A method of wrapping a load, comprising: providing relative rotation between a package material dispenser and a load during a wrapping cycle; dispensing a film web from the package material dispenser through a package material dispensing assembly of the package material dispenser to prestretch the packaging material before it is applied to the load; the packaging material dispensing assembly including a packaging material drive system to rotate a packaging material roller thereby dispensing the packaging material to the downstream load; providing an idle roller between the packaging material dispenser assembly and the load, the packaging material passing over the idle roller; the method being characterized by: sensing an actual speed of the idle roller downstream of the packaging material dispensing assembly after the prestretching of the material; comparing the actual speed of the idle roller to an expected speed of the idle roller; and controlling a speed of film dispensing from the package material dispenser to minimize a difference between the actual speed of the idle roller and the expected speed of the idle roller by controlling a rate of rotation of the packaging material roller based at least in part on the comparison between the expected speed of the idle roller and the actual speed of the idle roller. providing relative rotation between a package material dispenser and a load during a wrapping cycle; dispensing a film web from the package material dispenser through a package material dispensing assembly of the package material dispenser to prestretch the packaging material before it is applied to the load; the packaging material dispensing assembly including a packaging material drive system to rotate a packaging material roller thereby dispensing the packaging material to the downstream load; providing an idle roller between the packaging material dispenser assembly and the load, the packaging material passing over the idle roller; the method being characterized by: sensing an actual speed of the idle roller downstream of the packaging material dispensing assembly after the prestretching of the material; comparing the actual speed of the idle roller to an expected speed of the idle roller; and controlling a speed of film dispensing from the package material dispenser to minimize a difference between the actual speed of the idle roller and the expected speed of the idle roller by controlling a rate of rotation of the packaging material roller based at least in part on the comparison between the expected speed of the idle roller and the actual speed of the idle roller. sensing an actual speed of the idle roller downstream of the packaging material dispensing assembly after the prestretching of the material; comparing the actual speed of the idle roller to an expected speed of the idle roller; and controlling a speed of film dispensing from the package material dispenser to minimize a difference between the actual speed of the idle roller and the expected speed of the idle roller by controlling a rate of rotation of the packaging material roller based at least in part on the comparison between the expected speed of the idle roller and the actual speed of the idle roller.