Looping the club is a way to get the momentum of the clubhead out in front of your body. If you let the club fall behind your hands then you are looping incorrectly. Here's how Joe looped the club using his arms and hands.
Joe would encourage you to determine path by "setting the shoulders." While keeping your hands and everything else the same, modify path by adjusting your shoulders.
Joe made use of the quadrants in order to help you set up to the ball. This helped you to aim straight or, if you erred, kept you from hitting over the top.
Joe's practice swing was something he prescribed to most all of his students. This trained you to move the club in sync with your body and how to keep the weight of the ball in front of you as opposed to falling behind.