Filming your golf swing is one of the most powerful things you can do to get better, because seeing your swing is very different from feeling it. This guide gives you a simple, step-by-step process for setting up a camera correctly. We’ll cover the equipment you already have, the two essential camera angles, and the exact phone settings you need to capture clear, useful footage every time.
As a golf coach, the number one source of disconnect I see in lessons is the difference between what a golfer thinks they are doing and what they are actually doing. You might feel like you’re making a huge, flowing turn, but on video, you see your body is barely moving. You might feel like your club is "on plane," but the camera reveals an entirely different story. That’s the power of video, it doesn't lie.
The saying “feel isn’t real” is famous for a reason. Filming yourself closes that gap. It gives you honest, objective feedback so you can stop guessing and start making real, targeted improvements. Seeing is the first step to knowing, and once you know what to work on, you're on a much faster path to better golf.
Years ago, you needed expensive, specialized equipment for swing analysis. Today, the powerful little computer in your pocket is more than enough to get started. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get professional-grade video of your swing.
To get a full picture of your swing, you need to capture it from two specific angles. Each one tells a different part of the story. If you're serious about seeing what's really going on, you should record from both of these positions - not just randomly from behind or the side.
The down-the-line view is what most people picture when they think of swing analysis. It's the view from behind you, looking directly down your target line towards where you want the ball to go. This angle is perfect for checking everything related to your swing path and plane.
Getting this DTL angle right shows you the true path your club is taking around your body. It helps you see if the move is an efficient, powerful, rotational action, or if your arms are trying to take over and force the club onto a less effective path.
The face-on angle is filmed from directly in front of you, perpendicular to your target line. Imagine looking at yourself in a mirror while you swing. This perspective is all about analyzing your body's motion - your weight shift, rotation, and impact position.
This angle helps you get comfortable with how an athletic setup looks and feels. When you first do it, sticking your rear out and tilting from the hips feels strange, but on video, you'll see you look like a powerful golfer ready to make a dynamic move.
Having the correct angles is half the battle, the other half is getting the technical settings on your phone right. Don’t worry, it's very simple.
The most important setting for filming a golf swing is the frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps). Standard video is usually 30 fps, but a golf swing is way too fast for that. You'll just see a big, useless blur.
You need to use your phone's "Slo-Mo" or "Slow-Motion" mode. It's a standard feature. This mode automatically ups the frame rate to at least 120 fps or, even better, 240 fps. At 240 fps, your camera is capturing 240 individual pictures every second. When you play this back, you can slow it down and see every nuance: how the club sets at the top, what the face is doing at impact, and how your wrists are behaving. It turns that blur into a collection of clear, definable positions.
Don't worry about 4K resolution, 1080p is absolutely perfect and won't fill up your phone's storage as quickly.
Have you ever recorded a video where the camera keeps adjusting the brightness or trying to refocus halfway through? You don't want that happening during your swing. You can prevent this by locking your focus and exposure before you record.
On virtually all smartphones, you just tap and hold on the screen where you’ll be standing. A yellow box will likely appear, and you’ll see some text like "AE/AF LOCK". This locks the Auto Exposure and Auto Focus. Now the lighting won't change, and the focus won't shift to someone walking in the background. It will stay locked on you, ensuring a clear shot from start to finish.
Okay, let's put it all together. Here’s a quick routine to make filming on the range fast and efficient.
Review the footage every 5-10 swings. The instant feedback is what helps you make changes in real-time.
By setting up your camera in the down-the-line and face-on spots and using slow-motion video, you have everything you need to see precisely what’s happening in your swing. It takes the guesswork out and gives you an honest look at your movements, which is the most reliable way to make lasting improvements.
Of course, once you capture your swing, a whole new set of questions may arise about what you’re actually seeing. That’s precisely why we created Caddie AI. It acts as your 24/7 golf coach, ready to answer any question you have about the swing. When you see something in your video and wonder, “What is ‘early extension’ and do I have it?” or “What’s a good drill to fix an over-the-top move?”, you can get a clear, expert-level answer in seconds, right when you need it.
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Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
