Has YouTube made you better or worse?

[trike11]

There is good content but it makes me appreciate MGS more. Also, for me personally, the game changer are the lag tools like the orange whip or lag shot. I use those constantly even if I am home I will go into the garage or outside and take several swings. I was able to get my handicap from a 9 to a 4 just with better ball striking.

I guess it is time to work on the old short game and putting. 

[Bassbeamer]

I watch Danny Maude instructional videos only. His father is a senior and he has good tips for seniors. I watch equipment reviews to get an idea of what is new.

[MickNairny]

I watch YouTube for product information on golf equipment I am looking to purchase especially if I have a few brands in mind.I have also picked up a few little practice tips but nothing will beat getting lessons. 

[RillRed]

YouTube & IG have both helped my game. Having free instruction available while on the range or even struggling during a round has helped me shoot in the 80’s consistently. Of course not every video or swing tip is for everyone… but there is something for everyone.  My biggest takeaway is, you must practice drills and feels repetitively. It isn’t practice them for a few swings then go, it’s do it 10 or more times to get results. 

[chadmariage]

Even though I would love to take tips from guys like Grant, Rick Shiels or Peter Finch it is hard to translate it to my game. I am a learner that likes physical cues, feeling something that is repeatable. Theory is great but I don't learn a lot that way without the feedback and correction. I love YouTube golf though(which is why I started a thread on it) to watch good golf be entertained. I have certainly watched more golf as a result.

 

I do however think equipment reviews on YouTube are tremendous helpful especially when unbiased like Rick.

Edited April 19 by chadmariage

[McDuff]

I would have to say "yes" it has helped my game. it should be mentioned, of course, that not all content providers are created equal.  If you know yourself,  your game and tendencies, etc... you can find a provider that suits your game and you may be able to take something from their lesson to assist you with your process. As such, you can also hurt your game by implementing info that doesnt suit your swing and could end up engraining bad habits into your game. It is also very entertaining and a way to kill some time. 

[DKScott]

I have been watching Danny Maude.

I really like his teaching style.  He keeps things simplistic where you can follow and implement his exercises.  His latest video with Pete Cowan was awesome.

[bama no 1]

Without hesitation,  youtube golf has helped me immensely.   I wont lie, i did go down the rabbit hole and listened to several different swing coaches on youtube, which wrecked my game.   Until i found the Good Golf Coaching youtube site. I now listen to this golf coach exclusively.  He provides a lot of great tips and dispels a lot of wrong information concerning the golf swing.

[Pfunk5050]

Dont go down the rabbit hole!!! It will mess you up badly.  Get advice from a professional.  The money is well worth it.

[gingerbeast87]

When I first started I used Rick Shiels' series about how to position yourself etc that he released a few years back. Found it was useful and gave me some good basic knowledge until I could afford some lessons.

[Mdf]

Yes, The guys at Athletic Motion Golf have absolutely provided great information in an understandable way which definitely has helped my game.

[ChromeSoftwareX]

Grant Horvat has completely fixed my swing. And I watch almost only YouTube golf and I have noticed that my course management has improved immensely. Just being exposed to the better golfers and watching their thought processes through a hole. 

[AndyK]

I originally sought some information when I returned to playing golf a couple of years ago but soon realized that golf lessons (like swings) are personal and cannot be “taught” sight unseen from YouTube. It can help if you are already knowledgeable about the golf swing but it’s still a one-sided endeavor. The more views and video gets, the more money the YouTuber gets, meanwhile your golf game will not improve. I watch it now for entertainment and to actually watch these content creators expose themselves as the “wannabe hacks” that they are. My son however, has been watching Rory McIlroy’s swing on YouTube and absorbing it through osmosis!!

[JusTzin]

I have watched and I feel it’s to hard to incorporate all of the stuff. Who knows if you’re even doing it correctly. There is just so much out there, I believe you need to commit to just one style and have an instructor who sees your swing and work on that.

[Julius]

On 4/4/2017 at 7:04 PM, Shankster said:

Every once and a while I'll get on the YouTube looking for a new shot or something. I think if YouTube was around when I started golfing 20 years ago I would be a heck of a lot better. There is some really bad stuff on there, but you can pick up a few good tips if you weed through the BS. Thoughts?

