Must admit the best advice I got when I first started was 'don't be bullied by the wood' just get a firm push 'down' and pin it to the saw table and just put in front of the blade the bit you want to cut. Now I know that sounds vague and perhaps fanciful but it worked for me. .. I only have my saw on ¾ speed and actually talk to it when cutting a 'difficult' piece saying ''You will only cut what I put in front of you'' . I only cut a ¼'' of wood at a time, I find if I look at the whole pattern the saw takes over and whizzes away from me.