Wood is my most frequent medium, so I've spent a lot of time sanding both by hand and with machines. My guess is that you were grinding hard with the heavy paper in a fast up and down motion and that's how you made gouges. If you keep working with it, it'll come to you. You'll also develop weird muscle groups that make it all easier.
I think the top of the stick needs work. The rough facets give it a hammered appearance that don't match the polish of the length.
Did you enjoy it? One of my friends came up with a phrase in an artist statement that I relate strongly to: the tranquility of repetitive motion. I really like hand sanding, but my hands are pretty much permanently fucked.
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