How to Film Your Pool Stroke (and What to Look For)
Your phone is the best pool coach you own. You can't see your own stroke while you shoot, but video shows exactly what your cue, elbow and head are doing. Ten minutes of filming can fix what months of practice didn't.
What you need
- A phone with slow motion.
- A small tripod with a phone holder (a stack of books works in a pinch).
- Optional: a Bluetooth remote so you can start and stop without walking over.
Three camera angles
- From behind, in line with the shot, about table height. Shows whether the cue moves straight through the cue ball or swings to the side.
- From the side, level with your elbow. Shows elbow drop, grip position and follow-through.
- From the front, looking back at you from beyond the object ball. Shows head movement and whether the tip finishes on line.
Settings
Use slow motion (120 or 240 frames per second) for the stroke itself. Good light on the table matters more than an expensive camera.
What to look for
- Cue moves sideways on the backswing or forward stroke: grip too tight, or elbow moving out.
- Elbow drops before contact: fine on power shots for some players, but on normal shots it moves the tip.
- Head moves up before the object ball drops: you are jumping up.
- Short or crooked follow-through: decelerating or steering.
- Different number of practice strokes every shot: your pre-shot routine needs work.
How to use what you see
Pick one problem, fix it with drills from how to improve your stroke, and film again in a week. Compare side by side. Keep a few clips from your best sessions as a reference for what "good" looks like for you.
Pair video with a training cue ball to see your spin and you have most of what a coach gives you. Then follow the 30-day training plan.