Need suggestions for camera angle for taking video of pitcher please :)

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May 8, 2013
42
6
A college coach asked my dd to send game footage of her pitching every week. I thought to myself, easy enough . . .

So today I took footage of a very good 5 inning outing - only to get home and see that I have 5 perfect innings of the umpires back!

[video]https://youtu.be/TOxt0pGCmjA[/video]

So, for anyone who does this regularly and can help me out, where should I have placed the camera? My dd said that I should have had it higher and angled downward, but the coach specifically said he wanted to see the movement of the ball . ..

I welcome all suggestions - thank you in advance!

I was lucky enough to have captured a nice hit, so that day wasn't a total loss :)

[video]https://youtu.be/b_tGWyqM-08[/video]
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Here is a link to my DD's recruiting video from a few years ago that may give you some ideas. I would suggest watching multiple recruiting videos of pitchers and deciding what you like and don't like. Getting a 8'-10' step ladder and setting it up behind the pitcher does a great job of showing the pitches movement and is similar to the outfield camera shots used by MLB.

 
Jan 4, 2012
3,852
38
OH-IO
Yep JAD...that's the one that I like. The same one I see when I watch WCWS & NFP Games.

Michele1377 I get mine from out @ the fence... gotta be in the gap between the CenterFeilder @ SS... Sometimes, got to be a little mobile...they move around a lot... :cool:
 

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
For game footage, if you want the shot above, you will be relegated to the outfield fence. A DSLR with a long lens, that takes video would be good. But even a compact camera can sometimes take decent enough video. At fence height, you might deal with the occasional fielder, runner or umpire in your shot, but this angle should get you what you are looking for (below). But with that said, and I'm by no means a pitching expert, I would think a side shot would have some value as well.

The outfield camera (on a 350' fence) is a Sony DSC 90V (backstop camera is a GoPro Hero 4 Silver; with a smudge on the lens...sorry). It will only take 29 minutes of video at a time, so starting and stopping between innings is required:
 
May 8, 2013
42
6
I would suggest watching multiple recruiting videos of pitchers and deciding what you like and don't like. Getting a 8'-10' step ladder and setting it up behind the pitcher does a great job of showing the pitches movement and is similar to the outfield camera shots used by MLB.

Thank you! I will try that approach as well! Your recruiting video is great, and I have watched it with my daughter several times since last year :)
This particular college coach specifically asked her to send him some game footage after each of her weekend tourneys this fall, so I was trying to accommodate that request. I guess the best option will be the outfield fence, like Perfect Circle and Josh suggested below :)
 
May 8, 2013
42
6
Michele1377 I get mine from out @ the fence... gotta be in the gap between the CenterFeilder @ SS... Sometimes, got to be a little mobile...they move around a lot... :cool:

Thank you! I will try it this way during next week's tourneys - don't know why it didn't occur to me that Blue would end up in the shot the way I had things set up, lol!
 
May 8, 2013
42
6
. . . But with that said, and I'm by no means a pitching expert, I would think a side shot would have some value as well.

Um, based upon watching the clip you provided, I would have to say that you are an expert!!!

The outfield camera (on a 350' fence) is a Sony DSC 90V (backstop camera is a GoPro Hero 4 Silver; with a smudge on the lens...sorry). It will only take 29 minutes of video at a time, so starting and stopping between innings is required:

I see! I will experiment with the outfield camera first, and then hike the backstop camera up higher and see if I can replicate what you have done! Thank you so much for sharing!
 
Jul 4, 2013
126
43
I find that umpires have a special knack for getting between a fence mounted GoPro and the action I want to catch. Watching the footage back, sometimes it seems like they back right up to the camera for any close play, but those are the breaks. What can I say? Umps and I agree on what may be the best view of the action, and they have priority. :)

I don't think your location was too far off for getting video of your pitcher though. Pitching is the one time you can have a pretty good idea where that ump will be. I usually set my GoPro up as high as I can comfortably reach very near where yours was, but a few feet further to the first base side. It peeks over the umpires right shoulder to get as much of a right handed batter as I can. You will get your pitcher and the pitches with your camera there.

If there is play at the plate, expect to see blue shirt. Close play at first, blue shirt. Third base makes a play near the line, blue will cross over and give you blue shirt.
 

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