Golf differential calculator
Use this golf differential calculator to compare rounds played on different courses. An 88 on a brute of a course can be a better round than an 84 on an easy one. Put up to five rounds side by side and see which was really your best.
The lowest differential is the best round, whatever the scorecard says
Golf differential calculator: compare your rounds
Enter the score, course rating and slope rating for two to five rounds. You get the differential for each, ranked from best to worst.
What is a golf differential?
A golf differential is a single number that rates one round of golf, allowing for the difficulty of the course. It is the strokes you scored over the course rating, scaled by the slope rating. Because it strips out the course, a golf differential lets you compare a round at your home club with one played anywhere else.
How to use the golf differential calculator
- Enter the score, course rating and slope rating for your first round.
- Add a second round, and up to three more if you like.
- Read the differential for each round in the right-hand column.
- Check the ranking underneath to see your best round, shaded at the top.
Golf differential formula
Golf differential = (113 ÷ slope rating) × (score − course rating)
The lower the differential, the better the round. Dividing by the slope rating means the same score counts for more on a difficult course.
Golf differential example
Round one is an 84 on a course rated 68.9 with a slope of 112: (113 ÷ 112) × 15.1 = 15.2. Round two is an 88 on a course rated 73.1 with a slope of 139: (113 ÷ 139) × 14.9 = 12.1. The 88 is the better round by more than three strokes.
What score do I need for a target golf differential?
Run the sum the other way to set a target before you play. Multiply the differential you want by the slope over 113, then add the course rating.
Target score = differential × (slope rating ÷ 113) + course rating
To post a 12.0 on tees rated 71.0 with a slope of 124, you need 12.0 × 124 ÷ 113 + 71.0, which is 84.2. An 84 does it.
Golf differential calculator FAQs
How do I calculate my golf differential?
Take your score, subtract the course rating, multiply by 113 and divide by the slope rating. The golf differential calculator on this page does it for up to five rounds at once.
Is a golf differential the same as a handicap index?
No. A differential belongs to one round. Your index is the average of your best 8 differentials from your last 20 rounds.
What is a good golf differential?
One at or below your Handicap Index. Because the index is built from your best rounds only, most of your differentials will be a few strokes higher than it.
Why does slope rating change a golf differential?
Slope measures how much harder a course gets for an ordinary golfer than for a scratch player. Dividing by it gives you credit for playing a tougher course.