See Your Swing Improve! The purpose of the equipment section is to help you get good quality equipment that fits your budget. We concentrate on providing great software and so we do not sell hardware nor do we receive any affiliate fees for recommending hardware or vendors. All prices in this guide are in US dollars and are based on information available on the Internet in November 2006. We welcome your comments on this document. We plan to continue to update and improve it.
If you prefer to buy a complete system with hardware, in the U.S. you can contact our OEM SportsMotion, or in Europe our distributor ProShot Solutions. Both are able to provide equipment, installation and training services. For help in Japan, contact cSwing Japan.
This guide covers:
There are many types of video cameras and camcorders available. If you are purchasing a new camcorder, we strongly recommend getting a miniDV model. Canon and Sony are the two most popular brands. miniDV camcorders from other manufacturers like JVC, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp generally work well too. All miniDV camcorders have a FireWire port which is the best way to transfer video to your computer.
We do not rerecommend microMV format from Sony nor hard drive and DVD camcorders from any manufacturer because they do not provide good quality video for analysis and capture driver support in Windows isn't adequate. Because of the compression used in them you will see digital artifacts during fast motion sequences such as a golf club at impact.
Webcams generally do not provide control through DirectX over shutter speed and most will not provide 640x480 at 30 frames/second. However if you are on a budget you can try them with our trial.
Security, CCT, analog and Hi8 cameras can work with cSwing but they don't provide the same video quality as miniDV and most don't have FireWire output. They work best with a DV FireWire bridge such as a Canopus ADVC 55 or 100.
We do not recommend Network (IP) cameras because they don't provide adequate frame rates and they don't integrate well with Microsoft's DirectX.
The High Definition camcorders from Canon, Sony and others are not currently recommended unless they support SD (standard definition) video like the Canon HV10. We are investigating HD support but most formats are not supported by default in Windows at this time. Some models such as the Sony HC3 and SR1 HD cameras only support 1/500 second shutter speed and are not recommended for this reason.
We recommend Canon because all their miniDV camcorders have a manual setting for shutter speed. A shutter speed of at least 1/1000 of a second is important for getting a clear picture of a fast motion such as a golf swing or a baseball swing. Many cameras that don't have the manual shutter speed feature, including most Sony models, have a Sports mode. This mode automatically sets the shutter speed as high as it can be based on the available light. This works well in most lighting conditions, but where available light is sufficiently low you may experience some blurring of the clubhead at impact. One advantage that many of the Sony miniDV camcorders offer is a 3.5" view screen vs. the 2.5" on most Canons.
Canon camcorders come in the following series: ZR ($300 and up), Elura ($350 and up), Optura ($450 and up) and GL-2 ($2,000). Series names are different outside North America (MV, MVX and XM series). The model numbers within each of these series change approximately every year (the ZR 100 to 700 series and the Elura 100 are currently recommended, we recommend the Elura if it is within your budget). If you have more money in your budget, each higher priced series progressively offers better optics, sharper pictures and better color definition. The Canon GL-2 adds Frame movie mode (Progressive Scan) which gives an even clearer picture for putting and chipping. It is more bulky than the other models. More details about Canon camcorders are available at http://www.canondv.com. Here is a site in Australia that shows the camcorders with model names used outside North America.
In the U.S., you can save by buying your camcorder online. We recommend Worldwide Digital or Profeel. Often, they will try to sell you accessories but if you're looking to save money you can find better deals on batteries on eBay.
One of our preferred stores listed below, Profeel, offers reasonably priced accessory packages when you purchase the camcorder. We recommend their deluxe package which generally includes: 5 tapes, a tripod, a UV filter, a camera case, an extended life battery and a five-year warranty. The deluxe package costs around $300 depending on the camera.
We recommend shooting on a tripod because a steady picture works best for analysis. A UV filter will protect your lens and offer some glare protection. The batteries that come with the cameras generally last from a half-hour to an hour. An extra extended life battery comes in handy. eBay is a good place to get good prices on non-OEM batteries. One vendor we recommend for batteries is Battery Heads (they also sell on eBay).
