Welcome!! I just sold my GS, my first 'performance' boat. Was a blast learning to drive it! I still remember when 55 was chine walk city, and then hit 62 one day, and was nicknamed 'Russ 62" by a few on the board! It takes time, don't get frustrated! As someone told me, you learn to drive it by feeling it in your seat aka: in your ass. and it's true. If you see it walk, you are already behind it. I had the traditional set up, 11 inches set back, 1/8 below pad (i thought it was 1/2 below most time, no wonder it spun a 26 so well!haha). I was with a fairly stout promax, on a 26 chopper. Carried the bow well that prop did, my favorite prop for sure. Biggest tip: find someone who can drive the boat, and ride with them a few runs. Then you 'feel' what it should be like, if that makes sense? I still remember the first time in the boat, Big Mike is driving, hit's the trim, thing gets way up and hits 92, felt awesome, but too, I thought we were going to die!hahha. . . he set it down smooth as silk and says 'not bad, not your turn!' i only hit 62 haha. Other big point, slow down slowly!!! barely, barely lift off, cool part is, at higher speeds, boat will feel to accelarate as the stern raises as you lift . . hehe. Counterweight is huge in the GS, but not too important till up on the pad. God I wish I could 'learn' all over again, it was exciting as hell!
Here is the link to my 'learning' post. . . .
http://forum.allisonowners.net/index.php?threads/russ-62mph-p.16403/