· 6 min read
Golf Recruiting Video: What Coaches Want to See and How to Film It
Quick Answer
A golf recruiting video should be 2-3 minutes: full driver and iron swings filmed face-on and down-the-line from a tripod, a wedge and bunker sequence, and a short putting segment. Lead with the swing, skip music and narration, and never pad it with a single highlight shot.
A golf recruiting video won't earn you a scholarship on its own, but a weak one can cost you a coach's attention. Coaches use video to confirm what your scores suggest: sound fundamentals, repeatable swing, and course sense. Here's what they want to see and how to film it.
Lead with your swing
Coaches want full swings first. Open with a few driver swings filmed face-on and down-the-line, then add a mid-iron, a wedge, and a short pitch sequence. Film from a tripod at waist height, not from a phone held in your hand — shaky video reads as careless.
Use on-course footage where you have it, but clean range footage is fine. What matters is that a coach can see your swing clearly and judge your mechanics.
Show the short game and putting
Include one or two wedge sequences — a 30-50 yard pitch and a bunker shot — and a short putting segment showing your setup and routine. Coaches know the short game separates good college players, so don't skip it.
Keep it under three minutes
Golf coaches review hundreds of videos. A focused 2-3 minute clip beats a 10-minute reel they won't finish. The length and structure guidance in how to make a recruiting highlight video applies directly to golf — cut everything that isn't a clean, representative shot.
Skip slow-motion unless it's a single swing used to show a mechanic. Avoid music, graphics, and narration over the swing itself.
What to leave out
Don't include your best single shot from a tournament with no context — coaches want repeatable motion, not a highlight. Don't pad the video with trick shots or long putting drills. And never list a score on the video that you can't back up with a tournament result.
How to send it
Host the video on a link that doesn't require a login and include it in your profile and your first email to a coach. The email approach in how to email a college coach works for golf: a short subject line with your grad year and scoring average, a one-line reason for that program, and the video link.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a golf recruiting video be?
Two to three minutes. Golf coaches review hundreds of videos and will not finish a long reel. Show a few full swings with different clubs, a short-game sequence, and a putting segment.
What angles should I film my golf swing from?
Film face-on and down-the-line from a tripod at waist height. Both angles let a coach read your swing plane, posture, and mechanics. Handheld phone footage reads as careless.
Should I include tournament footage in my golf video?
On-course footage is a bonus, not a requirement. Clean range footage is fine. What coaches want is a clear, repeatable swing they can evaluate — not your single best shot with no context.