No hoop for me.
Use starch (lots of it)... freezer paper, heat and bond, or drafting your templates onto card stock and spray starching lightly/pressing to hold the shape in place.
Reverse applique gives nicer results when you're working with hard shapes and you can barely see the stitches on the reverse applique.
I am working on Reverse Applique right now, the only complaint it takes too long.
Leave a good seam allowance for your needle turn applique until you feel that you can master the technique, then later you can narrow down the seam allowance for needle turning; and make it a habit to use glue (glue sticks) for holding the applique fabric in place instead of using straight pins or thread basting.
Practice and don't give it up!