Originally posted by chris mood
For speed and endurance you should pick from the arm.

I dunno man. I think it depends on what your playing. If your playing at a steady medium tempo its cool to use your whole arm, but to pull off fast stuff. I don't think so, I've never seen or could imagine someone playing a fast solo swinging their whole arm. I mean picking every note, not hammer-ons and pull-offs. Again it would depend on what your playing. Violin players use their elbow, and they accomplish faster speeds with shorter strokes. That's how I pick, mostly the wrist but I also use the elbow from stronger picking. The only time I use my whole arm is for slower tempos.