As far as the proper way to start an invert, I always recommend dipping down, skim the water's surface without plowing, then push your handle down onto your lap as hard as you want (the harder and faster you push down on the handle and lean back the faster and higher you will go up) and on the way back up from the dip, you want to wait until just before the wings clear the water, and throw your head strait back if you are doing a gainer, and back and to the left or right if you are doing a roll.  You have to do this just before the wings clear or you will not get upside down and around.  If you do this exactly correct, you will have a huge perfectly rotating gainer or roll.  It is all timing.  Do it too soon, and, no offense, but you will look like Amy D.  Do it too late, and you will go up real high, and come down on your back or go tip in.  So, slow the boat down to between 20-22mph, go for it, use a helmet and release, and don't worry about the penalties.  The time for that is before you try anything. 

 

You must first decide how bad you want it.  Do you feel comfortable with your level of risk?  Chances are you will be just fine.  But if you don't do it right, and you end up breaking an arm like Cindy Dent (she now does flips), is it worth it?  That is why I recommend the helmet and release.  With these two tools, you vastly reduce your risk.  Having both a manual release, and an automatic is your best case scenario.  And having an experienced pin puller is also key.  If you have a release, but the person who operates it is a bozo, or has never done it before, you might as well not even have it. 

 

As far as H to H heli's, you must take it up into the air first, then when you are just about to the top, pull your handle into the small of your back with the arm furthest away from the boat.  If you do this too early, the foil will catch water in the wrong direction and cause you to go out the front.  Better to go too late.  When you get to the half way point, you must then grab the handle behind your back with the other hand, release the first hand, spot the boat, and grab again with both hands.  You can also use the rope in the air to stop or slow down your rotation.  When cutting out, you must not let off too much on your lean, or you will float the bottom of the foil away from the wake, and land on your side when you hit the water.  Stay on edge, take it up, then spin once way up in the air.  Start at 20-22mph.

Hope this helps!