I live in the frozen northeast. I just returned from a five day, four rounds of golf, quick-trip to Florida. I have never employed the Blake reflex swing until this trip. In fact, I just discovered this forum at the end of the last golf season. I bought and read both Blake books and also purchased the Richard Wax cd. Long story short, my first ever attempts with the Reflex Swing were on the practice tee in Florida. I'm a 16 handicap and like I said, had not played since last fall. In the four rounds, I shot in the high eighties or low nineties each day. This included strokes dropped from poor chipping & putting due to the lay-off. In short, I am delighted with the initial results of trying this swing. My biggest problem was keeping my shoulders square while using the open stance. The swing felt totally natural and is extremely accurate. Best results came with a slower backswing. Swing with an easy smooth tempo and the results are astounding. The ball strking was unreal for having never used this swing. Now, I can't wait for spring to really put this new method to the test and see if it holds up.

Congratulations for your fine play in FL!

How long did you work with Blake's Reflex Swing ideas before you hit any balls with it? Also, what method(s) (if any) were you using prior to Blake?

Best wishes,
Tom

I've been experimenting with SA methods for a couple of years trying to beat my personal swing demon, an over-the-top downswing move. I've tried NG, IMA & HSS, all of which had their up sides but I was never really convinced that my game was that much better off than it was with CG........then I stumbled upon the Mindy Blake Forum and decided to buy his books. It's interesting but I had no problem finding both books at reasonable prices on Amazon and maybe one from eBay. I've seen entries in this forum of people paying $90. I paid under twenty.....after reading Blake's second book, everything seemed to make sense. Our golf season had passed but I took a couple of practise swings in my back yard before the snow flew and it really felt natural. I play from a slightly open stance to begin with so the transition was easier, I think......then, with my curiosity peaked, I studied the Claude Pesant drills and ordered Richard Wax's cd. My first "real Blake" swings came on the practise tee in Fl before my first round. (That's what's so amazing about this experience. I hadn't touched a club in 2 months!)It felt good, the ball flew straight and the swing was repeatable. And the dreaded over-the-top move had disappeared using Blake. I took it to the first tee and used it for four rounds. I did feel like I was maybe 1/2 club shorter but I'm sure I'm not in all the correct positions as a new Blake player. A real key for me was to keep my body relaxed and tension free. Not always easy for me to do on the course. I may have found a method suited for my game. I think I'm hooked on Blake!

The Blake books have varied in price over the years, with the second book, "Golf: The Technique Barrier", being the more expensive. It's also the book in which Blake laid out his fully evolved swing. Recently, both books seem to have gone down in price, presumably reflecting less demand on the used and out-of-print book market.

Your key of keeping the body relaxed and tension free is absolutely right on. Actually, that should be a key for any golf swing. Keep us apprised of your progress. SD

I now have several rounds in for the new season and I cannot be happier with the results of my change to Blake. I am consistantly in the low 80's and striking the ball better than ever. This method is very accurate. I rarely lose a ball. My biggest problem is with fairway woods. I am not striking the ball solidly or getting the distance I should with them. I must have a swing flaw somewhere due to the longer shafts. I'll figure it out. As a bonus, I've switched to using the Blake putting method and that has improved that area of my game also. I have found that I prefer the GSOF stance to the very open stance of GTTB. When I first switched over I found I was 1/2 club shorter. My yardage has increased with time and I'm back to where I was with CG or any of the SA methods I had tried. For all you new converts out there, give this method some time. It does work and your game will improve and your handicap will drop. All the info needed is in Mindy's books.