i suppose it all depends on wether you get more bites on an expander and if you can hit them, but if you are missing bites on expanders then you are right, you will get friction burns on yer hands!

i always look to fish an expander where poss, the bites are usually cleaner and always hooked in the gob. if the fish are finicky you’ll find your pulling out of fish and hooking them on the outside of the mouth etc…

reg shipping all the time, all you need is a gentle lift, don’t strike as this will do your head in. when the float goes just lift and if its a ‘propper’ bite the fish will be on.
pellets, if you are stuggling with the pellet coming off get some gelatine from any food shop, put a liitle in with your pellets when you pump them and then in the fridge overnight and job done. for pole fishing you shouldny really need jelly pellets.
just try lifting into bites and you’ll be amazed how many fish are ‘just on!!’

Banded.