Another note re: the shaft leaning back that is important to note - it actually makes it 'easier' to get a flat left wrist at the top.
When your right forearm and elbow work properly, they are the 'guide' for your left hand/thumb/flat left (see my post re: the left thumb). At about halfway back, (when your right forearm is parallel to the ground, and your forearms/elbows are basically 'level', pointed down, and pivoting around/up the right elbow and forearm), the initial 'cup' of the lead hand (and thumb) becomes on plane, and flat - from there, your continued shoulder turn (get that left shoulder under your chin), takes the package to the top. A vast majority of players move their right elbow too much in the takeaway, and too far behind them, it must point down.
Brian - how do you feel about the 'swing jacket'? In my view, it is the one aid that 'clearly' lets you feel that right arm/elbow motion. If you know the feel, other aids will give this (momentus, medicus even, your favorite
. The major, major problem with the jacket is that it is WAY too restrictive, and in my opinion, should never be used for anything but takeaway practice, and small pitch shots. It keeps the arms too connected to the body, but is the right feel hip to hip. Good to borrow from someone, not to buy, but I've used it with some students with success.
Another way to look at this hand position - imagine a basketball suspended next to your hands at address, the back of your right hand touching it.
When you start the takeaway, the extremes of motion would be to either a) roll your hands over it b) roll your hands 'under' it or c) push it straight back, very slightly inside due to body turn.
That hand position makes the correct option 'c' a lot easier.
The same holds true on the through swing, over, under or straight through and back inside.
On the through swing you want to feel 'a', 'over the ball.'
So the mid body hands let you go from c to a in terms of forearm rotation, and the folding right elbow helps keep it all on track
ropehook - if your grip is neutral, your hands will hang in the center of your body. The best way to get there is to feel the upper arms against the chest a (basically) equal amount (take your grip with the hands held out in front of you, elbows bent a touch, arms against upper chest, and then just straighten the arms and bend from the hips to get the club behind the ball, then bend the knees untill you are perfectly balanced.
Always focus on balance.