Some still cameras come with movie modes that will work with cSwing. The best way to test whether your camera will work is to use our free trial. Insert the memory card into your PCs card reader and try cSwing's import feature. Some formats, particularly .MOV (QuickTime), require a DirectX plug-in. Search for "QuickTime Alternative" on Google for the DirectX that works with DirectShow/cSwing. Canon's Digital Elph SD series is the best still camera we have found in our testing. It shoots AVIs at 320x240 and 60 fps. The SD200 starts just over $200.
A Unidirectional (cardioid) mic is recommended for the Hit Detector for use in Live mode. You can pick up a moderately priced mic at your local RadioShack for about $30. You will also need a 1/4" to mini-jack adapter unless your sound card has a 1/4" plug. You only really need the microphone if you are filming yourself. It is easier to just hit the spacebar on the keyboard at impact if you are filming someone else in Live mode or loading video from tape.
The best way to get video into your computer is the long established FireWire standard. FireWire is a digital data transfer standard. It is also known as IEEE 1394 and i.Link. Although some camcorders come with a USB cable, the video quality obtained using USB is poor or in the MPEG-2 video standard and is not suitable for video analysis. FireWire's higher transfer rate allows full quality digital video to be transferred from your miniDV camcorder to your computer.
There are two types of FireWire connections: 4-pin and 6-pin. The FireWire interface on miniDV and Digital8 camcorders is a 4-pin connection. Most laptops have a 4-pin connection and most desktops have a 6- pin connection. Be sure to check your set up to see what type of cable you need (4-pin/4-pin or 4-pin/6-pin). Some add-on cards include a cable, but most camcorders and computers do not. Your local electronics or computer store may have a cable, but they may charge $35 or $40 for one vs. about $10 online.
If you want to use multiple cameras, due to a limitation of the way miniDV camcorders work with FireWire, you will need one FireWire card per camcorder. This is a hardware limitation, not a problem with Windows or cSwing.
Here are some sources for FireWire cards and cables:
http://newegg.com (type 1394 pci or 1394 cardbus or firewire cable into their Search box)
http://amazon.com (type 1394 pci or 1394 cardbus or firewire cable into their Search box)
If you need a really long cable for live capture (over 25 feet) here are two online stores that carry them (most local stores won't have these):
http://cablesdirect.com ( (type 25 ft firewire into their Search box)
http://avsupply.com (type firewire cable into their Search box)
http://markertek.com (type extended firewire into their Search box)
We have used cables from these vendors and they work well. The reason they can extend the normal maximum limit of a FireWire cable (15 ft) is that miniDV devices are designed to work only at S100 speed rather than S400 or S800.
If you already have a PC, most PCs from the last four years will run cSwing. We recommend using our Free Trial to make sure the software runs well on your computer. Some PCs do not come with built-in FireWire ports so you may need to purchase an add-on card.
If you don't have a computer yet, the first decision to make is whether you want a laptop or a desktop. We recommend that you get a computer with a Pentium 4, Pentium M (Centrino) or Athlon processor. Celeron, Transmeta and Duron processors may work but they are not designed for multimedia applications.
Reasons to get a laptop or TabletPC are:
Reasons to get a desktop are:
There are a few key pieces of hardware that are important for getting the best quality swing analysis. A good quality graphics card with at least 64 MB of dedicated video RAM is important for smooth video. FireWire is the best way to get video into your computer. A larger monitor helps if you are using the computer with students. We recommend at least 512 MB of RAM for new systems.
Desktop: We buy most of our desktop computers from Dell. You can configure your PC to your exact specifications. For new purchases, we recommend at least 512 MB RAM, 160 MB disk and a 3.0 GHz processor. Wide screen displays are useful for multiple camera support and side-by-side comparisons. Alternatively, You can purchase a desktop computer with a 3.0 GHz processor, 17" monitor, 160 GB hard drive, 512MB RAM and a CD-Writer or DVD-Writer at your local Sam's Club, Costco or Price Club for $500 to $700. What you don't get in this price range is a state of the art graphics card, FireWire and a 3 year warranty. The first two can be added for under $150 and you can add a service contract for a reasonable amount if you prefer to be covered for an additional two years.
