Having real problems with fundamentals...

[MentalGolfNut]

After being repeatedly disgusted by choking in tournaments due to mental issues that sometimes make my swing flinch at impact I decided to completely change my swing and try to create something different that will hopefully trick the brain. In rebuilding the swing though I notice that I always did several things wrong despite starting golf at a young age. One of these problems is the fact that I take the club back too low for far too long... as a result I can't figure out when the proper hinging occurs and I feel like this could be one of the keys to making me strike the ball better.

In essence, I would like to know when to "pick up" the club vertically without obviously bending my left arm because that is the only way I can do it at the moment. Otherwise I go to the other extreme of dragging the club along the ground too long and extending the arms too much as well. Any help would be appreciated.