 

Alan

 

 

- Da Yooper

@og_shankster (instagram)

Hi Alan - I don't typically watch the "instructional" type videos, I find often times they detour into too much technical verbiage and minute movements that as weekend hackers it is not possible to master.  So, except for basic areas, such as drills, I don't watch those.  However, I find immense fun in watching people like Rick Shiels, especially his Break 75 series, which often times brings in pro golfers and allows you to get a different view on them as people.  Tommy Fleetwood or Rickie Fowler for example.  Along the way they do talk about how they are playing a shot or describing their course management - these are interesting non technical tips.  So I do watch these videos but more for my entertainment as opposed to real skill building, even then it is limited to 2-3 sources.  Obviously the product review videos I watch as well.  

[Sweet56]

I enjoy watching Golf Sidekick videos. They emphasize playing strategically, staying within your skill level, and avoiding shots you lack confidence in. These videos are particularly helpful for average golfers looking to improve their scores. As for instructional videos, I tend to steer clear of them.”

[Flanpro]

A good friend of mine watches YouTube lessons religiously and it has turned his approach to the game “robotic “. 
Before every swing he now goes through the “Mr Goodwrench 93 point checklist”. Very hard to watch……

[SV677]

Most things are just entertainment, but I did find a bunker tip that was helpful. It was from Steve Johnston and was different from the normal open stance, open club, cut across the ball tips. The main thing is, it works. 

[Golf Detective]

YOUTUBE RESPONSE

Has YouTube helped or hurt my game????

Interesting question and depends on what perspective you look at it.

I generally do not respond to any post but I do read them for entertainment purposes only.

As all good things which originally mean well and have great intent, YouTube is good and bad. 
good for it keeps people excited about the game and learning about the game and swing. It allows people to see how large the golf world is in many ways. History, rules, equipment, lessons, etc……., basically every facet of the game.

There is some very good information on it in certain aspects.

With as much content that’s on it, it certainly shows the desire of people who want to learn about all of golf, so the interest is there.
THATS THE GOOD.

NOW FOR THE BAD! AND THIS IS MY OPINION.

YouTube is the perfect case of where too much cake will teach you to not like cake any longer! Computers and what they are capable of are a god sent to mankind but also their mis-use is a destruction to mankind.
You can only eat so much cake before you just don’t like cake anymore.

It is over kill at the highest level! As a teacher of golf in every aspect of the game, expert on the swing, equipment, physics, etc…, trying to undo the damage and mess from mis-understood information from a students mind is a nightmare because they believe what they see on it is the gospel and everyone else is full of crap and crazy and do not know what they are talking about.
DIDN’T YOU KNOW BY NOW EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON LUNE IR YOUTUBE IS TRUE??? LMAO :0:)

I laugh when I see so much poor information on the swing is there for one. 
NO WONDER ALL THESE POOR PEOPLE CAN NOT CONSISTENTLY IMPROVE!

I see the ranges full of all these YouTube swingers chasing the mess they find on YouTube and it is amazing. 
AND THEY WONDER WHY THEY CAN NOT AND DO NOT IMPROVE!!

LMAO AGAIN!!!

WHY IS THIS???

Heres just a couple of reasons:

A- THEY WANT FREE LESSONS AND DON’T WANT TO PAY FOR TRUE KNOWLEDGE

B- WHEN THEY FIND OUT THE REALITY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO IMPROVE AND BECOME BETTER, THEY DO NIT REALLY WANT TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK!

Ben Hogan was correct!

THE SECRET IS IN THE DIRT!

Golf is a game for a lifetime!

 

 

 

 

[MacAndrews]

Yes! Parker McGlaughlin - ShortGameChef - opened my eyes. He demonstrates wedge technique, particularly chipping and sand play, very well. And he gives you reasons why you practically never see the pros on TV utilizing the "old school" bump-and-run technique. It made sense to me and I have been practicing and incorporating this into play. I went from a 5 to a 2 last year, primarily through more up and downs.

I watched him being interviewed on other people's channels. His website is ridiculously expensive.

[peterg2000]

Youtube is a resounding plus for me.  Anytime I need a fix I may go through 4-5 different Youtubers to find the one that explains it exactly the way I need to hear.

