Doing it yourself also gives the freedom to mold something that feels natural, rather than striving for—and at times, fighting against—the cues of an instructed swing. "Sometimes homegrown swings are the kind that hold up the best down the road," says Erika Larkin, who initially taught herself to play before getting lessons and eventually becoming a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher. "A swing that is comfortable and works naturally for your body can be better than trying to fit into a mold of what an instructor is trying to get you to do."