Pushup Analysis
Pushup form from a side clip: elbow range, hip line, tempo and stability across repetitions.
How far has this tool been checked?
The measurements were checked against computer-drawn athletes whose true answers are known exactly. That shows the arithmetic and the event rules are right under clean, controlled conditions. It does not measure how well the body-tracking model sees real people (water, loose clothing, crouching, fast limbs) and has not been compared with a lab or a coach’s stopwatch. Treat the numbers as an aid, and use the confidence label beside each value.
Where the camera goes
Seen from above. Angles are measured round from the front of the athlete; 90° is square-on from the side. Reference line: direction the athlete faces.
True side view. Elbow angle, hip line and timing for the working side.
How high, and how it should sit
Framing
Whole body; shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle of the working side visible all the way through.
The 70–90% band is our own guidance. No published source gives a camera distance in metres, so use it as a starting point and adjust until the whole movement fits.
Ready to record?
Tick each item as you set it up. This is a reminder, not a lock.
0 of 11 ready
All the camera settings
Every setting shows where it came from.
- Camera height
- Near hip height, low and stable.
- From published guidance
- Distance
- No published distance exists. Stand back until the whole athlete fits with a small margin, so the athlete fills roughly 70-90% of the frame height. Use the 1x lens and move your feet, not the zoom.
- Our guidance
- Frame rate
- 30+ fps (recommended 60). 30 fps or higher. 60 fps gives steadier timing of the bottom.
- From published guidance
- Resolution
- 1080p recommended
- From published guidance
- Orientation
- Landscape or portrait both work.
- From published guidance
- Lens and zoom
- Use the 1x lens with no digital zoom. Avoid ultra-wide and fisheye lenses.
- From published guidance
- Lighting
- Bright, even light with no shadows.
- From published guidance
- Clothing
- Avoid loose clothing that hides the body line.
- From published guidance
- Stability
- Tripod or fixed support, level with the horizon.
- From published guidance
- Calibration
- No calibration is needed for angles. Distances and speeds need a scale (see Calibration).
- From published guidance
Before you start
- Choose the correct pushup type before analysing.
- Start in a strong top plank, lower under control, press up, and finish with the arms extended.
- Keep the working-side shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle visible.
Cues for the athlete
Plain coaching cues, one thing at a time.
top start
- Begin tall with ribs down, hips level and elbows extended.
descent
- Lower as one connected line; the hips should not drop before the chest moves.
bottom
- Reach your target depth with a quiet neck, organised shoulders and a braced trunk.
ascent
- Press without snaking, flaring early or leaving the hips behind.
top finish
- Return to full extension and hold a stable plank.
Why camera position matters
Research behind these rules.
2D angles are only trustworthy when the limb moves in the plane the camera sees. Camera-side joints are measured more accurately than far-side joints, and timing is only as fine as one frame.