Introduction

golf swing videos slow motion analyze your form like the pros is not a gimmick. Filming your swing at 120 to 240 frames per second reveals sequence, clubhead path, release timing, and posture changes that you miss at real time. The difference between a consistent 90 mph swing and a 95 mph swing is often 0.05 seconds in sequence or 5 degrees in wrist hinge.

Slow motion exposes those margins.

This article shows exactly what to record, how to read the frames, which metrics to track, and drills you can do with a phone, a tripod, and alignment sticks. You will get a step-by-step process, pro-style checkpoints, a practical 8-week timeline, tool and pricing comparisons, common mistakes and fixes, and a checklist you can use on the range next session. Use slow motion video to turn feel-based fixes into measurable changes that lower scores.

Overview:

Why video slow motion matters

What you see in real time is limited by human perception. The golf swing takes about 0.6 to 1.2 seconds from takeaway to follow-through for most amateurs. Many critical events happen in 0.02 to 0.08 seconds.

transition from backswing to downswing
wrist hinge and break
clubface rotation through impact
head and pelvis movement

Why this matters: measurable faults mean repeatable corrections. If you swing out-to-in by 8 degrees, a feel cue is unlikely to reduce it reliably. But a visual overlay showing swing plane and clubhead path will let you target one drill and test it.

Coaches use slow motion to compare timestamps: top of backswing at frame 0, impact at frame X, release at frame Y. You can do the same.

Examples with numbers: record at 240 frames per second (fps). A 0.6 second swing produces 144 frames; impact and early release are separated by 10-20 frames, giving you precise data. At 120 fps, the same swing produces 72 frames; you still see sequence but with less granularity.

Choose frame rate based on the detail you need and the storage available.

How to use clips: create 3-5 second clips centered on key moments (top of backswing, impact zone, first 10 degrees after impact). Label clips with club and date. Track change by comparing the same frame numbers across sessions: e.g., frame 34 in Session 1 shows an open clubface; after 4 weeks of drill work, frame 34 should show square or reduced open angle.

Principles:

what to look for and why

Overview of the metrics that matter in slow motion analysis:

Sequence timing: the order and relative timing of hips, torso, arms, and club.
Club shaft lean at impact: forward or backward lean affects launch and spin.
Clubface angle relative to path: open, square, closed.
Low point and divot pattern: indicates angle of attack and swing bottom.
Head and spine tilt: excessive movement changes strike and path.

Why these matter: small changes in each metric combine to large changes in ball flight. Example: a 3 degree closed face at impact on a 7-iron can change launch angle by 1.5 degrees and side spin by 400 rpm, producing a shot 10-20 yards offline at 150 yards.

How to capture each metric visually:

Sequence timing: film from down-the-line (DTL) and face-on. Use an on-screen frame counter or app timestamps. Identify the frame of transition and count frames to impact to see lag or early release.
Shaft lean: freeze at 1 frame before impact and measure the angle between shaft and ground plane. Forward shaft lean of 5-8 degrees is common for good iron compression.
Face angle: use a marker on the butt end of the grip or tape on the clubhead to show rotation. Compare angle to a straight reference line on your monitor.
Low point: watch for the point where clubhead begins to rise after lowest point. A consistent low point before the ball indicates downward strike with irons.
Spine tilt: overlay a vertical grid and measure shoulder line. Excessive lateral tilt or head lift often shows up in frames 5-10 before impact.

Tools for measurement: many apps provide angle measurement and overlays. If you prefer manual analysis, export frames as images and use free tools like ImageJ or simple grid rulers in Photoshop or free online editors.

Practical example: a player recorded a 7-iron at 240 fps and noted the clubface was open by 6 degrees at impact on frame 120 across five swings. After a 4-week drill program focusing on wrist set and impact position, the face angle at frame 120 averaged 1.5 degrees open and dispersion tightened by 12 yards.

golf swing videos slow motion analyze your form like the pros

How to Set Up, Record, and Analyze Like a Pro

Camera Choice and Settings

Use a camera that records at 120 fps minimum; 240 fps is better for irons and wedges.
Modern smartphones typically support 120-240 fps in slow motion mode. Action cameras like GoPro support high frame rates; mirrorless cameras and dedicated high-speed cameras offer higher resolution.
Record at 1080p for smooth playback and manageable file size. Higher resolution at high fps increases storage.

Exact Setup for Repeatability

Use two camera angles: down-the-line (DTL) and face-on. Place the DTL cam 6 to 8 feet behind the ball and at wrist height. Place the face-on cam 10 to 12 feet in front of the ball and at belt height.
Use a stable tripod and mark camera locations with tape or cones so you can return to the same setup each session.
Use alignment sticks for ground lines: one along the target line, one on the ball-to-stance line. These give fixed reference lines in the video.

