This has been a recurring issue in my left hand my entire life. So it's not just mandolin. First noticed it many years ago playing bass in school. (aka 40+ years ago)
My left pinky doesn't always want to go where I want it to, when I want it to. The bottom joint (knuckle) seems to slip around sometimes. Makes it difficult to predict when it will hit the fretboard and when it will just say "gimme a sec, will be there in a minute."
Realized that for the last 20+ years of guitar playing, would either not call on it to do anything difficult while flatpicking, or just shift the hand so the 3rd finger covers it.
Tougher to do that on mandolin. Especially as some of the music I'm playing will have reaches from F to C on the E string. Could try moving things to play out of a closed position higher up, but most of the time I don't like that tone.
Any other suggestions? Again, it does work, just not necessarily with the speed and reliability I need.
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