I use both til late in the keep. I make sure all four feet are on the ground and the pull is on a level plane. From the base of the tree vs. from up the trunk or from a limb/branch. I like to see the dog pull straight back and basically crunch his 'abs/abdomen' with each tug. The shaking back and forth is OK and of the dog lean toward that I ease up/lessen the time. If he is a pull and snatch backwards hide worker then I add it a little more.

The flirt pole is a main stay. My best efforts with it was once when I had an open chain link pen, maybe 40X50. I could let the dog run loose. I had a long fiber glass rod like the ones with a little flag on the back of a kids bike. It was like 12' or so. I put the hide on the end and I could stretch the dog out in 30' plus sprints, change of direction and sprint the other way.

I used it all the way thru.

EWO