If you are a golfer almost on the verge of mastering the ultimate swing shot, we can understand the urge to record your golf swing. Recording your golf swings enables you to take a much closer and in-depth look at the current shot dynamics. This will also help you rectify any possible errors in your shots that aren't visible from your perspective alone.
There are different ways to record your golf swing. You can use a phone or camera to record yourself, or you can use special software or tools that are designed specifically to help golfers analyze their swings.
One of the most popular and user-friendly ways to record your golf swing is by using a phone or camera. All you need is a stable surface from which to film, and you're good to go. Make sure that you capture your entire swing from start to finish, and that you have enough light so that the video is clear.
If you're looking for a more in-depth analysis of your swing, there are special software and tools available that are designed specifically for golfers. These tools usually come with interactive features that allow you to pause and zoom in on different aspects of your swing. They can also provide you with data on things like club head speed and swing plane.
Whichever method you choose, recording your golf swing is a great way to improve your game. By analyzing your swings in detail, you can identify any errors and correct them accordingly. With a bit of practice, you'll be hitting those long drives like a pro!
Possible Ways of Recording Golf Swings
What's the cause of golfers who don't perform well even after practicing shots for days? According to experts, they can't exactly look at what mistake they are repeating as long as they don't record themselves. And to do so, two prominent ways are suggested by experts.
You can either go with down the line recording or face on front angle technique. In both these techniques, one thing will be common. You will be recording the swing range and impact simultaneously. Going through the recordings can help you better understand what exactly is going wrong.
Don't worry, you don't need expensive equipment to record yourself. You can record yourself using a smartphone camera and a tripod.
Taking Down the Line Readings
Taking reading down the line is a much better option than going with the face-on-front angle technique when you don't have much of a space in front of you. Range courts are usually quite busy throughout the day, which can narrow down the window of recording your shorts.
Here's how you can go about taking down-the-line readings. You need to find a place where you can use your smartphone camera properly and record yourself. After finding your place, set up the tripod at a comfortable height and start recording yourself. Make sure that you stand close enough to the ball and also follow its direction as much as possible while you take the swing.
After recording, review it and analyze any flaws in your shots. If required, watch another recording that will help you better understand what exactly is going wrong with every shot of yours. Now comes the interesting part - fixing those errors!
Once the camera is set up, you will even be able to see the face during a backswing. At the top of the swing, you can also clearly see the pointing direction of the clubface. But to achieve this feat, the camera setup must be perfect.
You can buy a tripod and smartphone mount for less than $40. This will solve most of the stability problems you may face when trying to take a video.
Pros of using an Alignment Stick
Using an alignment has some amazing pros that aren't quite available for other swing recording accessories. First, using an alignment stick enables you to record your swings using your mobile phone. All you need to do is a bit of imagination and the ability to coordinate accessories perfectly.
Once you have selected the target, place the alignment stick on the ground and place your phone at least 12-15 feet away from the target. If let's say, the distance is any less than 12-15 feet, and there's no way the camera will be able to record the top of the swing.
It's better to place the alignment stick at a slightly elevated position. This will help you get the perfect downswing shots and alignments for your swing practice.
Phones vs Cameras: What to choose?
If you haven't purchased an alignment stick yet or are still not confident about using it, then phones can be a great option too. All you need is a friend or someone who can help you take video recordings of your swings from a better angle.
But, if you are looking to purchase an alignment stick, make sure that the phone mount is adjustable and fits most smartphones. This will come in handy as you can use the same stick for other activities such as recording putting strokes or chipping swings.
Facing on the Front Angle
Another way of recording the swings that will help you improve your game as a golfer is a face on the front angle. The only major reason for switching to the face-on front angle from down the line readings is its ability to cover a much wider and clearer area.
The camera placement allows you to focus on your shots in particular instead of focusing on the nearby players. With the right camera setup, you can even focus on each dynamic of your top swing as well as the backswing. A feature that down the line technique somewhat lacks comparatively.
The face-on front angle is best for those who want to focus on their swings and not worry about anything else. This recording technique can be used by amateurs as well as by professional golfers.
But, as always with everything in life, there are a few disadvantages that come along with this angle. First, you need a lot of space in order to set up the camera and record yourself properly. Second, since you're focusing on your own swing, it's easy to lose focus during the game.