Recording Protocol

Warm up with 10 minutes of dynamic stretching and 10 easy swings.
Record five full swings with each club you want to analyze. Use the same ball or training ball for consistency.
Include a short marker swing where you swing to a specific position and pause for reference; this helps calibrate frame numbers.

Frame-By-Frame Analysis Workflow

Import clips into a video analysis app (examples below) or your editing software.
Set playback speed to 0.25x or step frame-by-frame.
Identify frames: top of backswing, transition, impact, release, and follow-through.
Measure angles using built-in protractors or draw reference lines: spine angle, shoulder tilt, shaft plane, and clubface angle.
Record numeric values in a simple spreadsheet: club, date, fps, frame numbers, angle measurements, and notes.

Example of an analysis entry:

Club: 7-iron
Date: 2025-01-02
fps: 240
Top frame: 10
Impact frame: 120
Shaft lean at impact: 6 degrees forward
Face angle at impact: 3 degrees closed
Low point: 6 cm after ball
Notes: early release on 2 swings; work on lag drill

Drills Tied to Findings

Early release (reduced lag): towel under lead armpit drill, 3 sets of 10 swings, 2 sessions per week for 4 weeks.
Over-the-top path: gate drill with two tees to force inside-out path, 3 sets of 12 swings, perform every range session.
Loss of spine angle: wall-posture drill (back to wall) 2 sets of 10 swings daily.

Best Practices:

testing, timelines, and tracking improvements

Testing Cadence

Baseline test: record a full bag session (5 swings per club) and analyze core metrics. This takes 60-90 minutes including setup.
Weekly check: record 10-15 swings on the range after tech work to ensure carryover.
Monthly review: compare baseline to weekly checks and plot numbers in a simple chart.

Suggested 8-Week Timeline with Targets

Week 0 - Baseline: record clips for driver, 7-iron, sand wedge. Measure face angle, shaft lean, and low point.
Weeks 1-2 - Foundational drills: work on one primary fault (example: early release). Spend 15 minutes per session on the drill, 3 sessions per week. Expect small changes by end of Week 2.
Weeks 3-4 - Transfer to full swings: add on-course or full-swing reps. Record weekly and compare frames. Expect measurable improvements in face angle by Week 4.
Weeks 5-6 - Speed and consistency: add tempo and cadence drills, and if using a launch monitor, track ball speed and dispersion. Aim for 10-15% decrease in dispersion or 2-4 yard tighter group.
Weeks 7-8 - Integration and test: simulate on-course scenarios and perform a scoring challenge. Re-record baseline tests and compare data.

Tracking Kpis (Key Performance Indicators)

Clubface angle at impact (degrees)
Shaft lean at impact (degrees)
Low point relative to ball (cm)
Ball dispersion radius (yards)
Strokes gained on approach (if you track on-course)

Example targets for 8 weeks:

Reduce face open/closed average by 3 degrees
Move low point 2-4 cm closer to ball for irons
Reduce 7-iron dispersion by 10-15 yards
Improve driver fairway hit percentage by 8-10 points

Tools and Resources

Hardware

Smartphone (iOS or Android) with 120-240 fps slow-motion mode. Most modern phones support this. Price: phone already owned or $300 to $1,200 for new models.
Tripod with phone mount: $20 to $80. Manfrotto and Joby make solid travel tripods.
Action camera: GoPro Hero series supports high frame rates; price $200 to $400.
Compact mirrorless camera: Sony A6400 or Canon EOS M50 provide clean 1080p/120fps; price $600 to $1,000 for body.
Launch monitors (optional):
Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor: approx $499; good for speed, launch, and spin data for practice.
FlightScope Mevo/Mini/Mevo+ range: $300 to $1,999 depending on features.
TrackMan: best-in-class but expensive, usually $15,000 to $25,000 for units used by pros.

Software and Apps

V1 Golf (V1 Sports): industry app used by coaches for side-by-side comparison, drawing tools, and slow motion. Pricing: V1 Golf Mobile has free features; V1 Pro subscriptions and coach platforms vary - expect coach subscriptions or one-time fees from $0 to $20/month for mobile features; coach solutions higher.
Hudl Technique: formerly free, now part of Hudl ecosystem; many coaches use it for slow motion and annotation. Check current pricing on the vendor site.
SwingVision (by ActiveMind): AI-driven swing analyzer that detects impact frame and provides metrics. Offers free tier and premium subscription (approx $4.99/month to $49/year depending on plan).
CoachNow: coach-player communication, video annotation, pricing varies based on coach accounts.
High-end software: Swing Catalyst (for pressure plates and video), Kinovea (free video analysis tool for PC).

