i'm too lazy to look at the exact language of the rules, but let's clarify the difference between rolls executed on a line, and rolls that are connected to a radiused figure. let's take a half cuban with a full roll on the entry, and a full roll on the exit. this is not a reverse, which enters on a 45, but a half, which enters horizontal. logically, there is no way to center the roll on the entry because the entry (or exit) is an extended line...that logic is applied across the board, on any figure. so it is connected to the radiused part of the loop, and as dave said, there is no line between them; do the roll, return wings level, pull (or push). immelman and split esses are simply names given to a half loop, half roll, but the same criteria applies - the rolls are connected to the radiused figure, connected meaning that there is no line of unradiused flight.

now, the second roll occurs on the 45 downline, and is not connected to the radiused part of the figure, on what is called an interior line. and ANY roll done on an interior line must be centered on the line. If not, the displacement is downgraded...sometimes severely. (Ask Phaedrus about this issue at Shootout).

as a judge, i am one of the counters, it is an excellent way to measure displacement. and yes, it may be flawed, but overall it works very well. it is especially helpful on simple vertical figures like a hammerhead with a half roll up....the tendency is to go vertical, immediately do the roll, and then draw a long vertical line - the length of which relative to the original roll, determine the downgrade.

P