been working on my split S for probably three weeks now and i keep ending up way too low by the time i pull out. i get the basic idea, roll inverted, pull back on the elevator to arc down and come out level, but the timing on when to start the pull is just not clicking for me. i either start too early and barely get any dive or i wait too long and im basically aimed at the ground by the time i react.

im flying a 5inch on betaflight, rates are pretty moderate, not super twitchy. been doing this in a field with plenty of altitude so no crashes yet but i keep scaring myself. watched a bunch of videos and everyone makes it look so easy. is this just a rep thing or is there something specific about the timing i should be thinking about differently

yeah its a rep thing mostly but theres also a mental model thing. the way it clicked for me was thinking about it in two totally separate motions instead of trying to blend them together. full roll to inverted, pause for a half second to let the craft stabilize upside down, then pull. a lot of beginers try to do it all in one fluid motion and it becomes this rushed thing where you never really get settled inverted before you're already trying to pull out. that half second pause feels weird at first like you're wasting time but it gives you a reference point and makes the pull timing way more consistent.

also your rates might actually be working against you if they're too moderate ? you might not be getting fully inverted before you start the pull. not saying crank them up necessarily but worth checking that your roll is actually completing before you do anything else

the altitude thing is real, you're losing more height than you think during the roll phase before you even start pulling. i used to think i had heaps of room and then suddenly i didnt. try doing them from like twice the altitude you think you need until it feels automatic, then work your way down. also simulators ? liftoff or velocidrone ? i probably did a thousand split S maneuvers in sim before it felt natural in real life. not exciting practice but it translates