Hi Don,

Roll rate has to be the same through the individual rolls only. Even roll/opposite roll can have different roll rates. The hesitations during a point roll don't have to be the same length as the partial roll, but they have to be constant throughout. You will most likely get away with gradually slowing down the roll rate on a continuous rolls just before exit (last 1/4 roll). I usually do that to help with nailing the exit without rolling extremely slow for the whole maneuver. I found over-rotating slightly and bumping the aileron the opposite way makes roll points look very crisp, but it's really hard to adapt for that kind of flying.

As far as equal line segments:

I learned to visually fixate on the spot where I plan the middle of my line segment to be. After I finish the initial partial loop, I remember the spot. I fly the whole line with minimal head/eye movement, always tracking the initial spot. After the rolls I visually copy and paste the distance. It beats counting, specially with all the airspeed robbing snaps.

I flew the Shootout Sunday known today and with little planning ahead, I didn't run out of space once on the second attempt. Those vertical 4 of 2s are a killer though.

P.