How to Track Strokes Gained Without a Launch Monitor

Strokes Gained Isn't Just for the Pros

When strokes gained was introduced on the PGA Tour, it revolutionised how professionals understand their game. For the first time, they could see exactly where they gained or lost strokes relative to the field — not just count fairways and putts.

But most amateur golfers think strokes gained requires expensive equipment. Launch monitors. Shot-tracking sensors. GPS devices that cost hundreds of dollars per year.

You don't need any of that. All you need is your phone and a system for capturing the right data on the course.

What Data Do You Actually Need?

Strokes gained compares your performance from specific positions to a baseline. To calculate it, you need three things for each shot:

1. Where you started — the lie (fairway, rough, bunker, green) and distance to the hole
2. Where you finished — same thing: lie and distance
3. The baseline — how many strokes a reference golfer takes from each position

The baseline is the complex part, but it's already calculated for you. Apps like The Grand Plan have strokes gained baselines built in for different handicap levels. You just need to record where your ball was before and after each shot.

The Simple On-Course Method

Here's a practical system you can use immediately, without changing how you play or slowing down your round:

Option 1: Full Shot Tracking (Most Accurate)

After each shot, tap your phone to record:

• Club used
• Distance to hole (use the GPS on your phone or course markers)
• Lie type (fairway, rough, sand, green)
• Result (where the ball ended up)

This takes about 10-15 seconds per shot. Modern golf apps like The Grand Plan let you do this with 2-3 taps — you're not typing anything.

Option 2: Key Stats Only (Fastest)

If full shot tracking feels like too much, you can calculate an approximate strokes gained breakdown by tracking just these stats per hole:

• Fairway hit? (Yes/No)
• Green in regulation? (Yes/No)
• If you missed the green — did you get up and down? (Yes/No)
• Number of putts
• Approach shot distance (roughly — 150+, 100-150, under 100)

This is the ultra-fast method. It takes 10 seconds per hole and gives you 80% of the insight of full shot tracking.

How the Numbers Work

Let's say you're on a par 4, 380 yards. Here's how strokes gained would work:

Tee shot: You drive it 240 yards to the fairway, leaving 140 yards to the pin.

• Expected strokes from the tee (380 yards, par 4): ~4.0
• Expected strokes from 140 yards in the fairway: ~2.8
• Strokes gained off the tee: 4.0 - 2.8 - 1 (the shot you took) = +0.2

Approach shot: You hit it to 30 feet on the green.

• Expected strokes from 140 yards, fairway: ~2.8
• Expected strokes from 30 feet on the green: ~2.0
• Strokes gained approach: 2.8 - 2.0 - 1 = -0.2

First putt: You lag it to 3 feet.

• Expected strokes from 30 feet: ~2.0
• Expected strokes from 3 feet: ~1.1
• Strokes gained putting (first putt): 2.0 - 1.1 - 1 = -0.1

Second putt: You hole it.

• Expected from 3 feet: ~1.1
• Holed: 0
• Strokes gained putting (second putt): 1.1 - 0 - 1 = +0.1

Total strokes gained on that hole: +0.2 - 0.2 - 0.1 + 0.1 = 0.0 (exactly average — you made par, as expected).

What "Good" Strokes Gained Looks Like

Here are rough benchmarks per round (18 holes) for different handicap levels:

Handicap	SG Tee	SG Approach	SG Short Game	SG Putting
Scratch	+1.0	+1.0	+0.5	+0.5
10	-1.0	-2.0	-1.5	-1.0
20	-3.0	-5.0	-4.0	-2.5

The bigger the negative number, the more strokes you're losing in that category. That's where you should focus your practice.

The Tool Makes It Easy

You don't need to do any of this math yourself. The Grand Plan's strokes gained calculator does it automatically from the data you input during your round. Just track your shots, and the app shows you exactly where you're gaining and losing strokes — broken down by category, by hole, and over time.

No launch monitor required. No sensors. Just your phone and 10 seconds per hole.

Start With 5 Rounds

One round of strokes gained data is interesting. Five rounds is actionable. After 5 rounds, the patterns stabilise and you can see clearly which part of your game is costing you the most.

That's your roadmap. That's how you improve with purpose instead of guessing.