I drive a 2019 Honda Accord and I consider myself still a learner standard driver (10 000 km of driving). I really focus on driving smoothly so passengers don't feel any jerks while shifting or starting.

However, I find it incredibly difficult to drive smooth I feel like things are against me.

The thing that irks me the most is the rev-hang. I have to wait for the hang to end and let the RPM drop to match the next gear. It takes so long I feel like the car loses some momentum.

I contacted a local tuner and they said they can reprogram the ECU with KTuner to remove the hang but I'm worried about the implications on warranty.

I mentioned this on some forum and some blamed the Clutch Delay Valve. I'm not sure how that contributes to jerkier shifts. It would be nice to know.

So far, my only workaround is to apply a tiny bit of throttle before release the clutch slowly. It seems to cancel the hang and the RPM drops much more quickly.

Are these kind of mods a good idea? Any other tips for shifting smoothly, especially from 1st to 2nd?