Self-Taught? How Many???

[A.Princey]

I’m curious, as a self taught single digit myself and never having had any formal instruction whatsoever, who else here is similar? I am completely solo in my swing changes but do work on certain “teachings” or methods via video, books or other media. I’m not against lessons, but as a pretty seasoned player, major overhauls would take years for me to adjust to, so I just swing my own swing, so to speak. I’m content with my current abilities, just looking to sharpen things through practice and play, as usual.
 

How many single digit guys/gals on here have never had a lesson? Would you ever consider them? 

[SNIPERBBB]

I've never had a lesson. Scrapped together bits and pieces from different books abd videos. Index hovering around 3 atm.

 

I might consider lessons if I thought someone could goose my driver distance significantly.

[SEP1006]

No lessons here either. I'm 65 and hover around 5-7 hcp, mainly due to my short game. Switched to the 1-plane DeChambeau method a few years ago and have never been more consistent.

[Feelingofgreatness]

No lessons for me either. I hover around 8 to 9 index. I watched and read the Manny de la torre videos/book and the Pelz short game videos on YouTube. I can break 80 on a tough track about 10 to 15% of rounds. 

[596]

Started golf at age 54 with a box set of irons from Dicks Sporting Goods.  18 months later without a lesson or watching any videos of "how to" I was a 2 handicap.  Within 2 years I had shot in the 60s twice.  At age 67 I now hover in the high single digits.  

[596]

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Edited May 22, 2022 by 596

[nikeblades00]

10 minutes ago, 596 said:

Started golf at age 54 with a box set of irons from Dicks Sporting Goods.  18 months later without a lesson or watching any videos of "how to" I was a 2 handicap.  Within 2 years I had shot in the 60s twice.  At age 67 I now hover in the high single digits.  

Wow how did you get so good so quickly without any type of instructions. Crazy.

[596]

16 minutes ago, nikeblades00 said:

Wow how did you get so good so quickly without any type of instructions. Crazy.

I had played sports my whole life (college tennis) At the point I started golf I had been racing triathlons for 20 years.  Doing 2 to 6 hour workouts everyday.  The combination of swim, bike, run had me very, what I call, body aware.  I could tell what my body was actually doing, feel was real.  I owned my own business and played about 4 to 5 days each week, plus still training and racing.  Lots of days we'd play 18 and then I'd do a 40 mile bike or 5 mile run afterwards.  Being in excellent condition makes a huge difference in any sport, including golf.  

 

BTW.. I was also on the National Ski Patrol for 5 years.  I think that also helped knowing what my body was doing.  I'd ski 12 hours a day during the winter on days I worked there.

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2022 by 596

[Righty to Lefty]

6 hours ago, A.Princey said:

I’m curious, as a self taught single digit myself and never having had any formal instruction whatsoever, who else here is similar? I am completely solo in my swing changes but do work on certain “teachings” or methods via video, books or other media. I’m not against lessons, but as a pretty seasoned player, major overhauls would take years for me to adjust to, so I just swing my own swing, so to speak. I’m content with my current abilities, just looking to sharpen things through practice and play, as usual.
 

How many single digit guys/gals on here have never had a lesson? Would you ever consider them? 

I've done it to a 5 handicap right and left handed without a lesson.  Once I learned the d plane and ball flight laws just after I switched to lefty I saw just how fast real improvement could be had. It took me 6 years to break 90 right handed and 6 months to do it lefty and my best score righty is 2 over and my best score of 1 over lefty came within 18 months of switching over.  I will never take a swing motion lesson because in my opinion knowing impact is orders of magnitude more powerful to develop mastery of and everyone should swing their swing in my opinion unless you have a motion that has deal breaker aspects in it.  I lean on my pro buddies and listening to pro insights for course strategy and management insights but impact is boss today, tomorrow, and forever and I find solace in that knowing that it is purely on me to play good golf.  

[mshills]

Never had a lesson….lowest index I ever got to was 6.8.

 

Then I got hurt and lost the use of my L arm (for golf.) First lesson in my life was in Feb of this year when I had my adaptive fitting combined with a R-arm-only lesson. Index is now 24.2 and trending lower. 🙂
 

No question in my mind I’d have been a better player pre-injury if I had thoughtfully chosen quality instruction. I got below 7, but was never much of a ball striker. I figured out how to get it in the hole somehow, but never hit it very well. 
 

Edited May 22, 2022 by mshills

[llewol007]

Same here. Took up the game when I started working at a local golf shop. Mainly watched customers getting fitted in our hitting bays and learned the basics reading Hogans book. Tried taking lessons but more for short game approaches. Been hanging out 3 but got to as low as 1.8 and then back up to where I am now. Now I just tinker with new stuff on here and enjoy the game 

[Duffer222]

Didn’t start to play golf until I was 32.  I too, was self taught and over 20 years had worked my way down to a cap of 0.6.  6 months later I was in the hospital Al after suffering a bad stroke.  Left side of my body atrophied and took 6 months of PT, to walk again, talk normally and get use of my left hand (grip, move fingers, etc.) Over the past 10 years I’ve managed to walk over 1000 rounds and get me cap back down to a 6.6 with the same swing, just much slower and shorter.

