You're Correct!

The role of the takeaway and back swing is to position the body and set the club in a position in order to generate speed and to be able to make a consistent delivery to impact by having less compensations during the down swing.

By addressing the ball in the correct manner at set up you are giving yourself the best chance of achieving the desired positions during the back swing.

Here are some pointers and positions to look out for in the takeaway and back swing from down the line of the shot:

As the club starts back and reaches parallel to the ground, the club shaft should be running parallel to the target line and approximately in line with your toes with the club face a hair short of the toe pointing straight up. The right arm begins to fold and the wrists hinge as your body and hips rotate. When the lead arm reaches parallel to the ground, the hands should be running through the centre of the trail arms bicep and the club shaft set at around 45 degrees to the ground.

At the top of your back swing your body should have remained in its inclination to the ground with your head staying in the same position as it was at address. Your lead arm should be running across the line of your shoulders with the club shaft around parallel to the ground and running parallel to the target. Your shoulder should have turned 90 degrees and the hips around 45 degrees.

If you achieve these positions on the back swing you should be in good shape to produce a good transition and delivery into impact.

If you only use your arms to take the club away during the takeaway you will be making a disconnection between your arms, body and club. Creating a disconnection of movements in the back swing makes it difficult to set the club on the correct plane and arrive at the top of the back swing in the desired fashion. A blend of movements are required to position the club correctly to arrive at the top of the back swing in the desired position.

By lifting your arms up, away and off your torso during the back swing you are creating an element of timing which you will then have to time on the down swing in order to achieve a desirable impact position. Ideally, your lead arm should arrive parallel to your shoulder plane at the top of your back swing with your trail arm the same distance from your rib cage as it was at address.

If you arrive at the top of the back swing in an erect position, you have lost your inclination to the ground you established at address. Losing your tilt to the ground will make your strikes inconsistent and very much reliant on timing. The tilt towards the ground you establish at set up should be maintained during the swing and allows you to swing the club on the desired plane, and make consistent solid contact at impact.