How to Analyze a Golf Swing from a Video

Recording your golf swing is the first step toward getting better, but the real improvement comes from knowing exactly what to look for in that video. Instead of just swiping through clips with a shrug, this guide will teach you how to analyze your swing like a pro, breaking down the movements from start to finish. We will walk through the key camera angles and the specific checkpoints at each stage of your swing, turning your phone into an honest and powerful coaching tool.

Setting the Scene: How to Film Your Swing

Before we can analyze anything, we need good footage. Garbage in, garbage out. A poorly framed video hides the very details we need to see. You only need two specific angles to get a complete picture of your swing mechanics. For both shots, place your phone on a tripod or have a friend hold it steady at waist or chest height. If your phone has a slow-motion feature, use it!

• Down-the-Line (DTL): Position the camera directly behind you so that it's looking down the target line. Imagine a straight line running from the center of the clubface, through the golf ball, all the way to your target. The camera should sit on this line, about 10-12 feet behind you. This view is perfect for checking your swing path, plane, and posture.
• Face-On (FO): Position the camera directly in front of you, perpendicular to your target line and opposite the middle of your stance. This angle is essential for seeing your body's rotation, weight shift, and ball position.

The Down-the-Line (DTL) Analysis: The Club's Journey

The DTL view tells the story of how your club is moving around your body. It reveals the all-important swing plane and path. Pull up your DTL video, have the pause button ready, and let's break it down.

Step 1: The Address Position

Before you even move, there are clues to your swing. Pause the video at your setup.

• Posture: You should see a gentle "S-curve" in your back. This means you're hinging from your hips, not just rounding your shoulders. Your bottom is pushed back, creating an athletic and balanced position. Your arms should hang naturally straight down from your shoulders. A common error is standing too upright, which forces an arm-heavy swing.
• The Shaft Plane Line: This is your most important reference. On your screen, draw a line from the hosel (where the shaft meets the clubhead) running up the shaft and through your belt buckle. This is your initial swing plane. Throughout the swing, we'll see how the club moves in relation to this line.

Step 2: The Takeaway (First Move from the Ball)

Play the video in slow-motion until the club is parallel to the ground. This first move sets the tone for everything else. The goal is a "one-piece" takeaway, where your hands, arms, and torso start the motion together.

• On-Plane Takeaway: Ideally, as the club moves back, the clubhead should track just outside your hands, staying on or just above the original shaft plane line you drew.
• Too Far Inside: A common mistake is using only your hands to whip the clubhead back behind your body. In the video, the clubhead will appear well behind your hands and will move significantly under the shaft plane line. This often leads to needing a major rerouting at the top to hit the ball squarely.
• Too Far Outside: Less common, but this is when you push the club straight away from you with your arms. The clubhead will be high and well above the shaft plane line.

Step 3: The Top of the Backswing

Let the swing continue to the very top. Pause it right as you're about to change direction.

• Shaft Position: In a classic "on-plane" swing, the club shaft at the top will be pointing at your target (or be parallel to your target line).
• Across the Line: This is when the shaft points to the right of your target. It's often a result of over-rotating the arms.
• Laid Off: This is when the shaft points to the left of your target. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including the arms stopping short of a full body turn.
• Body Rotation: Your back should be facing the target, and you should feel tension loaded in your trail hip and glute. It’s a turn, not a sway. You should not have drifted outside the 'cylinder' we talked about in our setup guide.

Step 4: The Downswing and Impact

This is the moment of truth. The transition from backswing to downswing is where most amateur golfers make their biggest mistakes. The classic fault seen from DTL is coming "over the top."

• The Magic Move (Shallowing): Elite players start the downswing by shallowing the club. In your video, this looks like the clubhead and shaft "dropping" or "falling" behind your body, moving below the initial swing plane line. This puts the club in a powerful position to attack the ball from the inside.
• The "Over-the-Top" Move: This is one reason it's the biggest "power leaker" in golf. Your hands and club move outward and over the original shaft plane. This means you've got an outside-in path that forces slices, pulls, or a steep angle of attack.

The Face-On (FO) Analysis: Your Body's Engine

Now let's switch over to the Face-On footage. This is how you watch 'The Golfer'... not so much the golf club, but 'how' it's being used. Your body's movements are the engine of speed powering the swing.

Step 1: Ball Position and Setup

Check your setup again, this time to see where the ball is positioned on the ground.

• Ball Position: For long irons, it should be in the middle of your stance, perhaps a bit forward with a driver. Remember the lessons covered before on our site.
• The Stance: Your heels should be about shoulder-width apart with irons. This provides a solid foundation for balanced rotation without hindering power transfer.
• Weight Distribution: At address, distribute your weight about evenly between your left and right sides.

Step 2: Backswing and Hip Rotation

When going back, it’s more about turning than shifting. Let’s review how this works.

• Keeping Your Eye on The Ball: Maintaining a steady posture allows your axis to remain consistent, helping strike the ball cleaner. Avoid letting your whole setup collapse over the back foot.
• It’s All in the Turn: The lead hip turns back as the rear shoulder rotates. At peak rotation, your back should face the target, allowing a smooth transition into the downswing.

Step 3: Downswing & Impact - The Power Move

• Good ball-strikers initiate the downswing from the lower body, starting with the hips sliding and rotating towards the target. This allows the arms to follow naturally, maintaining wrist angles until impact, generating more power.

Finishing Position: Balance and Style

As you complete the swing, your body should naturally rotate towards the target. Most of your weight shifts to the front leg, letting the rear foot lift slightly off the ground. This ensures balance and proper follow-through.

Final Thoughts

Breaking down your golf swing video unveils hidden aspects you may not notice in real-time, providing clear directions and areas to improve. While self-assessment helps, getting additional feedback can accelerate improvement. At Caddie AI, we offer insights to enhance your golf game with ease, allowing you to learn and improve effectively.

Embrace the process and think like the pros with our guidance. For more information, visit our Caddie AI platform today.