Why this matters

The cleaner your footage, the better your tracking turns out — and the less you'll need to fix afterward. A few simple recording habits make a big difference, whether you send the match for automatic tracking or tag it yourself.

Recording checklist

Follow these and your match will track well:

• Film in landscape (sideways), not portrait. Aim for a 16:9 shape, the same wide shape as a TV.
• Record at 1080p or 720p. Both look great for tracking.
• 30 or 60 frames per second both work. 30 fps uploads faster, so we'd start there unless you have a reason to film higher.
• Record the match in one take. Don't cut, trim, or stitch clips together — one continuous video is best.
• Keep both players in the frame at least 90% of the time. We need to see the players to track the rallies.

Where to put the camera

Set the camera up high and behind one end of the court if you can, so it sees the full court and both players at once. A steady camera — on a tripod, or propped up on something solid — tracks far better than one held in your hand.

A few extra tips

• Good, even lighting helps us see the shuttle and the players clearly.
• Try to keep the whole court in view, especially the back corners.
• Filmed a long session? You can still upload the whole thing — just add segments later so we only track the games you want, which also keeps your cost down.

What's next

• Add your video in Match Tracker.
• See how to lower your token cost.
• Learn our manual tracking workflow.