Freefall maneuvers are easier and cleaner at faster fall rates. A style tuck or a mega-arch with your arms and legs pinned behind you will give you a hefty fall rate. Neither of these positions is good for taking grips on other jumpers. An optimal fall rate is one that allows everyone to maintain a comfortable body position without pinning their arms and legs behind them or de-arching their entire bodies. The fall rate, subject to these constraints, should be made as fast as possible to facilitate turns.
Jumpers jump with different groups of people.
On a given dive the fall rate may be slightly faster or slower than some other dive. Every jumper should have a range of fall rates that are compatible with the group of people he jumps with. Practice the entire range of fall rates on the 2-way dive. Start by going faster. Move arms and legs backward and arch more.