How many times have you dialed in your yardage, selected what you thought was the perfect club and still came up short — leaving yourself a tricky lie to scramble and save par from?
If you’re like me, it has happened too many times to count. And often, the culprit is a common misconception among amateurs: not knowing the difference between carry and total distance — or not understanding how to use that information on the course.
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Understanding the difference between these two data points — and the crucial role of carry yardages — can transform your game, helping you hit more greens and avoid costly mistakes on the course.
Carry vs. Total Distance
Put simply, carry distance is how far the ball flies in the air. Total distance is how far it travels overall, including any roll or bounce after landing. To calculate your carry number, launch monitors use relatively constant factors, such as swing speed, launch angle and quality of contact. Total distance, on the other hand, is determined by adding in dependent variables, or variables that can change from shot to shot, like slope, ground firmness or wind.
Stop focusing on the wrong numbers
Many amateurs obsess over total distance, but that can backfire during a round. Total yardage changes with course conditions.
For example, if you only know your 8‑iron’s total distance is about 142 yards, you might choose it for a 137‑yard front pin with trouble short, thinking it’s enough to get there. But, if your average carry is actually 135 yards, you risk coming up short if the ball doesn’t bounce or roll as expected.
Relying solely on total yardage also makes club selection trickier when adjusting for conditions like strong winds, firm and fast conditions and temperature change. By using your average carry yardages instead, you’ll have a consistent baseline to work from. Helping you make smarter decisions on the course.
How to find your carry yardages
As someone who, until recently, didn’t know their average carry distances, I can tell you it’s easier to figure out than you might think — especially if you have access to cutting-edge technology.
To determine my carry yardages, I used my Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor and focused specifically on my irons during a practice session. I started with my 9‑iron, hitting about 10 shots and noting both carry and total distance for each. Then I discarded the outliers — both mishits and those sneaky “perfect” shots that travel a few yards farther than normal. Once I had a consistent set of shots, I added up the carry distances, divided by the number of shots, and just like that, I had my average yardages.
After calculating my average carry distances, I managed to sneak in a few rounds before my local courses began winterizing, and I was pretty happy with my results. Equipped with this vital information, I had newfound confidence in my game. My course strategy was smarter, I made better club selections and, as a result, found myself second-guessing those decisions way less than usual, which translated to more pars on the scorecard.
It was all the proof I needed that knowing your carry distances doesn’t just improve accuracy — it takes your game to the next level.
FullSwing KIT Launch Monitor
The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone.
Machine-learning enhanced Radar paired with powerful dedicated processors for Radar and media give you the cleanest and most accurate data in the industry.
A customizable heads-up OLED display engineered to show you exactly what you want to see what happens every swing or use the free included app to see your data & video across your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and even hear your selected data through your bluetooth headphones.
Using the included durable case, bring it to the course and set up in under a minute. Its battery life of up to 5 hours will help you get the most out of your swing whether on the range or with a net at home in your backyard, garage or basement.
Items Included:
FS Kit Launch Monitor
Charging Block
USB-C Charging Cable
Protective Travel Case
Tracking: Patented, 24GHz Dual-Mode, ML Enhanced Radar
Display: 5.3” Ultra-bright, Full HD (1920×1080) OLED with 16.7 million colors
Camera: Full HD 1080p, 60 fps
Processor: Dual-core A9
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth® 5.0 BR/EDR/LE
Battery: Built-in Lithium-ion 8000mAh; Approximately 5 hours of use (depending on conditions)
Carry Case: Light-weight, water and impact resistant
Charging Port: USB-C
Charger: 45W USB-C; 110-240v, 50-60Hz
Charging Cable: USB-C, 3’ (1m)
Unit Dimensions: 10.23” H x 6.57” W x 2.32” D (3.74” with support leg extended); (260mm x 167mm x 59mm (95mm))
Unit Weight: 4.0 lbs (1.8 Kg)
Case Dimensions: 13” L x 8.11” W x 3.86” H (330mm x 206mm x 98mm)
Unit, Case, Charger Weight: 5.7 lbs (2.6 Kg)
Package Dimensions: 16.5” L x 10.75” W x 4.8” H (419 mm x 273mm x 122mm)
Package Weight: 8.4 lbs (3.8 Kg)
Return Eligibility
If you are not satisfied with your Full Swing device within the first fourteen (14) days from the date of delivery, the Full Swing device may be returned for a full refund or replacement device.
For users with a perpetual license for E6 Connect software used in conjunction with a Full Swing, if you are not satisfied with the E6 Connect software within the first fourteen (14) days from the date of activation of the perpetual license, the license may be returned for a full refund. This paragraph applies to users with a perpetual license only; all other subscription forms will not be eligible for refund.
Your Full Swing device can no longer be returned after 14 days from the date of delivery.
All returns involving devices originally received outside of the U.S. shall be arranged through your local sales channel.
Returning Your Device
To initiate a return of your device, you must contact Sales Support at The Net Return by telephone at +1 (973) 636 -7354 or email at sales@TheNetReturn.com. The Sales Support team will provide you with a prepaid, shipping label and Return Material Authorization (RMA) number to send the device to The Net Return. Returns without a RMA number will not be accepted by The Net Return. The unit shall be returned with all accessories, including AC adapter and cables with travel case, and in the manufacturer’s original box.
Return Processing
Upon receipt of a returned device, the unit shall be inspected by The Net Return. If such inspection reveals that any of the warranty exclusions provided hereinafter apply, the warranty shall be voided and a repair fee assessed. For purchases made through Affirm, separate terms and conditions instituted by Affirm will apply; payment options through Affirm can be accessed at https://www.affirm.com/lenders.
iPhone® (10 and higher), running iOS 14 and higher
iPad® (7th generation and higher), running iOS 14 and higher
iPad® Air (3rd generation and higher), running iOS 14 and higher
iPad® Pro (all models), running iOS 14 and higher
Apple Watch® 3 or higher, running watchOS 7 or higher
Apple AirPods® or most any Bluetooth® headphones
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