Team challenge-bamboo stick lowering?

Our group faced a puzzle we could not solve. We lined up across from one another, and held out our hands toward the middle, and the leader placed a bamboo pole on our fingertips (each man using his index finger.) We were to lower it from shoulder level all the way to the ground, with its slight weight constantly resting on our fingers--one man's loss of contact meant we had to try again.



We found it impossible to beat this simple feat! Someone would anticipate the momentum and lower his finger faster than the pole. Or the guys toward one end would lower faster, and spoil the attempt. It's so easy to lower your fingers slightly faster than necessary, when the weight is so slight.



We tried using a cadence, like a simple song, and lowering just on certain beats. We tried fast, and slow...nothing worked.



How do you solve this skill test?? (Remember, the general theme was team building...)

Team challenge-bamboo stick lowering?
Can you move your fingers from the base?