Setup guide

Set up a side-view camera for rowing feedback

A stable, full-body side view gives RowCoach the clearest landmarks. The exact distance and height depend on the room, lens, athlete, and erg, so treat every measurement here as a starting point.

By RowCoach, written from the perspective of an anonymous intermediate masters rower. Published . Updated .

Side-view RowCoach camera placementA top view shows a camera perpendicular to the erg, and a side view shows the athlete's complete movement inside the frame.TOP VIEWCamera perpendicular to ergSIDE VIEWHead, wrist, hip, knee, and strapped foot stay visible
Top and side setup diagram placing a camera perpendicular to the erg with the rower's complete movement inside the frame.

The useful starting position

Use RowCoach from localhost or HTTPS so the browser can grant camera access. Use a camera capable of at least 15 FPS; 30 FPS is recommended. RowCoach may lower the preferred 1280x720 resolution to preserve a usable frame rate.

Place the camera directly side-on to the erg. Start about 2–3 m (7–10 ft) away and near seat height, then adjust until the shoulders through the feet and the moving hands remain visible from catch to finish.

Stabilize the camera, center the full stroke, use steady lighting, and avoid placing a bright window behind the rower.

Signs the view needs adjustment

  • A joint disappears at either end of the stroke.
  • The pose overlay jumps between the near and far side.
  • The camera shifts or rolls during the stroke.
  • The foot, ankle, moving hands, or top of the head is cropped.
  • Backlighting turns the athlete into a low-contrast silhouette.

Why tracking confidence drops

Low confidence usually comes from cropped joints, an oblique view, camera roll, wrong-side selection, dim or uneven lighting, loose clothing that hides joints, or an arm and leg occluding one another. A wide-angle lens can also distort positions near the edge of the frame.

Camera and warmup checklist

  1. Stabilize the camera and place it directly side-on near seat height.
  2. Move far enough away to keep the complete stroke inside the setup frame.
  3. Keep the shoulders through the feet and the moving hands visible.
  4. Press Start once, then row two or three easy unscored strokes. No second confirmation or point correction is needed.
  5. Use Reset for a fresh warmup after moving the camera or erg.
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How RowCoach uses the view

After Start, RowCoach validates pose tracking and learns the machine direction, working side, and body scale from the warmup strokes. Live coaching begins automatically at the next accepted catch. Keep the strapped foot and knee visible throughout the stroke. If RowCoach cannot confirm the lower-body evidence required for a check, the completed stroke's technique result shows Learning while supported upper-body coaching can continue. Follow the on-screen setup cue and adjust the framing until the complete stroke stays visible. A camera view cannot measure force or replace a qualified coach's judgment.

Technique context and product guidance

The camera distance, height, framing, and hands-free warmup steps are RowCoach product guidance derived from the current setup flow, not a universal camera-placement standard.

Guides that depend on a clear side view

Early arm bendEarly back openingRushed recoveryCatch over-compressionLayback timing and finish

Practice with RowCoach

Set the view, complete the hands-free warmup, and focus on one cue at a time. RowCoach Pro is a paid coaching aid and does not replace a qualified coach.

See RowCoach Pro pricing