It would be great if real-life was more like a video game. Gamers know that they can easily record and re-watch footage of their gameplay. This enables them to see their mistakes and to make the necessary corrections to improve.

For those that play pickleball, particularly pickleball enthusiasts or those who just learned how to play pickleball, there may be a desire to find innovative ways to improve. New games like pickleball are a lot of fun, and those who are just learning may want to ensure they have good form, while passionate pickleball players may want to improve their skill level.

One of the best tools for improving your pickleball game, other than hiring a trainer or coach, is to see how you play by recording it. How do you do this without interfering with what’s happening on the court, and what equipment is best suited for recording? This tutorial on video capture will help you to get started.

Just as gamers like to screen capture their exploits, athletes get better by watching game film. Game film refers to recordings of a team or individual's performance during a game or practice, which can then be analyzed and studied to identify areas of improvement.

So why do athletes watch game film? There are several reasons why this practice is so popular among athletes and coaches alike:

To analyze performance: Watching game film allows athletes to analyze their own performance as well as the performance of their opponents. By studying how they play, they can identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to improve their performance in future games.
To learn from mistakes: Watching game film allows athletes to learn from their mistakes. By watching themselves, they can identify areas where they could have made better decisions or executed a play differently. This allows them to make adjustments and improve their performance in the future.
To study opponents: Watching game film of opponents allows athletes to study their strengths and weaknesses. By analyzing their opponents' playing styles, athletes can develop strategies to exploit their weaknesses and neutralize their strengths.
To improve teamwork: Just as multiplayer gamers will rewatch game play, watching game film as a team allows athletes to work together to identify areas where they need to improve as a group. By analyzing how they play games together, they can identify areas where they need to communicate better, improve their timing, or make better use of their individual strengths.
To Stay Motivated: Watching game film can also be a great way for athletes to stay motivated. By seeing their successes and progress over time, they can stay focused on their goals and remain committed to improving their performance. It’s amazing to watch the improvement of how you handle the pickleball paddle after practicing and to see your dinks improve immensely over time.

Where to Set Up the Camera?

Knowing where and how to set up the camera is important so you can capture the right perspective of the court. Location matters as you want to capture the entire pickleball court, so not only can you see your interaction with the ball but also that of the other players.

I like two (2) locations; the first is on either end of the court, using the mid-line as your center. The second is on any of the four corners of the court. You may be thinking won’t the camera be in the way if located in either of these locations? The answer is no because the camera can be elevated high enough to be out of harm’s way, so no player will trip over it and damage it.

Elevating the camera can be done one of two ways; the first way is with a flexible tripod that would allow you to wrap it into the chain-linked fence at a height of about 8 feet. The next method is to use a tripod with an extension and place it nestled in a corner away from the court’s playing area.

What Kind of Camera is Best?

There are many choices of cameras, but I’ll focus (pun intended) on two (2) solutions. One obvious choice is your smartphone (Apple or Android). You can find all kinds of clamps to hold your smartphone in either portrait or landscape (vertical or horizontal) mode. These smartphone clamps don’t damage the phone itself but allow for it to be securely mounted on any standard tripod.

Next, and this is my preferred recommendation, is the GoPro Hero camera. This camera comes in several models, and depending on which one you buy, you can get some great deals on them that range from $199.98 to $349.98. What’s remarkable about these cameras is that they are made for sports photography and videography and are no slouch at either, boasting resolutions that rival DSLR (pro-cameras) or smartphones.

They are made to take on the rigors of outdoor use, whether hot or cold. They tripod mount and are lightweight. The best part is they shoot in 4k HD resolution using a super-wide lens that captures the entire court end-to-end! It has its own battery and uses standard MicroSD Cards to store recordings.

One last word about the GoPro - many who remember this camera back when it first came out will recall that all the action shots utilized a “fisheye” type lens. Today’s models still have this functionality but they also have a mode called “linear,” which produces a completely flat panoramic wide-angle shot.

When shooting video with either a smartphone or GoPro camera, you’ll want to shoot in “landscape” (horizontal), which is preferred as it captures a wide-screen shot (like HD) and provides a FOV (field-or-view) that is more in keeping with the court dimensions.

How to Record Sounds in Pickleball Recordings

The biggest part of capturing pickleball is the great audio that naturally goes along with it. The problem is that the camera is so far away that sometimes the audio isn’t distinguishable due to the distance between the camera and the action on the court. For either mobile phones (smartphones) or the GoPro, I recommend a small shotgun microphone that plugs into either device and will enhance the sound so you can hear everything.

Does the USA Pickleball Association Allow Game Recording?

If you wish to train for a pickleball tournament in America, such as the US Open, you may be wondering if it’s okay to record your games. The official rulebook of the USAPA doesn’t mention or prohibit recording tournaments or games. However, you should always follow proper etiquette and ensure that all players on the court agree to be recorded.

Final Thoughts

Location, camera, and audio are the three main things to consider when recording yourself. If you’re serious about improving your skills on the court, recording may just be the thing that helps you analyze and get some perspective on how you play as a single player or with a partner and what needs fixing.