impressive contributions have been made regarding turnbacks and technique
but the slipping turn has not been mentioned as such ?
iirc Brian Lecomber recommended this as giving the least height loss
my impression is that steep slipping top-rudder turns in the circuit were normal pre WW2
in the USA there's tight 700' circuits
in the Pitts 50deg bank letting the stick forward to maintain AoA seemed to get the job done
especially turning final
my instructor was ex Air Corps ie an 'old school' glide approach type
the plane is made (via its power/trim characteristics) to do the job if given a chance