Perhaps I'm confused about this technique then. It seems to me that a buddy box is exactly like having dual controls as in full size (except the instructor can take over directly rather than having to say "I have control" and hope that the trainee doesn't fight him on the controls).

Could you explain how it works ? The one time I tried it, not with Mr Ragland but with someone who claimed to be using the same method, it invoved the instructor hovering on my shoulder with his hand on top of mine on the RH stick. Perhaps it's not supposed to work like that but I can't say was really keen on this guy standing well inside my personal space trying to hold hands with me .

It may be that the specific instructor is critical to success and the method simply doesn't translate well to just any old club instructor.

Steve