All golfers know the frustration of coming up short with a club they were sure was “perfect.” Most of the time we blame it on the conditions, a faulty range finder or the assumption that we must not have hit it as well as we thought we did.
But the truth is, it’s usually not the club or the conditions — it’s the player. And fixing the problem starts with understanding one key concept: the difference between carry distance and total distance.
For those who don’t know, carry distance is how far the ball travels in the air, while total distance includes the distance your ball gains after it lands. Unfortunately, most amateurs focus only on total distance — and that mistake not only distorts their understanding of their game but also leads them to overestimate how far they really hit the ball.
As Joey Wuertemberger, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, explains, “a majority of amateurs always think they hit it farther than they really do.”
To fix this, Wuertemberger says to focus on your carry distance rather than total distance.
“I rarely focus on total yards because players need to understand what it takes to carry a bunker, a hazard, or any penalty area — rather than how far the ball rolls afterward.”
To figure out your carry distances, Wuertemberger says you can use a launch monitor to figure out exactly how far the ball is flying. But, there are a few additional keys that will help you dial in your irons like the pros.
Don’t only use your best shots
When most amateurs work out their carry distances, they tend to focus only on their very best shots — those that travel the farthest. But if ask any high-level player, they’ll tell you that’s a mistake. To get an accurate number, you need to factor in the off-center hits and those slightly shorter yardages, because that’s a more honest reflection of how far you actually hit it on the course.
“Players have to understand they’re not always going to hit it perfect,” Wuertemberger says. “If you only rely on your best shots, the numbers get skewed. Sure, if you hit it perfectly you could carry the full distance — but nine times out of 10, it won’t be quite as solid, and you’ll come up a few yards short.”
Track your ball marks
If you really want to dial in your irons, Wuertemberger has a clever trick he learned from Zach Johnson’s former caddie: track your ball marks.
Here’s how it works: After your approach shot into a green, note where your ball mark is in relation to the pin and where the ball actually came to rest. This lets you see if you had the right club. Did you land short and roll up to the pin, or were you pin-high? Tracking how far your ball rolls also helps you understand how shots respond to the course conditions — like if firm greens are giving you extra roll.
“All of this is a reference point to work from,” Wuertemberger says, “Then, later in the round you can draw from these past shots. Remember that shot you had on four that was 120-yards? This is that shot again.”
It’s a simple, tour-tested system: know your carry, log your ball marks and play to the middle. That’s how caddies keep their players pin-high — and how you can start hitting more greens.
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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