# Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) Calculator (Basketball)

LAST UPDATE: April 8th, 2018

## What is Effective Field Goal Percentage?

Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) is a basketball statistic that complements field goal percentage by putting a player’s number of 3 point field goals into perspective.
Where field goal percentage (FG%) measures the ratio of field goals made to field goal attempts (regardless of the value of the basket), eFG% adjusts to compensate for the extra value (as well as extra difficulty) of 3 point shots.
Like any metrics, eFG% is not a “perfect” picture of a player’s ability, only one lens to view it through. One common criticism of eFG% is that shooters with very high percentage success rates which favor 3 point shots would arrive at an eFG% of more than 100%.

## Formula

Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) is calculated as:
$\frac{\text{Field Goals} + (0.5 + \text{3 Point Field Goals})}{\text{Field Goal Attempts}}$

## Example

A player has made 240 field goal attempts, an in that time has made a total of 82 field goals, 77 of which were 3 point field goals (3 pointers)
$\text{Effective Field Goal Percentage} = \frac{82 + (0.5 \times 77)}{240}$
$\text{Effective Field Goal Percentage} = \frac{82 + 38.5}{240}$
$\text{Effective Field Goal Percentage} = \frac{120.5}{240}$
$\text{Effective Field Goal Percentage} = 0.502$
Therefore, this player has an eFG% of 0.502, or 50.2%.

## What counts as a Field Goal in Basketball?

In basketball, a field goal is a basket that counts for a point except for a free throw.

## What counts a 3 point field goal?

A 3 point field goal is a field goal that happens when the last player to touch the ball before it goes in the net had both feet behind the 3 point line at the time of the shot or jump resulting in the field goal.