Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained Approach, Explained
Strokes gained approach measures your shots into the green from beyond about 30 yards — and it is the single biggest separator between skill levels.
What is strokes gained approach?
It’s strokes gained on the shots that aim at the green from beyond ~30 yards. Broadie’s data shows it explains more of the gap between golfers than any other category.
Strokes gained approach: the expected strokes from your approach’s starting distance and lie minus the expected strokes from where it finished on or near the green, minus one.
The closer you finish, the lower the expected putts that follow — which is why approach play and proximity to the hole drive scoring. See the complete guide for the framework.
How is strokes gained approach calculated?
Take the baseline for your distance and lie, subtract the baseline for where the ball finished (usually a putt distance on the green), and subtract one.
| Distance (fairway) | Expected strokes to hole out |
|---|---|
| 100 yd | 2.80 |
| 140 yd | 2.91 |
| 160 yd | 2.98 |
| 180 yd | 3.08 |
| 200 yd | 3.19 |
- From 160 yards in the fairway, the tour baseline is 2.98.
- Hit it to 8 feet (putting baseline 1.50): 2.98 − 1.50 − 1 = +0.48 — an excellent approach.
- Hit it to 20 feet (1.87): 2.98 − 1.87 − 1 = +0.11 — slightly better than tour average.
- Miss into a greenside bunker 20 yards out (baseline 2.53): 2.98 − 2.53 − 1 = −0.55 — one missed green erases several good approaches.
Why is approach play the biggest separator in golf?
Because approach shots are frequent and high-leverage: small differences in proximity compound across a round. Broadie found the long game — driving plus approach — accounts for roughly two-thirds of the gap to the pros, with approach the largest single piece.
For most amateurs, approach is the fastest place to gain strokes — closer is always better, even when you can’t reach a green in regulation. Contrast it with strokes gained off the tee and around the green to find your biggest leak.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important shot category in golf?
How close do tour pros hit their approach shots?
Sources
Keep reading
Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained Explained: The Complete Guide
Strokes gained measures every shot against a benchmark of expected scores, revealing exactly where you gain or lose strokes versus a chosen standard — instead of guessing from fairways, greens, and putts.
Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained Off the Tee, Explained
Strokes gained off the tee measures your driving by comparing the expected strokes to finish the hole from the tee with the expected strokes from wherever your tee shot finished — on par 4s and par 5s only.
Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained Around the Green, Explained
Strokes gained around the green measures your short game: chips, pitches, and bunker shots from within about 30 yards of the green.
Glossary
Proximity to Hole
Proximity to the hole is the average distance your shots finish from the cup, usually measured for approach shots from a given range.