Hi Andrea - thank you. I use an Sony RX10 Mk IV camera. This camera gives options on filming that I need for these golf videos. The RX10 gives you options for shooting normal speed golf swings at either 25, 50 or 100 frames per second (frames per second = FPS) and also you can use the HFR (High Frame Rate) option on this camera to shoot at 250 fps, 500 fps or 1000 fps. I only normally use the 250 fps for my videos so that the quality of the sequence is still more-or-less HD quality. As you go to more frames options (500 or 1000 fps) then the quality of the filmed sequence will go down at each higher frame rate. On the 100 fps version the video that the camera shoots (also records with sound) and you can shoot for quite a while (about 30 mins?). On the HFR option you normally can shoot for just 4 second bursts. This doesn't sound at the HFR rate. 4 seconds doesn't sound a lot - but the normal golf swing takes only about 2 seconds (though if you want a complete follow-through and recoil the whole sequence will be closer to between 3 and 4 seconds). With the Sony RX10 Mk IV camera in the HFR option you have to frame the subject and focus properly before starting the 'buffering' button/option. Once the camera is in 'buffering' mode it is ready to shoot, but just keeps shooting the action until you press record. Once you've pressed record in the HFR rate you then of course end up with a 4 second sequence with 250 frames for each second. Because it's difficult to anticipate exactly when pros will swing the club I also set the camera on the 'end shutter' option. This means once the camera is buffering, I only press record at the end of the golf swing. Then the camera records the last 4 seconds, from the takeaway to the finish (and recoil a the end of the swing if I time the sequence correctly) which is what I'm obviously after. Because the camera can't change settings in the HFR option once you have started 'buffering', you can't reset the focus until the sequence is being filmed. So therefore you normally have 'one go' to shoot everything. If you time the recording incorrectly or the focus is a bit 'off' when you start the buffering then the sequence won't be of the quality that you want. It's a bit like a musical instrument - once you know how to use it, it's quite easy, but it takes a bit of experience and even that doesn't guarantee perfect results each time. If you're shooting with the camera in the 25/50 or 100 fps mode (normal video playback speed, but with more frames than are normally recorded on the 100 fps) then the camera will work normally / also recording sound - and you don't need to worry about focusing too much as the automatic focus will happen as normal. Once you shoot on the HFR option (250/500/100 fps) then the sequences won't record sound. But for me the point of my videos is to give clarity throughout the swing (what the clubshaft is doing at impact, what the clubface is doing, what the hands are doing at the fastest points in the swing etc). So I'm less worried about recording sound. The camera also has options for setting the shutter speed. If you are looking at shooting good golf videos to study technique you need to have a fast shutter speed as well (I normally set the camera shutter speed at least 2500 per second = e.g. 1/2500). Basically I'm looking for both a high frame rate (HFR) and a fast shutter speed. A high frame rate in itself will not guarantee you being able to see the shaft or face around impact (fast points of the swing). You would still end up with 'blur' on the hands or clubhead at the fastest points of the swing if the camera is 'automatically' setting the camera shutter speed for you. If a camera or video uses automatic settings then the fastest shutter they would tend to use, even in good sunlight, would be between 1/300 and 1/800. Which is too slow for the fastest points in the golf swing if you want to see the precision details such as shaft lean and where the hands are at impact etc. This is why there are often good golf swing footage on TH-cam videos that still show the shaft or hands through impact as 'blurred'. The photographers have used automatic settings for the shutter speeds. I hope that helps. If you have any more questions you can always email me directly as it took me a while to work out what I needed for recording golf swings. There are other cameras on the market that will record high-frame rates - but I've found the Sony RX10 Mk IV to be one of the best while still being affordable (comparable to some really expensive cameras!). Of course some of the better Mobile phones have the same technology but may not have shutter control options etc. Also - If I can - I have another videographer with me at events so we can both shoot the same sequence from two angles at the same time and then match these up in editing software afterwards. This isn't always possible but some of my favourite videos use this. I also use a tripod these days whereas I used to use a Monopod. There's nothing wrong with handheld sequences but there will always be some movement of the camera if a Tripod isn't used. best wishes Michael
@@MichaelJohnField thank you so much for you kind replay. I purchased a Canon EOS R6 mirrorless full frame. I record swing at 4K 60 fps 1/4000 shutter speed with sound or at Full HD 100 fps 1/4000 shutter speed without sound. Not so many frames but a good image quality and a very sharp and stable shaft at impact. I will share some videos. Keep doing your great job and thank you so much again!
Hi Andrea, that's great - sounds like you have found a camera that suits your needs! Glad you enjoy the videos and thanks very much for your original question. Take care, Michael
Unfortunately not - in fact, I had to look up the '2 thumbs grip' as I didn't realise it was a specific item (should have realised). Does he use that for short shots as well as the putts or use it as a drill-swing? Intrigued either way. Thanks for the comment!
@@MichaelJohnField there are couple of very old forum threads about this with pete cowen students. Sadly pics are dead because of age. Meandmygolf youtube ep on henrik stenson also mentions it but not 100% on the info it provides. Its about which orientation the grip is installed and is it a flat grip on 2 sides or just 1. Supposedly done as a training aid club to get proper delivery face angle and for matt supposedly helps his backswing. Love your work! forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1274638-what-is-the-theory-behind-pete-cowens-2-thumb-grip-aids/ forums.golfwrx.com/topic/728080-darren-clarke-with-how-many-wraps-pics-from-wgc/
Dear Michael. You videos are stunning! Thank you. Can I ask you what camera do you use to film? Thank you so much.
Hi Andrea - thank you.