The explanation that makes sense to me at the time. It doesn't matter if you normally follow ANY of the major onliine coaches. Getting a different perspective

and a situation you're trying to correct is much better than a single source. So Youtube with it's countless online coaches provides that.

As an example if I may look at a top coach for chipping and correct 80% then look at 2-3 others and get the other 20% . Each golf coach has their specialty or strong point.

Youtube allows me to have access at a click of a mouse to all the  best instructors out there.

Pete

P.S. In the end it comes down to practice,practice,practise.

Edited April 19 by peterg2000

[feocheo83]

Being newer to the game again* (I golfed a bunch as a teen, a 15-year hiatus, and only started taking it seriously the past 2 years) The first year I did watch a bunch felt like I had no idea what I needed to fix my game and was no help. I got lessons and after 5 hours of research to find a well-respected coach in my area, and the first one hour lesson made a larger difference than endless hours of YouTube. I went from shooting 120s to my lowest round of 92 within 6 months. I actively avoid swing golf youtube except for entertainment and scroll past instruction videos on TikTok except for one guy.

[Ball0]

There is some awful golf advice out there.  I feel bad for people who fall for it as beginners. They get their hopes up and then are subjected to drills or concepts which wrecked people's backs and knees.  It could be a bane and boon to the game. I do enjoy watching golf content, but it can be a cesspool. I find myself wanting to make more satire as a result of Youtube's state to possibly open people's eyes to how absurd it is.

Edited April 19 by Ball0
typo

[EMacK1961]

I watch Danny Maude from time to time. I have picked up a few useful tidbits. But...it is easy to go down the rabbit hole.

[RanMan]

Yes!  Bunker shots especially 

[High_Altitude_Golfer]

My story is a bit long, but I'll summarize it quickly. I played golf at a very young age and was forced to quit due to my baseball coaching (my dad) saying it was messing with my swing. As an adult, I wanted to pick it back up for years but could never find the time. We purchased a house near a course, and every time I drove by, I heard the field of dreams voice, "If you play, you will learn", or at least that's what I told my wife. I bought some hand-me-down clubs from my brother-in-law and took a swing at it. I'm currently three years into playing, and I've never had a lesson. Last season, I broke 80 just once, but I contribute that all to YouTube or social media golf. I know every swing is different, but my experience as a baseball hitting coach allowed me to make necessary adjustments to my swing to help out. It's still a work in progress, but I feel comfortable enough to enjoy the game. Also, recording myself during range sessions has helped tremendously.

[EnderinAZ]

I watch for gear reviews. Swing fixes are too subjective and my body is so broken I simply cannot move the way the videos want you to anyway. 

I watched some for ideas on how to post a review in the Maxfli Tour X ball test I participated in. 

[Rob17452]

I've watched quite a few different instructors on YouTube and I've found a couple who actually explain and demonstrate techniques pretty well. While not everything is useful/helpful I have improved my chipping/pitching skills after practicing what I watched. 

[StrokerAce]

this is kind of a 2 headed monster.

when I first started watching youtube I would run out and try whatever thing I watched.... that was not fruitful --- at least long term.

nowadays I'll pick up a few tips here and there.  for example I noticed I wasn't releasing the club fully and saw a vid last night as to why this MIGHT be happening.

I wouldn't watch YT to learn how to swing a golf club, but I do like it for addressing specific problems.

[MILGolfing]

MY perspective as someone who started playing more "serious" during covid-times. 

Youtube Definitely opened my eyes up that golf just isn't try to hit a ball straight and into a hole. Learning a whole new world of movements, terminology, mannerisms, etc. I saw in videos that i saw translate onto the course and into every day situations. 

But has it helped my game?

Yes and No.

Yes. It helped me look for the fundamentals ie: posture, swing path, amateur statistics, different lies, etc. Being able to watch Tiger, Rory, DJ, Bryson, swing in slow mo and have professionals break down their swing is a great advantage to learning golf in the modern day. 

No. The more i watched videos from other youtubers, the more confused i got and the more it messed with my swing.. or atleast when i was trying to develop my swing. 

I ended up taking lessons and took what i learned from the youtube videos and applied it with tweaks from my PGA instructor.