High Times had a pruning method back in the 90s.
The first True Serrated Leaf was the starting point/Node.
1 of the 2 first single serrated leaves is taken from 1 side.
As the plant grows, and develops the next set of leaves, the leaf from the OPPOSITE SIDE NODE of the plant is taken.
This process is repeated until the 5th Node, and then Topped at 6th node. Thats it. Take ONLY the TOP, not the 6th NODE BRANCHING, for some that may ask. Just snip the growing tip. Leave it alone, and blast it with Light, Food, Water, Lots of Medium and AIR FLOW.
I myself generally dont top my plants, but bend them over, and force the secondary growth to become main shoots. If I cull the lowest branches depends on strain. On a strain like Super Silver haze, the bottom secondary branching can produce huge colas if left alone. Some strains will benefit from removing the lowest parts. Im also not a fan of taking to many Healthy leaves. I may remove some that are growing inwards towards the stalks, but generally leave the leaves alone.
I also like strains that stretch alot during flowering, and take advantage of not having to veg as long. Some really long flowering strains ( 100+ days ) may start on 12/12, or they may get vegged 2 weeks. I had some Willie Nelson back in 2006, and vegged it 30 days, in 5 gallons Promix BX, and it was about 12-15 inches tall when flowered, and was 7 feet long when done, took up 2x 1000w Hortilux HPS, and grew 84 days after flowering was induced. I got the most ever from that amount of Medium. 16oz dried from 5 gallons medium.. Ive never done that well again. Lost that strain. I usually use 20 gallon containers, and get 16oz easily. Id never ver the Willie Nelson again if I could ever find it again. People also loved it. It was grey with trichomes.
I start seeds-flowering under 1000w Hortilux HPS, so they never see low light levels at any time of their lives.
I also agree that its good to just let a plant grow, and see how it does on its own. I mainly go for more sativa dominant hybrids that stretch alot, and have prolific side branching.
IMHO Topping vs a plant that stretches, and has strong secondary branching, in the long run the pruned plant may produce better, but will also increase Veg Time by weeks But i in another scenario, I think the turn around is faster, to have fast growing plants that one can take advantage of the stretch, and prolific side branching.
