Hovering is one of the hardest maneuvers to learn. There are a few things that will help.

1. Ensure that you have enough throws on the control surfaces. Most foamies require 45-60 degrees of throw. LOTS of aileron to counteract torque. If you have a programmable radio, USE EXPO. Expo should be set between -40 to -60% depending on your flying preferences.

2. Hovering is much easier to do at lower altitudes, where you can see what the plane is doing. To begin you should be attempting a hover at least one LOOP high. In other words, you need to be able to pull it up into a hover, and if you yank back full elevator be able to do a half loop and not hit the ground.

3. Remember, since you are at least one loop high, if the plane falls backward on its back, full up elevator into half loop and exit level flight.

4. Learn to use your rudder. You MUST use rudder to hover. Practice using the rudder instead of ailerons to turn the plane around. Practice doing flat turns where you push rudder, and hold a little aileron to counteract the roll.

5. Practice harriers. Harriers are a great way to learn some basic hovering skills. Fly around at a high angle of attack, and keep increasing it until you can hold it vertical in a hover.

6. Rearward CG. This has been debated for a long time. Of the probably 5-6 pilots here that regularly fly 3D maneuvers, including Tony Stillman and Steve Rojecki (both known for their flying skills), ALL of us have changed the CG on most of our planes to make them fly better. We all agree that on most kitted widely available planes, the manufacturers recommended CG point is extremely conservative, and placed far too forward for effective 3D flight, and in some cases(like the Tensor4D) are so far forward that it causes the plane to nose in if the power is pulled off for a landing.

If the CG is too far forward the plane will not hover, and too far back and it will just fall out of the sky. Most planes will hover MUCH better if the CG is moved aft of the recommended spot. Start by moving the CG back 1/4" from the manufacturer recommended CG. Then go pull it up in a hover. You will evenually find a "sweet spot" at which the plane becomes neutral and will remain in a hover with very little control input.

You will also find that this aft CG position will allow the plane to perform other maneuvers better, and take better advantage of elevator and rudder. Maneuvers become tighter and snappier.