Difference Between Carry and Flat Carry?

[Hugh Jars]

Wen to a Top Tracer range the other day, the monitor had 3 different distances:

-Total

-Total carry

-Flat carry

Whats the difference between total carry and flat carry?

And when people refer to their distances with their clubs, do they refer to total carry normally?

[David in FL]

I can’t answer the first question, but when I refer to my carry, it refers to the distance where my shot first lands on the ground from where I played the shot...

[Golfingdad]

Does Top Tracer have multiple levels?  If so, my guess is that it calculates or makes an educated guess from total carry backwards to what your carry would be if you were on flat ground.  If not, then I have no clue. 🙂

And to answer your last question, I always refer to total distance for driver and carry for the irons.  The goal with the irons is for the two numbers to be the same anyway. 😉

Edited August 2, 2019 by Golfingdad

[Patch]

I have heard of a "carry flat", which deals with adjusting to uphill, and dowhill slopes.

I am assuming (guessing) it means using a longer club (more carry)  for uphill shots, and a shorter club (less carry) for downhill shots. 

Maybe the same as "flat carry"?

[GolfLug]

6 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

Does Top Tracer have multiple levels?  If so, my guess is that it calculates or makes an educated guess from total carry backwards to what your carry would be if you were on flat ground.  If not, then I have no clue. 🙂 

Drew, that is a very clever guess. I am virtually certain of it. Toptracer is Topgolf with tracer tech (if you hadn't figured that already). 

I might be taking the family to one up in Clifton (VA) tomorrow if I can convince the wife.

[Zeph]

That seems correct. This is from FlightScope:

Quote

Flat carry distance measured as if no elevation change from launch to landing

At 10ft elevation there will be a 5 yard difference between flat carry and actual carry with a 30° - 35° ball descent angle

Carry distance determined by ball speed, launch angle, spin rate and spin axis, and weather conditions

Flat total distance at same elevation as the radar. Bounce and roll are calculated based on surface type, ball descent angle, landing spin rate, and landing ball speed.

 

Edited August 2, 2019 by Zeph