How to smoothly launch player to a location(Or block coordianate if needed)

I've been making a plugin for a big server project some buddies and I are working on, and I've been trying to launch players when they step over a block because our hub spawn is in a floating island theme/configuration. Now I have this code

Code:

if(p.getLocation().add(0, -1, 0).getBlock().getType().equals(Material.IRON_BLOCK)){
loc.add(0, 2, 0);
p.setVelocity(loc.getDirection().multiply(9));
}

And i have two problems. One, it doesn't always fire, two the launching is inconsistent and often goes way up or down. I'd like help with a launching system that is flexible (but can use coordinates if need be). I don't remember what server I was on but I do remember there were redstone blocks and when you would step on them it would launch you in the direction you were looking(my goal) and would play a sound.

 

antflga use a PlayerMoveEvent, check if they have moved more than 1 block from their previous location. If they have:

Code:java

if (player.getLocation().getBlock().getRelative(BlockFace.DOWN).getType() == Material.IRON_BLOCK) {
player.setVelocity(player.getVelocity().add( player.getLocation().getDirection().normalize().multiply(SPEED).setY(YSET) ));
//where YSET and SPEED are custom variables
}

Alternatively, you could use a repeating event that starts when the server is started, and every few ticks checks if a player is standing on a block. Idk which would be more efficient.