SwingU Strokes Gained Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

Q: In the broadest and briefest terms, what is strokes gained and what does it accomplish?

Strokes gained is both:

a quantitative measure for the relative value of each golf shot based upon a model of how the game is played at a standard; and
a statistical system to precisely identify where a golfer is gaining or losing strokes relative to other golfers; enabling them to objectively pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses in their game.

The primary principle behind SwingU’s easy-to-use strokes gained data entry: a golfer only enters the outcome of the first shot of any facet: the first drive, the first approach shot, the first chip or pitch, the first bunker shot, and the distance of the first putt.

We’ve proven over hundreds of thousands of rounds that there is a nominal (if any) difference in a golfer’s strokes gained outputs when compared to that golfer taking the time to enter the distance, lie and outcome of every single shot during her round.

Q: How is each target handicap level within SwingU calculated?

The SwingU Strokes Gained model is based on the average performance of the scratch golfer. We are able to obtain this from our 1mm+ strokes gained round database.

Next, we compile our Target Handicap Groups by determining the average performance of each Target Handicap Group. We are able to determine the exact number of strokes that are being lost in each facet to the scratch player.

Q: What portions of the game fall under each category?

We analyze the 5 major facets of the game:

Driving – Tee shots on all par-4 and par-5 holes.
Approach Shot – All attempts to hit the green from greater than 50 yards of the hole. (We do not consider driving attempts to hit the green on par-4 holes to be Approach Shots; they are still considered Drives.)
Chip/Pitch – All shots within 50 yards of the hole, excluding sand shots
Sand – All shots within 50 yards of the hole from a sand trap.
Putting – All shots on the green

Driving

Q: What constitutes a “good lie” versus a “bad lie” when entering my driving result?

A “good lie” means a good opportunity to fairly easily accomplish the next goal, be it to hit the green in regulation or advance the ball on a par-5. By contrast, the “bad lie” means that one could accomplish their next goal, but it will take a very good shot to do it.

We recommend that you make the decision prior to attempting the shot and be consistent. The difference between the two designations is not great. That said, if one continually exaggerates the difficulty of the lie, it will skew the analysis negatively to the driving facet. On the other hand, under-rating the difficulty will have a negative impact on the Approach analysis.

Q: Will my “Strokes Gained: Driving” be hampered if I hit a shorter club than driver off the tee?

Success in strokes gained statistics for driving is based upon a combination of distance and accuracy. We know that over 80% of double bogeys recorded by single-digit golfers follow an error (OB/Lost, Penalty or No Shot outcomes) off the tee.

Further, it is the frequency and severity of mistakes that do more to influence a score than all the good and average shots – at all levels, including on the PGA Tour. We should all be hitting the longest club off the tee that we can keep in play and avoid errors.

Similarly, the direction in which you miss the fairway from a purely statistical standpoint is moot. Whether you are right or left of your intended target, there is little actionable bearing from a numbers perspective, which is why our default user experience has that statistical entry removed.

Q: I’m going for the green on a par-4 with my drive. How do I record that?

Your drive must be marked as a Drive, not an Approach. If you drive within 50 yards of the green, then your Approach shot is “None.” If your drive lands outside of 50 yards from the hole, then you have an Approach shot from that distance for your 2nd shot.

Q: What if I have to hit a second tee ball because my first one went OB/Lost or into a water hazard?

Ignore your second tee shot, and only enter the outcome of your first drive (OB/Lost or Penalty). Then enter your Approach shot data for your subsequent approach shot once your ball is back in play. Our system will know what happened off the tee based on the shots that followed and your score.

Q: How does SwingU know if I am driving shorter or longer than my target handicap golfer if we don’t enter the distance of the drive?

Our system knows the distance of your Approach shot that follows your drive and the difficulty of the tees played. It factors these two pieces of information to calculate your distance and accuracy as it relates to the average tee box difficulty of all the rounds that make up our target data.

Q: Does “Good Lie” vs. “Bad Lie” change based on the skill level of the golfer?

Certainly. This distinction is based on the individual player’s skill level and the conditions of the lie.

Q: What is the difference between a “Bad Lie” and a “No Shot” result for a drive?

Similar to the “Good Lie” and “Bad Lie” descriptions, there is some subjectivity required in selecting a “Bad Lie” or a “No Shot.”

