The Frank Method: A Novice's Perspective

Being new to pipe smoking (only a couple of months now), I think I have experienced all of the unpleasurable aspects of the hobby that are common to novices. And while I did have some enjoyable smokes along the way, they seemed few and far between. That has all changed since I started packing my pipe according to the Frank Method. My smokes have been far more consistent, cooler and far more enjoyable.
Although I tried the The Three Step Method, my results were inconsistent. As someone that is trying to teach himself pipe smoking with only the internet and this forum as teacher and guide, I found this method to be somewhat lacking for a novice like myself. I believe the problem, if you want to even call it that, is that describing how much pressure one should use to pack the pipe is far too subjective. Even the description of The Three Step Method on The Pipes Magazine website uses terms like "a little pressure" and "a little more pressure". Well what exactly is that? Unless an experienced pipe smoker packs your pipe and lets you actually feel the amount of pressure they're applying, how the tobacco feels in the bowl and how the draw feels it's all guesswork and experimentation until you get it right. I believe The Frank Method eliminates a lot of the guesswork, especially for someone trying to teach themselves something as fundamental as packing their pipe.
I realize that for many packing their pipe is simply second nature and The Frank Method may seem to over complicate something that for them, is done without thinking. But for a novice like me, it has been a breakthrough for my pipe smoking. I know it's not for everybody but if you're a beginner that's finding themselves frustrated, give The Frank Method a shot and I hope it works as well for you as it has for me. Happy New Year everyone.

stanlaurel I'm glad you tried the Frank Method and by the sounds of it, you had a better smoke using it than what you've experienced. Congratulations. It may be a small step but it's a step in the right direction. Thanks drsquat for backing me up. I'm not quite sure why some have dismissed this packing method simply for "newbies". The "Three Step Method" of pipe packing is thrown out to new pipe smokers as gospel but tough to learn when you're doing it on your own.
My personal experience with the "Three Step Method" yielded unsatisfactory results. To quote myself from a previous post: "I believe the problem, if you want to even call it that, is that describing how much pressure one should use to pack the pipe is far too subjective. Even the description of The Three Step Method on The Pipes Magazine website uses terms like "a little pressure" and "a little more pressure". Well what exactly is that? Unless an experienced pipe smoker packs your pipe and lets you actually feel the amount of pressure they're applying, how the tobacco feels in the bowl and how the draw feels it's all guesswork and experimentation until you get it right."
I'm not sure why some have dismissed the Frank Method as a "beginner" method. I'm not sure why some members have discarded it because now they smoke flakes. I smoke flakes just fine using the Frank Method, although I rub them out. Am I to be forgiven...?
"Frankly", I'm confident that a true pipe smoker is confident enough in their own nose and tongue to recognize what tastes and feels good to them and to disregard what others have to say...
To stanlaurel, are you an accountant? For fucks sake! You seem obsessed with numbers of this and numbers of that...
Why bother smoking a pipe if you're worried about the maker, year of your pipe or brand of your tobacco. Why bother smoking a pipe if you're worried about the numbers of bowls smoked, the temperature at which they were smoked, the humidity level, moonphase and whatever astronomical bullshit and vegan, homo, lesbo, and whatever level they're supposed to be...
stanlaurel It's a journey. Why rush it? Enjoy the ride...
But... Dunhill Nightcap isn't a bad place to start if you're interested in English...