What's the main takeaway from "How to Film Your Golf Swing for Online Lessons: A Complete Guide"?

Bad video kills good coaching. Learn exactly how to set up your phone, which angles to capture, and where to position your hands in the frame so your coach can give you real feedback. The full breakdown above walks through the exact framework Coach Francis uses with students at Beyond Golf Performance.

How does Virtual Academy coaching work?

You submit swing videos through the app, your coach reviews them with voiceover analysis, and you receive a custom practice plan plus access to the 1% Closer Courses library. Plans start at $59/month.

Do I need special equipment to start the Virtual Academy?

No. A smartphone with a tripod, an alignment stick, and any practice space (backyard, garage, or range) is enough to start. Members get drill libraries designed specifically for at-home practice.

How to Film Your Golf Swing for Online Lessons: A Complete Guide

Why Video Quality Matters

When you send a swing video to your coach, that video is the lesson. If the angle is wrong, the framing is off, or the lighting makes it impossible to see your positions, your coach is working with incomplete information. Good video doesn't require expensive equipment — just the right setup.

Here's exactly how to film your swing so your coach can give you the best possible feedback.

The Two Essential Angles

Every swing submission should include two videos: Face On and Down the Line. These two views give your coach a complete picture of your swing from both perspectives.

Face On (Front View)

Set your phone directly in front of you, perpendicular to your target line. The camera should be at hand height — not ground level, not chest height. Hand height captures the full swing arc and lets your coach see weight shift, hip rotation, and club path through impact.

Key setup points:

Camera aimed at your belt buckle

Full body visible from feet to club at the top of the backswing

Your hands should be roughly centered in the frame at address

Stand far enough back that there's a little space above and below you

Down the Line (Rear View)

Position the phone directly behind you on the target line, again at hand height. This angle reveals swing plane, club path, and how your body rotates through the shot.

Key setup points:

Camera aimed at your hands at address

Aligned directly down the target line — not angled left or right

Full body visible with the club showing at all points of the swing

Keep the hands centered in the frame — this is the most common mistake

Keeping Hands Centered in the Frame

This is the single biggest filming mistake we see. Students set up the camera, but frame themselves so their hands are at the edge of the frame or cut off entirely. Your hands are the connection point between your body and the club — if your coach can't see them clearly throughout the swing, critical information is lost.

At address, your hands should sit right in the middle of the frame, horizontally. When you take the club to the top, they should still be visible. When you swing through, the follow-through should stay in frame. If any of that gets cut off, move the camera back or adjust the angle.

Equipment Tips

Use a tripod or phone stand — handheld video from a friend is shaky and inconsistent. A $15 phone tripod from Amazon is the best investment you'll make for virtual coaching.

Film in slow motion — Most smartphones have a slow-motion setting (120fps or 240fps). Use it. Your coach needs to see positions that happen in fractions of a second.

Film outdoors or in good light — Avoid backlighting. Don't film with the sun directly behind you. Natural, even lighting gives the clearest image.

Horizontal orientation — Always film in landscape mode, never portrait.

What to Hit

Film your natural swing with a mid-iron (7-iron is ideal). Don't try to swing perfectly for the camera — your coach needs to see your real swing, not your "trying to look good" swing. Hit 3-5 balls from each angle and send the most representative swings.

Send It Through the App

Upload your videos directly through our coaching app. Your coach receives a notification, reviews the footage frame by frame, and sends back an annotated analysis you can reference anytime. The whole process takes 24-48 hours, and you can rewatch the feedback as many times as you need.