I use an Sony RX10 Mk IV camera. This camera gives options on filming that I need for these golf videos. The RX10 gives you options for shooting normal speed golf swings at either 25, 50 or 100 frames per second (frames per second = FPS) and also you can use the HFR (High Frame Rate) option on this camera to shoot at 250 fps, 500 fps or 1000 fps. I only normally use the 250 fps for my videos so that the quality of the sequence is still more-or-less HD quality. As you go to more frames options (500 or 1000 fps) then the quality of the filmed sequence will go down at each higher frame rate.
On the 100 fps version the video that the camera shoots (also records with sound) and you can shoot for quite a while (about 30 mins?). On the HFR option you normally can shoot for just 4 second bursts. This doesn't sound at the HFR rate. 4 seconds doesn't sound a lot - but the normal golf swing takes only about 2 seconds (though if you want a complete follow-through and recoil the whole sequence will be closer to between 3 and 4 seconds). With the Sony RX10 Mk IV camera in the HFR option you have to frame the subject and focus properly before starting the 'buffering' button/option. Once the camera is in 'buffering' mode it is ready to shoot, but just keeps shooting the action until you press record. Once you've pressed record in the HFR rate you then of course end up with a 4 second sequence with 250 frames for each second.
Because it's difficult to anticipate exactly when pros will swing the club I also set the camera on the 'end shutter' option. This means once the camera is buffering, I only press record at the end of the golf swing. Then the camera records the last 4 seconds, from the takeaway to the finish (and recoil a the end of the swing if I time the sequence correctly) which is what I'm obviously after. Because the camera can't change settings in the HFR option once you have started 'buffering', you can't reset the focus until the sequence is being filmed. So therefore you normally have 'one go' to shoot everything. If you time the recording incorrectly or the focus is a bit 'off' when you start the buffering then the sequence won't be of the quality that you want. It's a bit like a musical instrument - once you know how to use it, it's quite easy, but it takes a bit of experience and even that doesn't guarantee perfect results each time.
If you're shooting with the camera in the 25/50 or 100 fps mode (normal video playback speed, but with more frames than are normally recorded on the 100 fps) then the camera will work normally / also recording sound - and you don't need to worry about focusing too much as the automatic focus will happen as normal. Once you shoot on the HFR option (250/500/100 fps) then the sequences won't record sound. But for me the point of my videos is to give clarity throughout the swing (what the clubshaft is doing at impact, what the clubface is doing, what the hands are doing at the fastest points in the swing etc). So I'm less worried about recording sound.
The camera also has options for setting the shutter speed. If you are looking at shooting good golf videos to study technique you need to have a fast shutter speed as well (I normally set the camera shutter speed at least 2500 per second = e.g. 1/2500). Basically I'm looking for both a high frame rate (HFR) and a fast shutter speed. A high frame rate in itself will not guarantee you being able to see the shaft or face around impact (fast points of the swing). You would still end up with 'blur' on the hands or clubhead at the fastest points of the swing if the camera is 'automatically' setting the camera shutter speed for you. If a camera or video uses automatic settings then the fastest shutter they would tend to use, even in good sunlight, would be between 1/300 and 1/800. Which is too slow for the fastest points in the golf swing if you want to see the precision details such as shaft lean and where the hands are at impact etc. This is why there are often good golf swing footage on TH-cam videos that still show the shaft or hands through impact as 'blurred'. The photographers have used automatic settings for the shutter speeds.
I hope that helps. If you have any more questions you can always email me directly as it took me a while to work out what I needed for recording golf swings. There are other cameras on the market that will record high-frame rates - but I've found the Sony RX10 Mk IV to be one of the best while still being affordable (comparable to some really expensive cameras!). Of course some of the better Mobile phones have the same technology but may not have shutter control options etc.
Also - If I can - I have another videographer with me at events so we can both shoot the same sequence from two angles at the same time and then match these up in editing software afterwards. This isn't always possible but some of my favourite videos use this. I also use a tripod these days whereas I used to use a Monopod. There's nothing wrong with handheld sequences but there will always be some movement of the camera if a Tripod isn't used.
best wishes
Michael
@@MichaelJohnField thank you so much for you kind replay. I purchased a Canon EOS R6 mirrorless full frame. I record swing at 4K 60 fps 1/4000 shutter speed with sound or at Full HD 100 fps 1/4000 shutter speed without sound. Not so many frames but a good image quality and a very sharp and stable shaft at impact. I will share some videos. Keep doing your great job and thank you so much again!
Hi Andrea,
that's great - sounds like you have found a camera that suits your needs! Glad you enjoy the videos and thanks very much for your original question.
Take care,
Michael
ty for this. have you any video etc of Matt swinging with a 2 thumbs grip on a club (not putter)?
Unfortunately not - in fact, I had to look up the '2 thumbs grip' as I didn't realise it was a specific item (should have realised). Does he use that for short shots as well as the putts or use it as a drill-swing? Intrigued either way. Thanks for the comment!
@@MichaelJohnField there are couple of very old forum threads about this with pete cowen students. Sadly pics are dead because of age. Meandmygolf youtube ep on henrik stenson also mentions it but not 100% on the info it provides. Its about which orientation the grip is installed and is it a flat grip on 2 sides or just 1. Supposedly done as a training aid club to get proper delivery face angle and for matt supposedly helps his backswing. Love your work!
forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1274638-what-is-the-theory-behind-pete-cowens-2-thumb-grip-aids/
forums.golfwrx.com/topic/728080-darren-clarke-with-how-many-wraps-pics-from-wgc/
Ole Matty can play.
Ben stokes in the background?
Yes.