Back of trail hand should not feel weird and should not be facing the target at top of backswing. Go to the forum Photo Album and under Sub albums click on "Golf The Technique Barrier". Then click on Figures 14, 15 and 16 to enlarge them. Figure 15 shows top of backswing position. While you're there, view all the drawings to get some idea about what should happen during the swing. The best way to learn is to start with chipping. As you begin to get comfortable with that, move on pitching and, finally, full shots. Chipping and pitching seems to help learners get the feel of "dragging" the club with the legs, rather than swinging it with the arms. Note: Bear in mind that some people do not believe it possible to drag a club down and through with the legs.

The Blake swing does feel somewhat different until you become accustomed to it. Closing the clubface, or keeping it square as Blake would say, especially, feels odd to some trying out Mindy's swing. Others like the feeling right from the start.

Those who have had greatest success with Blake do not have a hooking tendency. In fact, if anything, when the swing is executed properly it is much more likely to produce a slight fade.

The axe analogy is related to Blake's grip change. Mindy pointed out that to swing an axe you start with the hands widely apart then bring them together in the down stroke. The grip change is nothing so dramatic as that. SD