so ive been working on my CW for about 6 months now and i finally feel like im copying okay at around 12-13 wpm but my sending is honestly a mess. im using a cheap set of single-lever paddles i picked up off ebay and an MFJ keyer built into my radio (ts-590sg) and something just feels off. like the dots and dashes dont feel evenly spaced to me when i listen back to a recording of myself and its really frustrating because i can hear the difference between clean code and mine.

ive been messing with the weight setting on the keyer but i dont really understand what that does exactly — does it affect the ratio of dot to dash length or is it more about the spacing between elements? i honestly have no idea if the problem is the paddles, my technique, or the keyer settings. the paddles feel a little wobbly too, not sure if thats normal for cheaper ones.

anyway if anyone has been through this id love to know how you sorted it out. or if theres a better way to practice sending. i do use the Koch method on the computer for receiving but havent found anything that really focuses on the sending side.

the weight adjustment changes the dot to dash ratio basically — heavier weight means your dots get a tiny bit longer relative to standard timing, lighter makes them shorter. most people find somewhere around 50 is fine but it really depends on the keyer. the 590 keyer is actually pretty decent so i wouldnt blame that.

cheap paddles with a lot of wobble are a real problem though, that could definately be part of it. the contact gap and tension settings matter a lot more than people realize when youre starting out. try tightening the tension a bit and see if that helps you feel more in control. and honestly just slow way down when your sending feels sloppy — like go down to 8 wpm if you have to — and record yourself again. its tedious but thats how you find out where the muscle memory is breaking down. i spent like three weeks just doing the alphabet over and over at 10 wpm before it started to click for me.

I had the same thing with wobbly paddles when I started, turned out I just hadn't set the gap properly and the contacts were bouncing. There's a really good video on YouTube by OH8STN I think it was, about paddle adjustment — worth looking up. Also the N0SA sending practice videos helped me a lot just to hear what good rhythm actually sounds like and then try to copy it. Hang in there, 6 months in and already copying 13 wpm is honestly solid progress.