How to Properly Film Your Golf Swing (And What to Actually Look For)

Why Film Your Swing at All?

Your brain lies to you on the golf course. You feel like you're making a big shoulder turn, keeping your head still, and swinging on plane — but the camera doesn't lie. Tour players review swing video after almost every session, and it's not just because they have coaches standing by. Video gives you objective feedback that no amount of feel can replicate.

The good news: you don't need a launch monitor, a coach, or a fancy camera setup. Your smartphone and a stable mount are all it takes to start filming your swing like a pro.

The Two Angles You Actually Need

Forget random phone-propped-on-a-bag setups. There are two camera positions that give you the most useful information:

1. Face-On (Caddie View)

Set your phone directly in front of you—  roughly at hip height. This angle shows:

• How much your hips and shoulders are turning
• Whether your head is dipping or lifting
• Your weight shift through the ball
• Spine tilt at address and through impact
• Your sways

2. Down-the-Line (Behind You)

Position your phone directly behind you, in line with your feet alignment, also at about hip height. This angle reveals:

• Your swing plane — is the club too flat or too upright?
• Takeaway path and club face position at the top
• Whether you're coming over the top or dropping into the slot
• How your arms and body are sequencing through the downswing

Ideally, film both angles in the same session so you can cross-reference what you're seeing.

Phone Placement: The Most Overlooked Variable

The biggest mistake golfers make when trying to film their swing? An unstable phone. A bag that tips over mid-backswing, a friend who zooms in too much, shakey hands, or a phone propped against a water bottle at the wrong angle — it all produces useless footage.

Your phone needs to be:

• Stable — no wobble, no risk of falling
• At the right height — roughly hip to waist level for both angles
• Far enough back — you want your full body and the club in frame; about 6–10 feet away works for most full shots
• Hands-free — so you can walk up, hit, walk back, and review without hunting for your phone

A dedicated phone mount that stays put on the course is the simplest fix. It means your phone is always at the right height, always stable, and always ready — no setup fuss between shots.

Camera Settings to Get Right

A few quick settings that make a big difference:

• Slow motion (120fps or 240fps) — even budget iPhones and Androids can shoot 120fps. At full speed, the downswing takes less than 0.2 seconds. Slow-mo turns that blur into something you can actually analyze frame by frame.
• Lock exposure — tap and hold on your body in the frame before hitting to lock focus and exposure. Prevents the camera from hunting mid-swing.
• Clean background — if possible, hit toward a tree line or a net. A busy background makes it harder to track the club path.

What to Look for When You Review

Once you've got the footage, here's a quick checklist to work through:

At Address

• Is your spine tilted away from the target slightly?
• Are your hands just ahead of the ball?
• Is your weight balanced (not on your toes or heels)?

At the Top of the Backswing

• Has your lead shoulder moved under your chin?
• Is the club roughly parallel to the ground (or your target line)?
• Is the face slightly closed, square, or wide open?

At Impact

• Are your hips clearing toward the target?
• Is your head still behind the ball?
• Are your hands leading the club head?

Through the Finish

• Are you balanced and fully rotated?
• Is your weight on your front foot?
• Is your belt buckle facing the target?

The Bottom Line

Filming your swing requires almost no gear and delivers outsized returns. Two camera angles, slow motion, and a stable phone mount are all you need to get honest, actionable feedback on every session. The golfers who improve fastest aren't always the ones with the most lessons — they're the ones who watch themselves and make deliberate adjustments.

Set it up right once with the GPOD, and you'll never want to practice without it again.