i dont go with this large 12" prop theory,, but i dont hang in one place and throttle setting, i dance like a crazy person and use a 10x4 APC or 11x4 Master on a 36 & 37
i learnt on a Cougar 2000, first up high, when i could hold it and let it go downwind till i got bored i got braver, also i'd beaten up the plane quite bad so i wasnt as worried about it anymore.
i came into wind and hovered ( not HANG! ) i gradully used the rudder more and more and gave more throttle and was aiming higher and higher, after 5 mins i was almost vert and hanging. i landed and made some changes.
first more throw and less expo to get the plane to react quicker, and moved the CofG back slightly, i also just breathed on the idle needle to improve the responce, i now had confidence in the engine not cutting
went out again, same thing, started level and slowely pulled up over about a min, and hung.
i really learnt it that fast, tho the getting there took a year. the next flight i did a tail slide and my first tail touch. this is where the hovering and learing rudder helps to get it much quicker before you just pull up.
i improved a HELL! of alot when i got a Dust Ulimited and added a rudder, it was so responsive and would hang on anything under 1/4 throttle, the strenght also gos along way to confidence.

tips are.... make the plane responceive, learnt how it flys and know it by instinct.
if you still have to think of your thumbs when you fly, practice more.
get the engine sorted, do all your tuning verticle.
do it low, you can see better, and falling from 5' is better than 20.

most important get the confidence, knowing the plane, and sorting the engine help, try on sommit you dont care if you knock up, IT WILL GET DAMMAGED!!! accept that, and go fly.

now... how do i torque it??? i've tried to hover into wind upside down, can i use the rudder? can i hell.... always been rubbish at inverted