As far as technique (me): I setup the ball just left of center (righty). Try to make contact on the bottom half of the ball. My greatest improvement was usuing a lower profile fw. I use to try to hit it off the deck with an old Cally but the face was just to deep..obviously a mental thing..but anyway..with the lower profile face it gave me greater confidence. FYI: Mine is a McGregor V-Foil cavity 4W