Pricing Comparison Summary (Approximate, 2024-2025 Ranges)

Basic setup for self-analysis: smartphone + tripod + free app = $20 to $100.
Mid-level: smartphone + tripod + premium app subscription + Rapsodo MLM = $600 to $700.
Advanced: mirrorless camera + pro software + FlightScope Mevo+ = $2,000 to $3,500.
Professional studio: TrackMan + high-speed cameras + force plate = $15,000 to $50,000.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Recording inconsistent angles

Mistake: Moving the camera position between sessions destroys comparability. Fix: Mark camera placement with tape or use a tripod with measurements. Create a simple setup map with distances and heights stored on your phone.

Overanalyzing every frame

Mistake: Trying to fix multiple small faults at once leads to confusion and no improvement. Fix: Target one primary measurable issue per 2-to-4 week block. Use a single KPI (face angle, shaft lean, low point) and track that while keeping other metrics in the background.

Ignoring ball flight and outcome

Mistake: Focusing only on visuals without checking ball flight and numbers. Fix: Combine video with a launch monitor or simple ball flight notes: carry distance, direction, and feel. If video shows a change but ball flight does not improve, reassess the chosen drill.

Using too slow a frame rate or low resolution

Mistake: Using 30 fps or low-resolution slow motion that blurs important moments. Fix: Use 120 fps minimum for a useful analysis and 240 fps for wedge/short-game detail. Record at 1080p where possible.

Not repeating tests

Mistake: Making conclusions from 1-2 swings. Fix: Always record 5 to 10 swings per club and use averages. Track trends, not single swings.

FAQ

How Often Should I Record My Swing?

Record a full baseline once, then perform weekly check-ins after practice sessions. For active training blocks, record 2-3 times per week. Keep each session to 5 to 10 swings per club for analysis.

Is 120 Fps Enough or Should I Use 240 Fps?

120 frames per second is sufficient for most full-swing analysis. Use 240 fps for wedges, short game, or if you need finer detail on impact and release. Higher frame rates increase file size and may reduce resolution.

Can I Analyze My Swing Without a Launch Monitor?

Yes. Slow motion video provides timing, path, and face-angle information. A launch monitor helps quantify ball-flight metrics but is optional for technical fixes and sequencing drills.

What App Should I Use to Compare Before and After?

V1 Golf, SwingVision, and Hudl Technique are widely used. Choose an app that lets you annotate, draw planes, compare side-by-side, and export frames. Try free versions first and upgrade if you need advanced features.

How Do I Measure Clubface Angle Using Video?

Place a small piece of colored tape on the head or butt end of the grip to visualize rotation. Freeze the frame 1-2 frames before impact and compare the tape orientation to a reference line drawn on-screen. Many apps include angle measurement tools.

How Long Does It Take to See Improvement?

With focused practice and one primary KPI, expect measurable changes in 4 to 8 weeks. Small timing and angle improvements can show up in 2 weeks with daily practice, but consistent on-course results typically require 6 to 8 weeks.

Next Steps

Baseline and plan

Record a baseline session: driver, 7-iron, sand wedge. Use two angles and 5 swings per club.
Note the biggest measurable fault and choose one KPI to focus on for 4 weeks.

Build a routine

Create a practice schedule: 3 range sessions per week, 15 minutes devoted to the primary drill, 10 minutes to full-swing integration.
Use a simple spreadsheet to log frame numbers, angles, and notes after each recording.

Add measurement tools

If budget allows, add a Rapsodo MLM or FlightScope Mevo for ball-speed and carry numbers after Week 3.
Subscribe to a video analysis app for better overlays and coach access if needed.

Re-test and adjust

Re-record baseline clubs every 2 weeks and compare. If no measurable improvement after 4 weeks, switch drills or consult a coach for targeted feedback.

Checklist for Your Next Range Session

Camera setup: DTL and face-on tripods placed and marked.
Frame rate: set to 120 or 240 fps.
Warm-up: 10 minutes dynamic warm-up.
Shots: 5 swings per club for clubs being tracked.
Drills: 15 minutes drill work on primary fault.
Record notes: date, club, fps, primary KPI, and short comment.
Save and label clips: club_date_KPI (example: 7-iron_2025-01-02_face4deg).

Summary of Priorities

Use slow motion to convert feel into data: timing, angles, and low point.
Start with clear, repeatable camera positions and simple KPIs.
Focus on one measurable fault at a time and track progress weekly.
Invest in apps or a launch monitor when you need numbers to match the visuals.

Golf Swing Videos Slow Motion Analyze Your Form Like The