[Fuscinator]

I started in 1990, taught myself, and got down to a 7 by 95. I quit in 2002 for about 8 years. When I came back to the game, I was determined to play a more orthodox game (use more than five clubs, neutralize my left hand, etc.) which I thought I understood from reading too many books and magazines, and watching too many videos. Still haven't gotten back to where I was, but I'm much less obsessed now.

I finally had to take two lessons last summer. I had developed such a horrible hook, I found myself having to apologize to people two holes over, several times during a round, on a regular basis. I couldn't figure out how to fix it, so I took two lessons for fear that I'd end up killing someone if I didn't. I took them with a teacher I knew well and he got me straightened out.

[puttnforthe8]

Completely self taught - I got down to a 3 ish hc a couple of years ago.

 

I took lessons to learn the things I didn't know or just could not get right.  I kept a little list of these things and finally went to take lessons on how to do them or improve how I was doing them.  

 

My swing is horrid and unorthodox, there are no lessons that could be provided that would work to change/fix my swing.  😂  

[hammersia]

Completely self taught maintaining a 32 handicap with ease and breaking 100 occasionally. 
 

Never had a lesson.

[mshills]

2 hours ago, Duffer222 said:

Didn’t start to play golf until I was 32.  I too, was self taught and over 20 years had worked my way down to a cap of 0.6.  6 months later I was in the hospital Al after suffering a bad stroke.  Left side of my body atrophied and took 6 months of PT, to walk again, talk normally and get use of my left hand (grip, move fingers, etc.) Over the past 10 years I’ve managed to walk over 1000 rounds and get me cap back down to a 6.6 with the same swing, just much slower and shorter.

Man that is awesome! Walking over 1000 rounds post-stroke, remarkable! 
 

Am 4 rounds in playing with one arm, and have only walked 9 holes…but you’ve given me a goal. 👍🏻

[Duffer222]

18 hours ago, mshills said:

Man that is awesome! Walking over 1000 rounds post-stroke, remarkable! 
 

Am 4 rounds in playing with one arm, and have only walked 9 holes…but you’ve given me a goal. 👍🏻

Keep it up!  It’s well worth it.

[EddieEdwards]

I'm a high single digit and haven't had a lesson.

[b.mattay]

I took a few lessons when I was about eight about which end of the club to hold and where to stand. Since then I haven't taken a lesson in any fashion. I've got my golf advice from the internet, other players and trial and error. Play to a +2 or +3 index. 

[bladehunter]

I find this question to be a slippery one. 
 

have I paid for lessons with a pro ?  No. 
have I paid by loosing who knows how much money to pros who then  in turn help me ?  Yes. Loads. 
 

have I received free help from very well qualified people ?  Yes.  But most of that is strategy and mental. Most of those have never seen me swing a club.  
 

do I have a local mentor who has taught some players to high levels. Yes.  Do I see him regularly, no.  More phone conversations now than anything.   
 

so I hate to act like I’ve had no help.  But I have not stood on a lesson tee and received hands on lessons.  Not really.  Closest thing is that mentors eye before a round …. And id get tidbits like “ right hand grip pressure “ or “ check your shoulder  line “.  
 

started at 34.  I’m 42 now. Playing to +1 at the moment.  With a 73.4 scoring average. Never really been above a 5.   I have found shortgame to be easy since day 1.  And iron play nearly as easy.  Fought driver for a couple years.  Now it’s a weapon.  Currently making no putts  …. When they start dropping I’m looking to be +2-3. My strokes gained putting since January is -2.97 a round.  Just to give you an idea of how many good looks I’m wasting. But I’m hitting it online , just waiting for greens to speed up and smooth out.   
 

to try to explain myself. 
 

it’s not that golf is easy.  It’s that I’m able to hyper focus on it , and have the room to practice daily at home.  Couple that with the fact that I enjoy hitting balls.  It’s my peaceful place , and that I’m a almost non verbal learner . ( meaning I can watch and copy , but you can tell me and I may not grasp it ).  Means I can watch swings on YouTube and gather info and implement it.  I don’t really need someone saying it. As that doesn’t sink in.  

[Barfolomew]

Never had a lesson or been fit but wouldnt mind getting fit for clubs.... par golfer popped my achilles riding skateboard lol so working back

 

I wouldnt mind 2 types of lessons..... but not swing lessons of put your feet here or elbow there etc.... 

 

1. To see what I'm doing on a LM as never really hit on one 

 

2. Other would be to be shown an array of shots to see if I'm missing anything cool to add to my arsenal, preferably from Bubba Watson.... is he available?

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Barfolomew

[Barfolomew]

Hey Princey how many times have you had to rebuild your swing??