A Bad Lie result represents a shot that offers an opportunity to hit the green with an approach shot, but would require a good amount of skill and/or luck, adjustments to trajectory or ball flight.

A No Shot result describes a drive that leaves the player without a realistic avenue to reach the green with their next shot. Most commonly, a No Shot result requires a punch out or advancement shot without any expectation of hitting the green.

The result you select off the tee has a direct impact on the Strokes Gained: Driving number you will receive for that hole, meaning you will be docked more for a No Shot than a Bad Lie.

Q: Is hitting your drive into the fairway bunker always a “Bad Lie” or “No Shot”?

No. There can be good, firm lies in fairway bunkers that leave a clear, good opportunity to hit the green.

However, if you are generally uncomfortable with all shots from fairway bunkers, you are within your rights to label all as bad lies. Again, be consistent. The only person your inputs affect is you.

Approach

Q: Which shot is the Approach shot?

The Approach shot is your first attempt to hit a green from greater than 50 yards, regardless of where it falls in your string of shots for the hole.

Q: When playing a par-5, how do I accurately input my Approach distance, especially if I’m going for it in two?

Our system assumes every golfer lays up on a par-5 hole, and therefore, the golfer’s Approach shot is their third shot (ie, ignore the outcome of the 2nd shot if it’s a layup shot). UNLESS the golfer goes for the green with their second shot, then the second shot IS the Approach shot for the hole.

I.e., the Approach shot is the first attempt to actually hit the green regardless of where it falls in the shot string. When going for the green in two, the second shot is the Approach, and should be recorded as such. The system is intelligent and will know what happened based upon the shots that follow and the score.

Example: Faced with a 255-yard shot from the fairway for your second shot on a par-5, if the golfer hits a club with the intent to reach the green, 250+ yards should be entered as the Approach distance. Conversely, if the golfer selects a 5-iron for the second shot that couldn’t reasonably reach the putting surface, then one would ignore that shot, and the third shot would be considered the Approach.

Q: I hit my drive on a Par-4, but have no chance to realistically hit the green with my second shot. How do I enter this scenario?

Record your Drive result as a No Shot. The system will assume that your next shot is an advancement shot, and your Approach shot for this hole will be your THIRD shot.

Only record a shot as your Approach shot if you have the INTENT to hit the green with that shot.

Poor advancement shots can even result in situations where your third or fourth shot may be your Approach shot, assuming they come from outside of 50 yards from the green.

Q: Par-3 Holes – Is the tee shot on a Par-3 considered an Approach shot?

Yes, always, even if you cannot reach the green.

Q: I chunked my Approach shot and still have more than 50 yards left. What do I record?

Your first attempt to hit the green is the only Approach shot we record in our system, regardless of the outcome. As such, record the yardage and position of your first attempt to hit the green.

In this scenario, check Duff/Penalty in the Approach shot section. This will assign the correct cost in the analysis to the Approach facet. We do not need to know the distance of the second approach attempt.

When you check the Duff/Penalty box, our system will know what happened. If you record the rest of your shots correctly, the system will know that there was a second approach attempt. The distance and position of the second shot do not matter; only the result matters, which will be determined by your subsequent inputs.

Q: When would I record “None” for Approach?

You have a None Approach when you have no attempt to hit the green from greater than 50 yards (after your drive).

Example: Your Drive result is a No Shot requiring an advancement to return to play. The advancement gets you to within 50 yards of the hole (a Chip/Pitch shot). You had None Approach.

Similarly, hitting a drive on a short par-4 within 50 yards would also result in a None Approach as your second shot would be considered a Chip / Pitch.

Q: Do I record my second approach shot if I hit my first approach shot OB/Lost or into a water hazard?

No. You record the result of your drop and subsequent approach shot(s), short game, putting and score. Our system will know what happened and how many strokes were used/lost.

Q: Why doesn’t SwingU make golfers enter the direction (left/right, short/long) in which they miss the green on an approach shot?

We included the direction of miss in our original program. We removed it for two reasons: 1. It was extra data entry that many users did not want; 2. We found that those that did indicate their miss directions, did so with so little consistency that the data proved to be useless.

Q: What if I get lucky and hit the green when my original intent was to just punch it up the fairway from a bad drive?

Great shot, but it should not change your data entry on your Approach shot. In this scenario – or in a scenario in which your No Shot drive result allows you to hit a shot within 50 yards of the green – you would input None for your Approach as you did not hit an approach with the intent of hitting the green.