Laptop: A key tradeoff with laptops is weight vs. performance. Lighter laptops also tend to be more expensive. For brands, we like both Dell and Gateway. For new purchases, we recommend at least 512 MB RAM, 60 GB disk and Pentium M (or Centrino) 1.7 GHz. Most models include built-in FireWire, their pricing is reasonable and you can configure them to suit your needs. Built-in FireWire is especially important if you plan to use multiple cameras because most laptops only have on PCMCIA slot. Only some models feature an S-Video out port. This is important if you want to display your screen on a TV or record notes for students to a VCR or DVD writer. A drawback to some of the new "ultra bright" screens is that they don't work as well outside because they are highly reflective. Be sure to check if the display has an anti-glare coating if you intend to use it outside.
TabletPC: If you have a little more money in your budget, TabletPCs offer a great form factor. The MotionComputing models with ViewAnywhere screens work reasonably well outdoors. Because the video does not have as much contrast between colors as normal Windows applications, they still work best in shaded areas. Fujitsu also makes tablets with screens that are designed to be used outdoors. Both vendors offer the ability to hook up an external monitor either through a docking station or direct cable connection to the tablet. Most TabletPCs don't come with a S-Video out port which is a limitation if you want to create tapes or DVDs. TheTabletPC.net is a good site to look at the current available tablet models and includes a review we wrote of the Motion 1300 [near the bottom of the page].
For outdoor use, hoods such as those offered by CompuShade and Hoodman can help with visibility.
You may want to record your video onto a CD, VHS tape or DVD for later playback or to send to your student or coach. cSwing comes with a built-in feature to record to CDs. This works best with Windows XP which has built-in support for CD burning and Windows Vista which supports CD and DVD burning. For recording voice overs and screen capture, cSwing works with the free Windows Media Encoder application (included on our CD or downloadable from Microsoft). It creates screen captures with voice recording from your sound card that play back in Windows Media Player. For more advanced screen capture options, we recommend Camtasia from TechSmith. We recommend that you set your display to 1024x768 at 32-bit or 16-bit color resolution to do screen captures. Larger display sizes will greatly increase the size of the video file.
Combination DVD/CD and DVD writers are not universally supported by Windows XP. If you have a combination DVD/CD or DVD writer, we recommend testing the Burn to CD feature using our free trial with your hardware prior to purchase. A workaround for problem drives is to create the CD image in a folder using cSwing and then use the software that came with your drive or computer to burn that folder to the CD or DVD.
CD: This is the easiest way to create a file that will play on another computer. You can create a CD of captured videos directly in cSwing or with Windows Media Encoder you can create a screen capture video that you send to the CD burner from your My Videos folder. The files can be played back in cSwing or using Windows Media Player.
VCR / DVD: Although not as cutting edge as DVD technology, VHS is more universal. There are several competing DVD recordable standards and not all DVD players are capable of playing the different formats. The DVD-R format is the most commonly supported by newer home players and computers. In either case, we recommend an external VHS or component DVD recorder. Using an internal DVD recorder is more time consuming and error prone. To use an external component recorder, your computer must have a video out port which you can set up to mirror your desktop display using Windows Start -> Control Panel -> Display -> Settings -> Advanced -> Displays command. For audio, we recommend purchasing an external audio mixer into which you plug in your microphone. You can get a basic mixer from RadioShack for around $70. The output from the mixer goes directly into the VCR or DVD recorder audio inputs bypassing the PC (which can cause configuration problems). We have found this is the best solution based on feedback from our customers.
A major advantage to purchasing locally is that you can generally return equipment easily. We recommend checking out prices at your local warehouse club, RadioShack, computer and electronics stores.
Generally, if you purchase equipment online you can save money. The downside is that it is harder to return equipment if a problem arises. Be careful to check out an online seller's reputation before purchasing. Here is a case in point: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1995.html has rock-bottom prices but gets less than 2 out of 10 on this rating site.
Regardless of where you purchase your equipment be sure to read the store's return policy before purchasing. Some stores will only accept unopened merchandise and some will add restocking fees.