Answers...
What type of golfers benefit from a wide, long right arm, takeaway?
In general, the type that would benefit would be someone who needs a more distinct change-of-direction.
Conversely, folks who have a dramatic change-of-direction—or maybe even too much—are better off setting early.
For instance Jack Nicklaus, who was thick in the chest, and burned at lot of energy and clubhead feel stretching soo hard tp get as turn and as up and in in his backswing, benefitted greatly from wide to narrow.
Johnny Miller, Mike Finney, etc., natural big down-setters, gained control over setting early.
But, if you NEED it, and you can handle it, you can do both.
Ala, Sergio Garcia.
I never forget the first time I first taught Mike Finney how to make a Nicklaus-type move, just as an experiment.
Instead of his normal early set, he snap-loaded and extra float leaded.
I don't know why I let him use my Ping Eye 2 Beryllium Copper 6-iron for this trial. But I did.
Michael hit it about 210 yards and my shaft broke off and the head went 50 yards.
Whoa!
How long should the clubface remain square on the takeaway? Should you actively try to turn/swivel your wrists on the takeaway?
For almost every pattern, there should be no "on purpose" turning open (or holding closed) of the clubface, independent of arm swing and shoulder turn.
But, there is a type of golf that it works well for. That golfer has PLENTY of natural clubface closing on the downswing. Mike Finney, and currently Gary Gardner.
It is part of my "Eliminate Left" pattern.
Is it better to have lower or higher hands at the top of the backswing?
All things being equal, higher is better.
But again, it depends on the pattern.
Never Hook Again - High Hands
Soft Fade Pattern - Pretty Low
Eliminate Left - In between the above two
Do It Right - In between Soft Fade and Eliminate Left
Soft Draw - Slightly Higher than Do it Right
Never Slice Again - A little Less high
Is it good advice to keep your right elbow close to your body?[/QUOTE]
On the backswing, totally worse than a waste of time.
On the downswing, if done by the hands, and with pitch elbow, it is fine.
But, in certain patterns, especially with punch elbow, death move.
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