Third, if you're playing on a course with tight spaces, then it will be difficult to get good recordings from this angle.
In general, if you have enough space and want to focus on improving your swing, then the face-on front angle is the best way to do so.
Positioning the Camera
Using alignment rods is a must for the face-on front angle technique. First, you need to make sure that the angle is aligned perfectly with the rods. Now, you need a tripod stand that must cover the front angles of your body.
The tripod must be kept up to 10-15 feet back from your body. If you are more than average height, you need to place the tripod stand farther behind. But make sure that the camera is focusing properly before recording.
The angle at which you record your swings is extremely important. Different angles will show different aspects of your swing and can help you correct any errors that you may be making. In this article, we will discuss three of the most popular swing recording techniques – alignment stick, phones, and face-on front angle. Each has its own set of pros and cons, so it's important to understand each before deciding which one is best for you.
Don't Forget to Save the Videos
Most of the golfers might be thinking that it is ridiculous advice. But in reality, not saving a video you have recorded is a real issue. Just think about this, recording and practicing all day long to find out that you haven't saved anything yet. It would be devastating.
Plus, setting up the camera and the tripod can be a real distraction. Also, don't think this shot isn't worth saving at all as I haven't performed well here. The chances are that a bad shot can help you learn a ton lot than a regular shot.
But, if you are finding it difficult to save the videos while practicing, then you can use a phone mount or an alignment stick. These devices will help you record your swings without any issues.
Using a Slow-Motion Camera
This is the point where technology comes into action. Using a slow-motion camera is the ultimate way of making sure that you will capture every detail of your shorts. Plus, slow-motion shots are way more detailed than regular shots.
According to experts, taking the face-on-front angle approach for setting up a slow-motion camera will be a perfect choice. Face on front angle already focuses on the complete body postures and movements.
Using a slow-motion camera with this camera placement technique can help you get a lot of clearer and wider insights on each shot. The only issue with the technique is that it costs a fortune.
Taking Notes on the Swing
Now, you have got all the footage you needed to take a good look at exactly what you were missing in your shots. But to take notes on your shots, you must be a professional golfer looking to get in the big leagues. If you are recording the shots for social media, you can post the shots without much of an evaluation.
The first thing you should notice in your notice is the position of your club. It will determine whether your shot is perfectly targeted or not. The second thing to note is the range of the shot. This will help you understand the level of force required for producing a shot.
The next thing to take note of is your body position while swinging. A good swing means that your hips are rotating through perfectly. If you are faced with an issue in your backswing or follow-through, then it will be visible in the footage taken by the camera. Taking notes on all these points is way more effective than watching regular shots and trying to figure out what went wrong.
For most players, recording and taking notes isn't enough as they need someone to watch and give them tips after reviewing their footage and notes carefully. This is where private lessons come into play; you can hire a professional golfer who is willing to provide feedback about your game regularly.
With so many accessories available in the market that claim, they will be helping you record your swing, you might be thinking about getting some for yourself. According to experts, there are a few accessories that you must include in your recording kit while playing golf.
First is the alignment rod itself that will align the shots with the target. Having a golf swing stand can be a better idea if you are looking to record long-range shots. Plus, if you can afford it, using a drone to record footage can be a major plus as well.
Final notes
Many golfers don't record themselves because of the fear of not performing well in front of fellow golfers. They assume that recording themselves is something only professional golfers do. But the case is quite the opposite in reality. If you aren't recording your shots, there is a higher chance of having bad days in your practice sessions and ruining all the hard work you put into them.
Having a video to record and then analyze it will help you improve much faster than any other method. This article might have increased your knowledge about recording yourself while playing golf and we hope that it has provided some tips on how you can record good shots next time around.
The major motive behind recording the shots is to look at what exactly you are missing in your shots as a golfer. It's like observing oneself and looking for errors that can be mended so you can perform well in the future. Sure, you can take a look at the footage of other players and see what they are doing right or wrong, but that won't help you as much as analyzing your own shots will.
Once you have the footage, you need to set up a slow-motion camera to get more detail. You can also use notes to evaluate your swing and make changes where necessary. Finally, remember to get some accessories to improve the quality of your recordings. With these things in mind, you are ready to take your golf game up a notch!
Also, you don't need many expensive accessories to record yourself making shots since decent footage can be easily recorded using a regular mobile camera and a tripod.
