When I first started playing, I had what some call the "flying elbow." When I started playing more consistently, I learned to tuck my elbow in on the takeaway. What happened was I could hit my irons and wedges straighter and more consistently, but I've lost a lot of power on my driver. I know that Nicklaus had an elbow that wasn't tucked, and his explanation was that it generated more power. I see others with untucked elbows, and their drives are consistently longer than mine.
I'm thinking about letting loose with my driver and woods and seeing what happens. I have a history of lower back problems and herniated discs (they both needed epidurals), so simply increasing my turn or torque is not an option. I know the young guns on Tour have a severe right elbow tuck throughout their swing, but I am neither young or on Tour.
As we all know, if you go looking for advice on the internet, you end up in a veritable rabbit hole with contradicting tips and "expert" opinions. The Golf Section of the local bookstore is jam-packed with books which promote or disapprove of the right elbow, the planted lead foot, etc.
Without getting into weight shift and angle of attack, what are your thoughts on this?