I just started this year and yes in the beginning, I was that foolieo just trying to hit the ball. I had a full around the body sideways swing that was working for me. It went strait but not far at all. I practiced every day for a few months like that. Some of the people I played with could hit the ball like really far. I wanted that real bad so I began to research the golf swing and all my troubles began..... :-)
I never could get a video of myself but I knew as soon as I started analyzing what a swing should look like that I was way off. So I purposely put my arms in the correct positions all the way through the swing and it felt completely wrong. I knew I was in for a recovery act. I studied and studied and came up with a swing that was proper but I sucked real bad. I was worse than before I even started. So I went to the range every day. Some days I just swung and swung and found that I built up muscles that helped a lot. Finally after about 6 months I got to a point where I was improving and could see the development of my swing. Now I have a pretty good idea of what to work on and where I need focus. At least I have a normal golf swing to work with.
Yah sure, lessons, lessons, yada, yada, call it pride or what ever you want. Indeed, from being watched I had a guy tell me that my swing was going around my back and it needed to go over my shoulder. Also a guy told me to keep my lower body still when I putt. These were eye opening things that I could not see and improved my game ten fold but they were just pointers. That's enough input. I got to know some pros at the range and their pointers are not very helpful in my opinion. I get more off the internet. Then I go to the range and focus on it. If its on the internet then its got to be true. LOL !
I just want to play golf. Lets go......