I use a checklist on our Arrow which was specifically created for that Arrow many years ago. Everything in it therefore is relevant :there are no gaps.
It is as specific to our Arrow as the wooden dipstick painstakingly created by slowly filling the fuel tanks by a group member .
I have therefore never 'learnt' the ground part of the checklist, but use the list every time before take off:
Needless to say however I have learnt the airborne checks and the emergency checks but am not averse to pulling the list out from time to time as 'revision'.
Our checklist also suggests putting c/s prop to fully fine as part of downwind checks: this leaves one fewer action to try and remember in the emotion of an unexpected go-around.
However 'prop to fully-fine' should not be undertaken till speed is reduced to circuit speed and then reduced slowly if only to avoid sudden change of engine note provoking dozens of pairs of anxious eyes to point skywards: something we have to avoid at all costs in our nimby-dense area of England.
Cusco