it just takes some practice and getting used to the car

 

I usually get in, Start it up, Grab that stick (Firmly), Push in the pedal that's on the left side, Push the stick towards the 1 on the map, push the pedal on the right side, release the pedal on the left, Keep ALOT of pressure on the right side pedal, then I try to repeat this process for all the numbers on the map.

 

what are you talking about? Do you mean disengaging? I'm talking about pushing the clutch in...not riding it while driving.

 

Just ease off and on the throttle rather than abrupt movements, and time your shift to match the drop in revs. If you're doing it right, you can be very quick with the clutch (practically stomp it in and dump it out) and still not feel any jerkiness.

 

Bingo. Upshifting is all about timing to get it smooth. Slamming gears, while fast, is jerky as hell and hard on the drivetrain. Clutch in and wait for the revs to fall into the range the next gear wants for your current wheel speed before reengaging and it'll be smooth. 90% of my upshifts are seamless.

Downshifting is a little trickier but I pretty much rev-match by ear now.

 

My smoothest shifts are when I don't think about them. The only times I have stalled, or bucked a gear, were when I was trying not to stall or buck a gear.

I have found if I try too hard not to jerk the passenger around, I end up doing exactly that.

 

no, im saying when you go to upshift, or downshift, the pedal should be all the way engaged, to the floor. if not, this will wear the clutch slightly but prematurely over time

 

same here...when i concentrate so hard it makes things worse. i don't think there's any way you can shift without ur passengers' head moving back and forth. unless you're accelerating REALLY slow, as long as you're moving and clutch in the passengers will move.

 

I normally am very smooth when I drive calm, which is most of the time.
Whenever I think, "Damn! Im driving smooth!" Its normally followed by me shifting poorly lol

 

Wrong!
What? No!
Pushing on the clutch pedal DISENGAGES the clutch.
^ THIS!!!


Six years, is that all? Honestly... If you think about people that drive their autos smoothly, you'll notice that the passengers move slightly (unless you're in a CVT). It's the changes in acceleration that cause people to rock. So, the key in a manual is about rolling off of the throttle slightly before the shift and rolling back on after.

Always, push the clutch in all the way, and always take your foot off the clutch in between shifts. It's proper form (and the whole point of the dead pedal).