Smooth-Spike look instead of poofiness... how?

I would like to achieve a style like the picture below  When I try to do my hair I tend to get more poofiness instead. I'm not sure what the right terminology is.  I think the problem is that my hair might have a slight curl to it.  When I gel my hair rather than getting a strait spike, It tends to curl over.  When I use a putty it tends to get poofy.  What am I doing wrong?  Sometimes I come close, but not quite.  What do I need... cut? Product? Tecnique?