15 GoPro Tennis Tips (Settings, Mounts, and Shot List)

One of the best ways to capture your tennis game is with a GoPro. GoPro cameras capture point-of-view videos of your tennis matches. They are durable, waterproof, and shoot 5.3K60 video. Here we will look at the best GoPro for tennis, and we will give a few GoPro tennis tips.

We also include a suggested shot list and camera settings for your next match.

Best GoPro for Tennis

There are many GoPro cameras out there, and many of them would be great for tennis. But they aren’t all equal. If you’re looking for the best GoPro for tennis, I recommend the Hero11 Black.

The Hero11 Black shoots buttery-smooth video, thanks to Hypersmooth 5.0. And it has a new GP2 processor that makes it the most powerful GoPro on the market.

This new processor allows it to shoot in incredible 5.3K60 + 4K120 video resolution, and you can take 27-megapixel photos. 

Get your GoPro Hero11 Black on Amazon, B&H Photo, or Best Buy.

But if you already own a Hero10 Black or even the Hero9 Black, you won’t be disappointed. They both have decent image stabilization. And shoot exceptional footage.

And it’s good to know that the device is waterproof up to 33 feet.

When you have completed your footage, you can upload your footage to the cloud while the device is charging. It is also compatible with the Quik app, and countless mounts and accessories.

The Hero11 also features TimeWarp 3.0 and 8X Slo-Mo to enhance your video shooting experience.

15 GoPro Tennis Tips

Now that you know which GoPro for tennis is best for you, we can give a few tips.

These tips will cover several topics to ensure that you have everything you need to get started.

1. Find the Right GoPro

Choosing the right GoPro is important. The best GoPro for tennis is the new Hero11 Black.

Tennis is a fast-paced sport, and as a result, your camera requires stabilization. Otherwise, your videos and photos will be shaky and blurry. The five latest models come with Hypersmooth feature (Hero 7 through Hero11). They improved on this feature on each model.

And waterproofing is an important feature. If you are using it while you play tennis, there is a good chance your sweat will get on it. To avoid sweat damage, it is a good idea to invest in a waterproof GoPro.

There are many GoPro models available. Here’s a full comparison of every GoPro.

All current GoPro models (Hero11, Hero10, Hero9, Hero8, Max, and Hero7) are waterproof without an external case.

2. Make a Shot List

It’s a great idea to plan the shots before arriving.

Of course, not all of these shots will be possible (or even allowed) in a competition. But during practice or before the event, these would work great.

You might consider the following GoPro tennis shots:

• Arriving at the court
• Tying shoes
• Walking onto the court
• Mount camera to racquet
• Mount camera to the net post
• Place the camera on the ground, below the net (like in photo below)
• Shooting forward: show what you see
• The small details: shoes, ball, net, etc.
• Overview of the court, from the stands or with a long selfie stick.

What shots do you like to get? Please add them in the comments below!

3. Bring Extra Batteries to the Tennis Court

Depending on the video resolution settings you choose, the Hero10 can record between 56 and 115 minutes straight before dying.

While that is a decent amount of time, there is a decent chance your session could go longer than that.

As a result, it is a good idea to bring extra batteries with you to the tennis court. You do not want to miss one of your best serves or returns because you ran out of batteries, so bring a few extras.

Here’s more about charging your GoPro battery and camera.

4. Take Photos from Your Recorded Videos

Tennis is a fast-paced sport, and as a result, it can be challenging to capture perfect moments in photos. Even if you manage to take a picture the moment you return a serve, there is a chance it will be blurry.

As a result, we recommend taking stills from your recorded videos instead of taking photos directly.

This way, you can capture all of your best moments, and you do not need to worry about missing the shot by timing a photo wrong.

You can also set it to Burst Mode – which can shoot a series of still photos. For best results, consider the Auto setting. This can shoot up to 25 photos in 1 second. The shooting interval depends on lighting conditions.

5. Bring Several Mounts

As you begin shooting with your GoPro, you’ll quickly learn that one mount cannot do everything.

Different mounts give you the power to try new angles. Some are great for providing point-of-view shots, whereas others are best served for taking action shots from the sidelines.

You might consider a selfie stick, chest mount, clamp mount, and fence mount.

