Pete Mazur has no difficulty calling the shots as center judge. I don't think I do. But it really doesn't matter if the plane stopped, backed up or whatever. If the Center Judge said it did, then it did. In competition, you'll see a lot of flyers (I'm one) who keep track of the warnings with outstretched fingers on the non-flying hand. If you're pretty well along the flight and don't have any warnings, you might consider pushing the angle a little farther, this particular judge may have a greater 60 degree in mind than others. But if you're not finished with your first LS lap and have two fingers sticking out, the rest of the flight is going to be a nerve-racking one!
It's hard to detect a momentary stoppage with no backdrop to go by, maybe fly a little high? I watch the spinner or prop-nut, it seems easier to detect a stoppage this way. I also set up my arresting hook so that when it is verticle to the horizon, the fuselage is just shy of 60 degrees, if the hook gets verticle, I should be getting a warning.
I don't like the center-judge to be off to my left side- If I get in trouble with a slack line situation, I need to be able to whip and run backwards without running over the Center Judge. Bill Calkins is always in the right position when I need to regain line tension. At Muncie, reverse rotation props don't conteract all the winds! dg