 

I've had a bunch of injuries and surgeries and had to start from step 1 many times lol 🐒

 

Some of them sucked and some good.  Had a real nice swing going last fall that felt good with all clubs but had arm/wrist injuries so lost the swing over the winter but working to get it back... but always figure I can as I built it from the same philosophy of doing what feels good, what is effective, and keep it simple..... and most important let the technique reveal itself to me rather then forcing a technique in as most do....

[KevCannon]

I’m in the self taught camp as well and have never had a lesson, although I probably would have if I knew of a really good PGA Pro sort of close to me. I’m currently playing pretty well and handicap is +1.3 as of yesterday. I spent a lot of time with a wedge when i was younger hitting chips/pitch shots into a target net/basket, which helped me develop a good feel and obviously a good short game. For full swing I would spent a lot of time at the range just playing around, seeing what swing and or swing path would create what resulting ball flight. If you couldn’t tell already I am very much a feel type player. Watching and listening to a few reputable podcasts and youTube videos helped with some things, but in some cases it would hurt my game and I’d have to figure out how to get back to my “normal” swing. I do wish I focused more on speed over accuracy when i was younger, but I’m around 110 swing speed w/ driver now. I have definitely realized here are many different ways to play good golf.

[Buzzkill]

Self taught here.

[Kuuuch]

Would really be interesting to see some swings for those that are a + or low hdcp. Totally don’t want to thread jack OP but I’ll be honest I’m pretty surprised at how many folks on here have never had lessons. I always enjoy seeing “homegrown” swings as they’re often unique but highly functional. 

[clevited]

I guess I am currently a single digit, barely.  Almost entirely home grown swing complete with all of its quirks.  I have had some instruction but I can't afford consistent instruction even though I think I would benefit a lot from it if I could do it, and found the right instructor locally.  

 

My swing at its best is most similar to Bryson's swing.  I came to where I am today through trial and error mostly, and trying to relate other athletic motions I know to the golf swing (been a difficult journey).  Well it might be a cross between Bryson and Bubba.  Upright, pretty much single plane.  I have tried for years to move away from an ultra, and I mean ultra strong grip position.  I have since been able to get it down to a still very strong grip but manageable one.  Manageable as in I don't lose everything left and I can hit fades as well with it.

 

With that, my swing is such that I have to have good timing as it isn't perfect.  I still have tendencies to take the club away too inside and get steep with the downswing.  That creates all sorts of problems and makes for very chaotic rounds that make me look like I have a vanity cap.  

 

So yes, If I could get the right local instructor, had the time and money, I think I would benefit greatly.  I have all of the puzzle pieces on the table, but I need guidance with fitting them together I feel.

[Nitefisher11]

I've never had a lesson. I've played most of my life, but didn't get serious about it until I was in my late 20's. Even before I got serious, I would say I was decent. Decent being 80-85 ish. But it took me a long time and a lot of trial and error as far as my swing goes, to get to low single digits and beyond. Been as low as a +3. Currently 54 and hover around +1 now. I love to hit golf balls, and developed my swing learning how to hit shots, fade/draw high/low etc. I also used a lot of online resources, books etc. to gain knowledge on the swing. If I could go back, I would 100% hire a competent instructor as soon as I decided that I wanted to try and get good at this game. Yes, there is some sense of accomplishment for having done everything myself. But I would have saved myself literally years of frustration and I'm sure I would have improved much faster. 

[Barfolomew]

On 5/24/2022 at 4:19 AM, Kuuuch said:

Would really be interesting to see some swings for those that are a + or low hdcp. Totally don’t want to thread jack OP but I’ll be honest I’m pretty surprised at how many folks on here have never had lessons. I always enjoy seeing “homegrown” swings as they’re often unique but highly functional. 

 

 

Hey you asked for it.... from last fall.  Homegrown right there... 🐄

[Kuuuch]

39 minutes ago, Barfolomew said:

 

 

Hey you asked for it.... from last fall.  Homegrown right there... 🐄

Love it! So many good things going on there but most of all I loved the 1) small amount of time it took you to hit 2) you really never stopped moving before the shot (more athletic) 3) rhythm is $

 

These 3 things are so important and I don’t think they’re stressed enough on the lesson tee. Really easy to be robotic if one isn’t careful (I would know lol). 

[Barfolomew]

48 minutes ago, Kuuuch said:

Love it! So many good things going on there but most of all I loved the 1) small amount of time it took you to hit 2) you really never stopped moving before the shot (more athletic) 3) rhythm is $

 

These 3 things are so important and I don’t think they’re stressed enough on the lesson tee. Really easy to be robotic if one isn’t careful (I would know lol). 

 

Thanks Kuuuu.... Athletic is def the mentality not stiff and robotic cause then you ice yourself.  If you got some athleticism why waste it.... I like to get handsy on certain chips.  Can tell homegrown cause back foot pointing forward, dont see that much on full swings.... working towards the target.  Also short backswing for control of many different things and no distance loss.... think longer swings gets folks out of whack 🐒