Coming from one who is hopeless with bowl-lathering, I found the best solution for me was scuttle-lathering.
I use a traditional vintage shaving-scuttle similar to this one:
http://www.google.com.au/url?source=...JnfVU7Zvfbm_5A
Steps:
1. Put 1/2 teaspoon of soft soap or cream into top of the scuttle.
2. Fill scuttle with hot water. Stick brush in spout and leave to soak for 30sec.
3. Take brush out of spout and immediately apply to the soap-bowl in the top of the scuttle.
4. Begin lathering. Don't worry about the holes. Just lather.
5. Excess water drains back into the scuttle's lower chamber as you lather. Lather builds in upper bowl. Once sufficient lather is produced...apply to face and continue lathering as necessary.
6 (optional) If lather in scuttle is dry, pick up the scuttle and tip it back towards the handle. The water in the scuttle will come up through the holes in the soap-bowl. Continue lathering until desired consistency is reached. Tip scuttle back to horizontal position to get rid of the excess water.
Doing this, I've managed to get lather in a minute (literally). It's very effective.
Similar steps also work if you lather on the puck, and put a shaving-soap puck into the top of the scuttle.