ET read your comments on Squeezing and since I have just bought a new Bencher keyer to resume on air activity after about a 15 year hiatus, I was wondering if the key could be used non-iambically, that is, without squeezing. As an old morse man I know I will have fits with thinking and squeezing. Reply: Essentially ANY dual paddle can be used "non-iambically," it's simply a matter of not squeezing! But you might actually profit from using a different technique right from the start. I will expand the article eventually, and this also will fit neatly into our FAQ page which is under development, so I'll just hit the high spots right now.
To squeeze, you have to move your thumb and fingers independently. In contrast, the appropriate method for a bug or single paddle is to lightly HOLD the fingerpiece and rock your whole hand back and forth. There's no reason you can't do this with a dual paddle-- just hold your thumb and fingers slightly off the fingerpieces, and rock your hand. This will absolutely prevent an inadvertent squeeze. Another option is to use an electronic keyer that can turn "iambic mode" off. Hope this helps, and 73 DE ET (Marshall)
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