Also try keeping your thumb on the spool just like Slow Poke said"' and also cast at your side until you get comfortable and slowly move your rod up cast till you get it right,
couple of other guys a while back suggested using a peice of electrical tape on your spool, just unspool a few yards of line and place tape on the spool,
Good luck and have fun cause once you get the hang of it you will not want to use a open face again.