How to record pitching video you can actually review.
Most pitching clips fail before anyone reviews them: the camera is behind a fence at a bad angle, the stride foot is cut off, or every bullpen is filmed from a different spot. A few setup habits fix that.
Put safety first
Never place the phone or yourself in the path of the pitch, a batted ball, or the catcher. Use a netting-protected position, a fence mount, or a tripod well outside the throwing lane.
Choose the view for the question
A side view from the pitcher’s open side is best for leg lift, stride length, trunk position, and sequence into release. A view from behind home plate or directly behind the mound helps with stride direction and arm-slot context. Pick one view per question.
Frame the entire delivery
Keep the pitcher’s head, glove, throwing hand, and both feet in frame from set position through follow-through. Leave room for the stride and deceleration so the key frames are not cut off.
Use slow motion and good light
Record in the iPhone’s slow-motion mode when the light is good; fast arm action blurs at normal frame rates. Daylight or even facility lighting also helps pose overlays follow the body.
Keep the setup repeatable
Note where the phone sits, its height, and its distance from the rubber. Using the same spot each bullpen makes side-by-side comparisons meaningful instead of a comparison of camera angles.
Record the context
Write down pitch type, intent, mound or flat ground, and pitch count. In BaseballDraw, a note or tag on the clip keeps that context with the video.
Choose a capture rate, then inspect a test clip
For footage recorded in Apple Camera, open Settings → Camera → Record Video or Record Slo-mo to see the resolutions and frame rates supported by your iPhone. Those settings belong to Apple Camera; they do not set the in-app recorder’s capture rate. Record a short test in the lighting you actually have, then import from Photos.
| Captured frame rate | Approximate time between frames | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| 30 fps | 33.3 ms | A fast contact or release can occur between captured frames. |
| 60 fps | 16.7 ms | More samples, but shutter blur can still obscure the subject. |
| 120 fps | 8.3 ms | Useful only if the recording remains bright and sharp. |
| 240 fps | 4.2 ms | Available modes depend on the iPhone; a darker or noisier clip may be less useful. |
These intervals are arithmetic examples (1,000 ÷ frames per second), not an accuracy promise. They describe a constant capture rate; edited or variable-rate files may differ. Playback at 0.25× does not turn a 30 fps original into a 120 fps recording. Keep the original high-frame-rate file rather than a messaging-app copy that may have been recompressed.
Apple documents model-dependent recording formats and slow-motion settings in its iPhone camera guide.
Check the recording before the next rep
| Problem in the test clip | Change before recording again |
|---|---|
| Hand, throwing arm, or stride foot leaves the frame | Move farther away or reframe with room for the whole action. Keep the phone safely outside the practice area. |
| A fence or foreground object covers the checkpoint | Choose another protected view that keeps the pitcher visible. Keep the camera and people outside the throwing lane. |
| The fast-moving subject is a blur | Improve the light and inspect another test. A higher frame rate alone cannot guarantee a sharp exposure. |
| The view changes between attempts | Mark the support position and record its height, distance, orientation, and zoom. |
| Artificial lights create dark bands or flicker | Try another supported capture mode and inspect the test before filming the session. |