Bending the left arm

For years I have been following the advice that you have to have a straight left arm going back.  Just found a new swing coach.  Had me bending the left arm going back with a loose grip.  Holy S*&%....couldn't believe it was me hitting the ball.  Tried it on the golf course and was ball striking like I never did before in 23 years of golf.  Looked into it a little more and  names like Calvin Peete, Curtis Strange, Bill Vardon all had bent arms going back.  One thing a straight left arm introduces is tension.  Letting the left arm bend is a more natural feeling and the golfer has less tendencey in overgripping the club during the downswing. It feels like a more natural easy flow then the straight arm.  Found out that a lot of golf schools in Europe are now introducing this model as a new approach in swinging the club...I'm sold.!

I think it is all about the connection with the two arms.  What is your right arm doing?  When do you hinge the wrists?

Right arm is just there for the ride.  Hinging happens a little earlier than with a straight arm.  I noticed that the club head goes back futher than with the straight arm. I beleive I am getting more club head by having the club futher back in my backswing...I make no extra effort to increase the down swing...easy back, easy forward.

There's similar threads. This one seems like the best one, though.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/35195/shorter-probably-better-swing-keep-the-right-arm-straight

I also never focus on the left arm and agree about the tension it can create. A good feel from Manuel de la Torre is to keep your hands as far from your head as you can throughout the swing. This will promote a straighter left (and right) arm without introducing tension as you are focused on your hands not your arm or elbow. The thread @Lihu just posted is a great one. Doesn't work for everyone, but when I'm executing those feels properly I get great results. It always feels like I won't get as much distance but the opposite is true, I actually gain a LOT more distance with that feel.

Some big hitters come to mind who have a slight bend Cabrera,and JB Holmes to name two. I am one of those who can hyper-extend my elbows so always careful not to force it straight. I have a mild bend going back but it straightens on the way down.