[BerntR]

In the takeaway: How much separation/takeaway between the right elbow and the right side of the body is advisable? I tend to feel that I move the whole bent right arm unit more than doing a fanning motion with the elbow more or less stationary at almost the same place (if that is a goal?). But we don't want a lawnmower motion either !? Am I making any sense?

Good question.

I believe more fanning and less separation in the early stage of the back swing may potentially reduce the slice tendency and contribute to a later release, more swing speed and ball compression. There are probably a zillion ways of getting into the right slot after transition, but I am a mirror image kind of guy where my takeaway and back swing tends to have a very direct implication on the down swing. And a lot of fanning early in the bs tends to give a lot of fanning (release) towards impact.