Lool that's what I was thinking but then I started thinking maybe that's what other owners do, lets the snake know your scent and get a close up haha"
I couldn't imagine how you guys can handle your Retics, those guys are just too much haha. But overall you guys find being a little firm on your snakes never got you in trouble? They don't react in an aggressive way.
I think the yarn method is probably the best way to do it, beats using a measuring tape for sure lol