[Thom]

why would you set the ball "alongside" the heel? i'm not sure i understand

The answer is there.....because the left shoulder is open = further away from the than at address = the clubhead is pulled back too.

Vijay amongst others address the ball like this.

Your idea about kind of a TGM-logbook is good. I have written down a lot of the concepts and how I'm supposed do use them in a little book I have in the golfbag. I'm supposed to read it before playing to prevent me from playing with one of the old bad habits for most of the round before finding out that I turn the club too much in the backswing, or going to the end not the top, or other things I'm supposed not to do anymore. Most of the time I don't give myself time to read it though, but the proces of writing it down surely makes some of the stuff last longer in your mind.