stepping out... smasher is close to it...
watch how the bowler has been bowling... then watch the spinners hand, if it is stock delivery, no doosra/wrongun/etc... you have to be expecting it to be pitched a bit short (thus u step out)... however, dont try to go all and all out on it... keep in the back of your mind that the bowler can change at the very last second (if he is smart, or if it is another delivery than what you expected)... also you should have seen the field as to how its been set and if you back urself to clear it or choose to hit in an open area so even a miss hit can be safe... now if the line of the bowler (or you expect it to be on middle and/or leg) then the ideal way to step out is not straight down (although nothing wrong), but slightly back as well (say 5-10 degrees back) so your movement looks like this bracket ( where you first stepping is a little backwards and then back towards the ball as if you would have gone in a straight line... this enables and opens you to a range of shots, if it is what you wanted, you can just lift it back over the bowlers head, or play it to long on long off depending on the line of the ball, if its pitched fuller, you can pull it, flick it to leg, drive it to mid/long off or on, or even cut it to third man... don't just go ultimate warrior on it, you will more likely miss it...
and obviously practice makes you better... if you dont watch the ball or just charge down coz you feel like it, than you will be stumped or miss hit it and be caught out 8/10 times... watch video's of m yousaf inzi or shoaib malik stepping out, heck even afridi
good luck...