I have some questions regarding how I feel during my approach and release.

1.  I have late timing and one of the ways to fix it I was told by starting the ball on the first step.  The problem is that it really feels uncomfortable no matter how many times I do it.  If I do it at my normal place or slower, the ball feels like it's at the top of the swing on my second step, which throws me off at the last two and gives me an awkward release.  If I speed up my feet to counteract this,  I feel like I finish ahead of the ball, which causes me to force the ball from my swing way beyond than necessary.  This feeling is really uncomfortable and it forces me to abandon starting the ball soon, so what should I do?

2.  In regards to my release, I can't feel the ball off the pads of my fingertips consistently.  I can consistently feel this throwing a straight ball, yet I can't feel it throwing a hook.  How do I get this feeling off the finger pads for a strike shot?