As a result, it is a good idea to bring several mounts with you so you have variety in your videos. See suggested mounts below.

6. Use a Stabilizing Gimbal

Even though GoPros come with built-in stabilization technology, it is still a good idea to use a stabilizing gimbal.

Using one will keep your footage from swaying from side to side. Instead, you will get smooth and stable frames, making for a much better viewing experience.

7. Don’t Shoot in the Middle of the Day

While you might think that the middle of the day is a great time to shoot because of the sun, it is a bad idea.

With the sun directly overhead, glare becomes a big issue in the footage. As a result, you could check your footage after a long session only to find that most of it is useless.

If your courts are covered, you might be able to shoot all day long.

8. Use a Wide FOV for Photos

Even though we recommend taking photos from your videos, you might still want to take some still photos. If that is the case, you should stick with wide-angle shots.

Doing so allows you to capture more of the environment than shooting vertically. Wide FOVs also enable you to shoot in higher resolutions.

9. Find the Right Settings

Another GoPro tennis tip we have is to experiment with settings. The Hero10 has several settings that are best for different shots.

As a result, it is a good idea to experiment to figure out which GoPro settings are best for shooting tennis. Taking advantage of all of the features in your GoPro will help you achieve quality recordings every time.

Set Auto Focus. Here’s how to set the focus:

• Turn off your GoPro.
• Press and hold the Mode button until you see FOV/Auto. This turns on auto-focus.
• Swipe down to Protune.
• Swipe right to toggle Exposure to Auto.

Here’s how to set the Spot Meter and Exposure Control.

10. Focus on the Foreground

If you want to take an artistic shot, you should find a foreground to focus on.

For example, you could take a picture low to the ground behind the bench. Place a water bottle on the bench and focus on that while you serve the ball in the background. 

11. Test All Your Angles

It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or amateur, you should test many angles.

Doing so keeps your options open and allows you to find interesting and exciting shots.

12. Keep Shots Short

The best thing you can do is keep your shots short. Switch up your angles constantly so that you can get a variety of shots.

It is better to get 10 different shots than to get 30 shots of the same thing.

13. Find the Right Editing Program

This GoPro tennis tip is going off the board, but it is important. A video means nothing if you cannot edit it.

As a result, you should take the time to choose the best GoPro editing programs.

14. Bring a Partner with You

If you bring a partner, they can take the shots for you.

They can switch the angles, control the settings, and make adjustments. As a result, you can focus on making yourself look good while you play.

15. Have Fun!

Our final GoPro tennis tip is to have fun. Remember that you are not a professional filmmaker, and you are just trying to get some interesting shots.

You will probably make mistakes, but that’s ok. Have fun, and it will reflect well in your videos.

Need some help? Check out this book: How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck

4 GoPro Tennis Accessories

Here are a few accessories you can use to improve your GoPro experience.

Head Strap

Head straps enable you to get point-of-view shots without carrying a heavy bag.

This head strap by GoPro also includes a quick clip for bag straps and ball hats.

The camera head mount is great for POV perspective but can get tiresome if worn for a lengthy time.

GoPro 3-Way Grip

The GoPro 3-way grip is one of the best multi-purpose accessories on the market. It is a camera grip, tripod, and extendable arm all in one.

You can use this mount to capture many different types of shots. This is one of my favorite selfie sticks – because it also has a tripod foot.

Fence Mount / Clamp Mount

This is a pretty simple way to shoot your match. Mount your GoPro to a fence or bench and start filming. Great for getting the whole match – or for some good broll.

I’ve been a fan of the Pedco Ultraclamp for many years. It comes in a 1.5″ size, but I recommend the 2.5″ size. See UltraClamp on Amazon.

Drone

If you want to try out some aerial shots, you can purchase a drone. Drones are easy to pack up and learn to use. Of course, they can be expensive. And they take some skill to get even the most basic shots.

GoPro recently released their GoPro Hero10 Black Bones – their FPV camera with the Hero10 image quality. More on this in the coming weeks.

Learn more about flying GoPro with a drone.

More reading: GoPro Baseball Guide: 14 Tips, Settings, and Mounts

Like playing soccer? Here’s how to record a soccer game with a GoPro.

Your Turn

How do you plan to shoot your next tennis match? Have a GoPro tennis edit to share? Please include it below!