A repeatable camera position matters more than cinematic video. If the lens moves, the swing can appear to change even when the motion did not.

Before you record

Use a stable phone mount or a secure support outside the hitting area.
Make sure the entire club, hands, feet and head stay inside the frame.
Use good light and keep the golfer distinct from the background.
Do not stand where the phone could be struck by the club, ball or another golfer.
Record a normal shot with the club and target you actually want to evaluate.

Down the line

See plane and depth

Place the camera behind the golfer on a line approximately through the hands at address.
Set the lens near hand height rather than on the ground.
Aim parallel to the target line and keep the target visible when practical.
Frame enough space above and around the player for the full club at the top and finish.

Face on

See movement and contact

Place the camera square to the golfer, roughly centered on the hands or torso.
Keep both feet and the full club visible throughout the swing.
Avoid an angle from too far toward the target or behind the golfer.
Use the same distance and height in later sessions.

Choose the view for the question

Question	Usually clearer from
Does the club look steep in transition?	Down the line
Are the hips moving toward the ball?	Down the line
Is the body drifting away from the target?	Face on
When does the club release?	Face on
Does the finish stay balanced?	Either view

Five mistakes that distort the video

Camera on the ball-target line: this can make the club appear differently aligned than a hand-line view.
Lens too low: a ground-level view exaggerates relationships between the shaft and body.
Phone leaning: a tilted horizon makes body angles difficult to compare.
Changing zoom or distance: comparisons become less trustworthy when framing changes.
Judging one swing: capture several normal attempts before treating a frame as a pattern.

A repeatable filming card

View: down the line or face on
Lens: approximately hand height
Frame: full body and full club throughout
Light: golfer clearly separated from the background
Context: club, intended shot and actual ball flight
Comparison: same view, club, height and distance next session

Useful external references

PGA Coach Online emphasizes that accurate video analysis depends on directly down-the-line or face-on camera placement. Onform’s published 3D golf pose documentation also shows why defined camera views and consistent swing-event checkpoints matter.

Keep learning

The eight swing positions

Use your well-framed video to understand setup through finish.

Swing-fault library

Compare common patterns only after checking the camera view.

How the analysis works

See how Golf Lab AI turns the captured swing into one verdict and drill.

Analyze your golf swing

Review the product workflow, pricing and practical limitations.