitive Edge: Use the data to improve your game and win more matches.
Tips for Better Putting Using This Calculator
- Practice putts from distances where you lose strokes.
- Track results over multiple rounds to notice patterns.
- Combine strokes gained data with video analysis of your putting stroke.
- Focus on consistency and speed control to improve strokes gained.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is strokes gained putting?
It’s a statistic measuring how many strokes you gain or lose compared to the average PGA Tour player from a certain putt distance.
2. How accurate is this calculator?
It uses PGA Tour average putts data and linear interpolation for distances not listed, providing reliable benchmarks.
3. Can I use this calculator for any level of golfer?
Yes, it’s useful for beginners and pros alike to measure putting performance objectively.
4. Does the tool consider slope or green speed?
No, it only uses distance and putts taken; external factors aren’t included.
5. How often should I use this calculator?
Use it regularly after practice or rounds to track your improvement.
6. What putt distances does the calculator cover?
It covers putt distances from 1 foot to 60 feet based on PGA Tour data.
7. Can this calculator replace professional coaching?
No, but it complements coaching by providing quantifiable feedback.
8. Why is strokes gained important in golf?
It helps identify which parts of your game are strong or need work relative to top players.
9. Is this calculator free to use?
Yes, it’s available as a free tool on your website.
10. How does the calculator handle distances not in the data?
It estimates averages using linear interpolation between known distances.
11. Can I use this tool during a tournament?
Yes, as long as you record your putts and distances, you can analyze performance.
12. What does a negative strokes gained value mean?
It means you took more strokes than the PGA average and lost strokes.
13. What if I get zero strokes gained?
You performed exactly at the average level.
14. Does this tool factor in uphill/downhill putts?
No, it only considers straight-line distance.
15. Can I save or export my results?
Currently, the tool does not support saving results, but you can manually record them.
16. Will this help with long-distance putting?
Yes, it covers distances up to 60 feet.
17. How can I improve my strokes gained putting score?
Practice from distances where you lose strokes, focusing on accuracy and consistency.
18. Can this tool be used for training purposes?
Absolutely! It’s designed to help you track and improve your putting skills.
19. Is there a mobile version of this tool?
The calculator is mobile responsive and works well on smartphones and tablets.
20. Can I use this tool to compare with friends?
Yes, you can share your results and compare putting stats easily.
Final Thoughts
The Strokes Gained Putting Calculator is a powerful yet simple tool that empowers golfers to assess their short game precisely. By leveraging PGA Tour averages, it provides actionable insights that help you identify strengths, focus practice efforts, and ultimately lower your scores. Whether you’re a casual weekend golfer or a competitive player, incorporating this calculator into your routine can make a significant difference in your putting game.