For a number of years I have been consciously avoiding viewing my golf swing on video. My swing is flawed but at 64+ years old, I am not sure I want to start a reclamation project. Playing golf is a lot of fun and if my results are not particularly good, I am okay with that.
The first time I saw my swing on video dates back to the 1980’s when my wife and I went to “golf camp.” The pro had a series of stop action photos of professional golfers and he would stop my swing video at various points and we could compare my position with Tom Weiskopf or Gary Player. It was eye opening to see how flat footed I was at impact, among other flaws, and it convinced me to work harder at my game.
Fast forward 30 years and part of the application process for the 2017 Newport Cup involves a V-log. There is no way to create a V-log without taping one’s swing.
Of course the first hurdle was figuring out how to record all the action. I own a digital camera and have recorded various activities (grand kids zip lining, making pesto in Italy, etc…). I also own a “gorilla” tripod and have taken many photos using the timer. So how hard could it be to record my 3-hole V-Log out on the golf course? As I found out, it is not that hard … to make a terrible video. If one is searching for a better quality presentation, as in all things, practice, practice, practice.
Having another person along makes the process infinitely easier. No worries about cutting off your head or your feet and the ball. Starting and stopping the action, too close or too far, are all solved with an assistant.
Of course, convincing someone to tag along on a windy 37 degree day is a challenge and my first efforts were done solo. While I eventually learned how to properly frame the scene, the sound quality was all over the map. The wind plays havoc with the audio. Some segments are fine, others just sound like a wind tunnel. It is still not clear to me how to obtain decent sound quality on a windy day so I may need to wait for a windless day.
In the past, I never felt the need to edit any of the videos I had recorded so that process was a mystery. Fortunately, I discovered that the editing process is fairly simple; even I could figure it out. Using my test videos, I managed to cobble together a viewable presentation. True, my swing looks like I am fighting my way out of an invisible plastic bag but I am excited about my next trip to the course. Martin Scorsese has nothing on me!
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