honestly man, i have no idea whats goin on with the freak. as far as pinching and LSTing, they're both ways to limit vertical growth. the pinching technique involves a pinch and then a bend. IMO, i'd say LST is the better bet. it does stand for "low stress training," after all. there's some risk involved in both, but if done correctly, LST is much better. too much guesswork in pinch-bends. basically, what works for me is to carefully make a loop of string that i've soaked in pH correct water, and make a slipknot for one end. then just take your main cola and make sure it is lower than the lowest side shoot (if you have to bend it over the course of 3-4 days, so be it; some strains are brittle-stemmed). that'll make the side shoots focus on growing up to compete and make the plant bushier. just what i do, not the exact definition of LST.