I keep getting all kinds of responses from my club, so maybe I'm not asking questions right.

I asked about how to learn to use rudder. I was told to fly the plane without using ailerons, to use rudder and elevator to start and finish turns. I was also told to do stall turns, and maybe some knife edges (when they saw me doing them anyway =) Then one of the head instructors said he doesn't really use rudder to fly, only for 3D. He said he doesn't use it at all to turn, and doesn't even really use it to land, just plans out his path when flying in the wind.

Then people were talking about using the rudder 'to kick the tail around' during a turn, instead of letting it drop. But this is contrary to what I heard about initiating turns with the rudder, and using elevator and ailerons to keep altitude and proper pitch.

Then, get this...they told me I'm too new to be worrying about rudder anyway, and that I should just be flying and having fun and learning the (new) plane and not thinking about rudder. Morally, I can't do that - it's wrong!!! (Right???)

So what the hay should I be doing? Initiating turns with rudder, and using the other controls to keep the plane at constant altitude and a nice 30 degree bank?

I'm so confused!