Our system will know what happened and allocate the Strokes Gained to the proper facets.

Q: What do you do in SwingU if you have 172 yards, but it plays 182 yards with the “Plays Like” Distance? Should you enter 150+ or 175+?

We recommend that you always enter the actual distance (e.g., “172 yards actual / 182 yards plays like” would result in a 150+ entry).

Chip / Pitch and Sand

Q: How do I record a second Chip/Pitch or Sand shot?

There are three basic scenarios:

Two shots in the same short game facet: If you miss a short game shot (either Chip/Pitch or Sand) and are left with another shot from the same facet – a chip or pitch that results in another chip or pitch / a sand shot that results in another sand shot – record the result of the first shot as a Miss. From there, enter the distance of your first putt and total score.
1. Note: If you miss the green with multiple short game shots from the same facet, do not attempt to enter any more data besides the result of your first attempt.
A miss from one facet to the other: If you miss a short game shot from one facet into the other, mark the Miss in the starting facet and the successful attempt in the other. Again, our system is programmed to understand what happened.
A miss in both facets: If you were to miss from one facet, ie. Chip/Pitch into a bunker, you’ll enter the result of your Chip/Pitch as Miss. You’ll then record the result of your first Sand shot (Hit or Miss), enter your first putt distance, number of putts and score. The system will be able to decipher multiple short game shots based on your inputted data.
1. The system will know that there has been a third short game shot but will not know which facet. We divide the extra shot evenly between the two facets. If it happens enough to become a factor, your short game will pop up as one of your improvement priorities.

Q: My Approach shot landed in an impossible lie around the green. What do I record?

If you don’t have a legitimate attempt to make the green with a short game shot, then check the Penalty box in the Approach shot section AND ignore / do not enter your first short game attempt from the impossible position.

You will treat your next Chip / Pitch attempt – your first legitimate attempt to hit the green from inside 50 yards – as your first Chip / Pitch.

Q: What if it takes me 2-3 chips/pitches or bunker shot attempts to hit the green?

Indicate that you missed the green with your first attempt. Our system will know the number of subsequent shots needed to reach the green based on your number of putts and your score.

Q: Is it a chip or pitch if I use my putter to putt the ball onto the green from off the green?

Similar to the “Good Lie” / “Bad Lie” and Hit Fairway when in the first cut of rough, the key is to be consistent and pragmatic. Every input you log will have an effect one way or the other on another aspect of your game.

If you feel you will be better served from a game-improvement standpoint by counting the first cut of rough off the tee as a fairway hit and a fringe as a putting opportunity, so be it. If you prefer to go by the letter of the law — in the fairway/on the green or not — so be it. Your output will be impacted somewhat however you decide to enter your information.

Q: What if I feel like all of my chips/pitches or bunker shots are unusually difficult? Does that taint the data?

No. We know that there are multiple degrees of difficulty for all short-game shots. Our experience tells us that a player’s relative skill will be apparent given a representative sample of shots and rounds. The number of “difficult” short game shots are usually balanced by the number of “easy” short game shots over several rounds.

Putting

Q: If my approach shot comes to rest on the fringe of the putting surface, should I consider my next shot a chip/pitch or putt?

Q: Why can’t I enter the distance of my second (or third) putt?

The distance determination of the first putt is important to the pre-shot routine and helps with managing distance control. The distance of the second putt is an afterthought and can be a distraction from the positive process of trying to make the putt. Don’t worry; you will have enough attempts from shorter distances for the program to properly assess your putting skills.

We tested this on a group of 15 LPGA players that had requested it. Within a month, they all stopped recording the data. The unanimous feeling was that it became a distraction. When one misses their first putt, they need to focus on what they need to do to make the second, not how poorly they hit the first.

Q: How do I make sure walking off my 1st putt doesn’t slow play?

We recommend making the determination of the first putt distance an integral part of your pre-shot routine. When preparing to hit a long-range putt, you can walk halfway to the hole to properly view the slope and get perspective on the distance.

Then count your paces back to the ball and double the distance. It will be accurate enough.

Quickly pacing off putt distances when you first reach the green, in between playing partners’ turns or as part of your pre-shot routine will ensure a good pace.

If you have further questions about SwingU’s strokes gained platform, please email us at support@swingu.com.