I am a self-taught typist from a young age. I type very fast (140 WPM? I forget) but my technique is totally non standard. I hold my hands/wrists at "natural" angles (as one would on a split keyboard), but on a standard keyboard. No "home row" for me. The letters in the middle of the keyboard are liable to be typed by either hand, depending on the word: I cannot use a split keyboard because of this. Thumb helps out with lower row sometimes. I can type single-handedly without much difficulty.
I credit this "technique" with not having developed any sort of keyboard-related RSI over 30 years of daily typing. Mice gave me terrible grip-related RSI after a decade (I now use a trackball), but not so with typing.
I assume I'm not unique in having stumbled naturally on this method. But it's not something I've ever seen taught, probably because it's not very "orderly".
I'm pretty much the same as you --- the best description of my method would be "closest available finger". I can type at ~150WPM for long periods of time without any strain or tiredness, can reach 200+ in short bursts, and have done over 50WPM with only the left hand.
However, one thing I've found that really affects typing speed and comfort is the key travel and actuation force; I think a "light, spongy, bouncy" feel is best. A light force reduces strain, sponginess is a good cushion, and the bounce helps speed up the return stroke. You can type a lot faster once you train yourself to not try to await any tactile feedback, but just "trust" that you've hit the keys and they've actuated.
I am the same way. I always attributed it to early experiences learning to play the piano. The muscle memory is in your whole arm/hand/finger about the location, and the sequence of fingers is dependent on the sequence of keys that follow.
Agreed re: key feel. I learned on an Apple //e and still think that's ideal. MacBook keyboards are the worst for me... the constant tactile feedback I think creates a negative feedback response that overtrains my fingers, leading to weird typing mistakes. Switching back to a mechanical keyboard helped.
Thats why I like Cherry MX black switches (heavy accentuation force, linear without click). You can basically tap them very lightly and type without bottoming out.
I am a bass player, so my finger muscles are very strong and I a little more resistance others may prefer red or silver switches.
For me it's just like... my brain knows where the keys are, and my fingers know how to move to where they're needed. I do have to look when typing one-handed, but it's more to help "aim" that to search for where the keys are.
Keeping your wrists at a natural angle is very helpful for avoiding RSI and carpal tunnel injuries. I've been typing for 60 years and have never had these problems.
A while ago I posted some bad ASCII art of what we're talking about here:
I have the opposite problem. I started with hunt and peck as a kid and never learned a proper technique. I believe that caused me more problems...
Switching to proper touch typing was really hard because my adhoc method is so much faster... Until I become proficient.
During quarantine I acquired a kinesis which was interesting - typing "incorrectly" on it is difficult! It took me about a week or two to touch type on it without frustration ...and I find my hands have less rsi from it.
I was exposed to typing lessons, which helped give me the idea that using all fingers and memorizing where keys are is important. I sort of stopped halfway and ran with it I guess.
Interesting. I hold my left hand roughly on the home row, but like you, my right hand is at an odd angle. As a programmer, this seems very natural to me because I have rapid access to the brackets, parens, etc. without stretching my pinky. Coincidentally, I use a trackball too.
Sorry for the terrible angle. The phone is hanging off my jacket. But this gives a good view of how my fingers share duty in the center of the keyboard: https://youtu.be/YH0YFJEcy0c
Apparently I misremembered my speed... Monkeytype tells me I average ~110 WPM. With one hand I get ~45 WPM.
I credit this "technique" with not having developed any sort of keyboard-related RSI over 30 years of daily typing. Mice gave me terrible grip-related RSI after a decade (I now use a trackball), but not so with typing.
I assume I'm not unique in having stumbled naturally on this method. But it's not something I've ever seen taught, probably because it's not very "orderly".