WGT Shot Calculation Formula (Transparent & Realistic)

A clear breakdown of distance, elevation, wind, and lie — exactly how Smart Caddie computes your recommended power.

WGT Shot Calculator Formula

Distance: Start with the pin distance in yards.
Elevation: Add or subtract elevation (1 foot ≈ 0.33 yards).
Wind: Use the wind speed and clock direction. Headwind/tailwind affect distance, crosswind affects aim.
Lie: Apply a power boost for rough, sand, or fescue (see our Lie % Guide).

Our WGT Smart Caddie automates all these steps for you. Just enter your shot details and get the perfect power instantly!

Inputs

WGT shot calculator, WGT distance formula, World Golf Tour elevation wind math

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Transparent Equation & Example

The core equation used across our calculators is:

Adjusted Yardage = Distance + (Elevation / 3) + (Wind Speed × Direction Multiplier) × EmpiricalFactor

Then we compute:

Recommended Power (%) = (Adjusted Yardage ÷ Club Full Yardage) × 100

Example: 150 yd, +12 ft elevation, wind 10 mph at 2 o'clock (multiplier 0.5), Club 155 yd → Adjusted = 150 + 4 + (10 × 0.5) = 159 → Power ≈ 102.6%.

We highlight the empirical factor and multipliers so reviewers can test the formula bench-marking against replays; the numbers are intentionally transparent and conservative to be reproducible.

How to help improve accuracy

Send reproducible cases (distance, elevation, wind, club, and replay timestamp) via the Suggestions page. Verified contributions are used to refine multipliers and improve accuracy across clubsets.