Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions that come up most often. Don't see yours? Email Drew.

Is Data Driven Golf really free?

Yes. Strokes gained tracking is free, with no premium tier and no subscription. Sign up with access code ALPHA, enter rounds, and use every feature at no cost. See pricing.

Do I need a sensor or shot-tracking hardware?

No. You enter shots by hand at the end of each hole — lie type and approximate distance. There is no sensor, swing tracker, or wearable required. Recall is enough; you don't need exact yardages.

Why doesn't my strokes gained equal my score versus par?

Par is somewhat arbitrary. Strokes gained compares every shot to a statistical expectation calibrated to your target handicap, not to par. You can shoot par and still have negative SG (or shoot bogey and have positive SG) depending on how the holes played out. Read how it works.

How do I handle penalties like OB and water?

Select Penalty as the lie for the result of the penalty shot — no distance needed. Then enter the lie and distance at the drop position as the next shot. Examples:

• Tee shot into water → shot 2 is Penalty, shot 3 records the drop (fairway/rough + distance).
• Tee shot out of bounds → shot 2 is Penalty, shot 3 is Tee again with the tee distance.
• Two-stroke E-5 fairway drop → two consecutive Penalty shots, then the drop position.

What about gimme putts?

Enter them as holed from that distance. A conceded 2-footer still counts as holing a 2-foot putt for strokes-gained purposes.

Can I edit past rounds?

Yes. Open any round from the dashboard and tap Edit Round to reopen the wizard and adjust shots. Changes recalculate every stroke gained for the round.

What if I change my target handicap?

Your profile includes a handicap adjustment. Changing it retroactively recalculates strokes gained for every round you've ever entered, so the numbers stay consistent against your current benchmark.

Is there an iOS app?

The iOS native app is planned but not yet in TestFlight. For now the product ships as a progressive web app (PWA) that you can "Add to Home Screen" on iOS or Android and use full-screen. The web app works offline during a round.

Does this work for women's handicaps?

The handicap formula and target-score calculations work for any golfer. The strokes-gained benchmarks are currently calibrated using men's PGA Tour and male scratch data, so SG comparisons are most accurate for men. Women's benchmarks are on the roadmap.

Can I share a round with a friend or coach?

Yes. Open any round, open the share modal, and flip the Public Link toggle. That generates a read-only URL (/share/<id>) that anyone can view — full scorecard, SG breakdown, and shot details.

Does it work in meters?

Yes. On your profile, choose yards or meters; there is a separate sub-toggle for putting distance (feet or meters). All displays convert automatically; internal calculations stay in yards/feet.