Keep one this in mind. A Cessna 172 or a Taylorcraft fly at low speed. Lets say 150knots or less. At those speeds the rudder does have a much greater effect.
But....
At higher speeds the rudder effect becomes much less. If your cruising along at 350knots, it does not have much effect at all.
The rudder is the control that you use to keep the ball centered.
Now to keep the ball centered, you use your rudder the same side the ball moved IE: "Step on the ball".
This works in AH. At low speeds you have a great deal of effect upon yaw using the rudder, at higher speeds much less.
Personally, I don't pay much attention to it, except on take off or high altitude turns.