Golf ScoutStrokes gained approach: how good are your approach shots?
Strokes gained approach scores each shot into the green, including tee shots on par 3s but not shots from within 30 yards: the expected strokes from where you played it, minus the expected strokes from where it finished, minus one. Hitting the green from 150 yards gains strokes for most club golfers even from 40 feet; finding a bunker or water loses them.
What counts as an approach?
The PGA Tour splits strokes gained into four categories. Approach covers the shots in between:
- Shots into the green from more than 30 yards from its edge.
- Tee shots on par 3s.
- Not tee shots on par 4s and 5s (off the tee), shots within 30 yards of the green (around the green), or putts.
Each shot scores: expected strokes from the start − expected strokes from where it finished − 1, minus one more for a penalty.
Why approach play matters most
Mark Broadie's study of PGA Tour players from 2003 to 2010 found that the long game, shots from over 100 yards, explained 72% of the differences between players' strokes gained. Of all the distance bands, shots from 150 to 200 yards were the most closely linked to total strokes gained, with a correlation of 74%. Approach play isn't the only thing that matters, but on tour it's where the best players separate themselves most.
Expected strokes from the fairway
How many strokes golfers take, on average, to hole out from the fairway, as used in our strokes gained calculator:
| Distance | Scratch | 10 hcp | 18 hcp | 28 hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 yards | 2.93 | 3.36 | 3.70 | 4.12 |
| 150 yards | 3.15 | 3.63 | 4.01 | 4.48 |
| 200 yards | 3.41 | 3.94 | 4.37 | 4.90 |
Golf Scout's model, fitted to published tour and handicap figures. From the rough, add about 0.36 strokes at 150 yards for an 18 handicapper.
For comparison, the PGA Tour's baseline is 2.92 strokes from 150 yards on the fairway and 3.16 from the rough.
One shot, six outcomes
A golfer off 18 has 150 yards from the fairway, where an 18 handicapper averages 4.01 strokes. Here's what each result is worth against golfers of the same handicap:
| Where it finished | Expected after | Strokes gained |
|---|---|---|
| On the green, 15 ft | 2.05 | +0.95 |
| On the green, 40 ft | 2.45 | +0.56 |
| Rough, 20 yards short | 3.32 | −0.32 |
| Greenside bunker, 15 yards | 3.17 | −0.17 |
| Fairway, 60 yards (a duff) | 3.47 | −0.46 |
| Water, dropping at 140 yards | 3.94 | −1.94 |
Three things stand out:
- Any part of the green is a good result. Even 40 feet away gains strokes for a mid handicapper from this distance.
- A miss near the green is a small loss. Finishing in the rough or a bunker just off the green costs 0.32 and 0.17 strokes here.
- Water is the big loss. The penalty stroke, plus playing much the same shot again, costs more than any other miss.
That's the case for aiming at the middle of the green and away from the hazards, rather than at the flag. It's a strategy question as much as a swing one.
How to improve your number
- Know your real distances. If you choose clubs by your best shot rather than your average, most of your approaches will come up short. Check yours against the club distance chart, and see how far you should hit a 7 iron.
- Allow for the conditions. Wind and cold change how far the ball goes; the plays-like calculator shows by how much.
- Record each approach: the distance, the lie and where it finished. After a few rounds, split them into bands such as under 100, 100 to 150 and over 150 yards to see where you lose most. How to track your golf shots explains how.
For what happens once you're on the green, see strokes gained putting.
Related guides
- Strokes gained putting: how good is your putting really?
- How to track your golf shots
- Strokes gained explained
Sources
Golf Scout Pro works out strokes gained on approach for every shot you mark, and shows approaches and greens hit by distance. Get Golf Scout on the App Store, free for iPhone and Apple Watch.