By Kristina Dolgilevica
Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Dartfish or OnForm? To each their own, but when it comes to choosing a product, we are creatures of habit: some will return to it because it tastes better, whilst others stick to it with an undying sense of loyalty to the brand, even if it no longer serves them well. Choosing and committing to using just the one app can be difficult, not only because we pay for it and have a limited budget, but also because we may feel we are obliged to march in time with technological advancements if we want to stay one step ahead of the game. Today’s market is saturated with sports video analysis apps, and it has been the case for a long time; Dartfish was founded in 1999, OnForm in 2020; but, as the technologies progressed, there have been many in between and since. The choice of an app is a matter of personal preference, and it really depends on what the coach is looking for when analysing the archer. In reality, most of the sports analysis apps today offer near identical features (free and paid) – it is just the packaging which differs. This article will examine some of the more popular mobile apps applicable to the sport of archery, which I hope will help narrow down the options; in the game of millimetres, not everything can be seen by the naked eye alone. But first, let’s consider what to look for in an app.
What Am I analysing
Because most apps today are so similar, the ultimate deciding factor often comes down to the special added features and individual tools, or even at its simplest, the interface layout, an important consideration in terms of ease of use, navigation and general interaction with the app. Video analysis of the archer is mainly focussed on on-the-spot individual form analysis. We do not need to analyse strategy or player movement across the field, nor do we need to use it for performance analytics or match forecasting. When considered as the archery coaches’ developmental working tool, the archer’s technique is the primary object of scrutiny. Other uses of video analysis in archery can be explored in future articles.
For this article, I will narrow down the field to three most used mobile phone apps suitable for analysis of static performers like archers, golfers, baseball batters, and so on. All apps discussed in this article are compatible across devices – browser, tablet and phone – but we are interested in the ease of accessibility, so that any coach on any field of play can take their phone out of the pocket and use the analysis tool, providing instant feedback to the athlete.
What features do I need for Archery
In my assessment, the necessary basic requirements and features are: mobile phone compatibility, making the tool portable; real-time feedback, allowing users to record athletes in action; slow motion review of the footage, allowing for frame-by-frame movement analysis; and most important, a fast-forward-rewind option (sometimes called the carousel, or the fly-wheel) for expansion analysis.
Additionally, the app must offer sufficient cloud storage for individual demands, around a minimum of 30GB for a not-so-busy coach, and more for a coach who works with a larger daily student stream. As I have already mentioned, most of today’s apps offer the same tools and can seem like one and the same product. However, you will find that these apps will offer different additional paid or free in-app features, which will ultimately be the deciding factor in your choice.
The most important criterion, besides the required functionality, is that it must suit your individual method of work. For example, in addition to the basic essentials I have listed above, I personally like to have a zoom-in option, I like to be able to measure angles, and to make use of certain live tracking tools to provide me with the necessary metrics. Drawing and annotation tools are desirable, but I personally like to keep things simpler, relying on my own eyes first and foremost sticking to the primary features. I like to have a clean interface, to avoid crowding the videos with many lines and endless annotations, and to watch and discuss the videos together with the athlete. Your needs and method will likely differ, and you may prefer to embed audio or written annotations in the video, sharing the link for the athlete’s perusal in their own time. In such case, you will certainly want the in-built sharing mechanisms or in-programme messengers, as well as higher storage capacity. So, let’s dive in and take a look at our top three picks.
Dartfish: Overview and Key Features
Established in 1999 by Victor Bergenzoli and Serge Ayer, this app has all the necessary features, and its strengths always lie in their metrics. Dartfish gives all the necessary in-built video recording and instant replay, frame-by-frame slow motion replay, side-by-side comparison, zoom-in option, annotations and so on. But not all of these features will be available for all the plans.
One of the standout features is the option to record your screen and voice while analysing the video, which is great for remote assessments. Another big plus is that you can stream videos without downloading them, saving you the phone memory. Additionally, you can make the videos available offline, which means you don’t need internet to view things on the go or where there is no signal. The mobile version offers two options, Mobile and Mobile Plus, both of which enable users to capture, import, and review video footage, but the Mobile Plus offers extra features like live video encoding, video stitching, and time-shifting, as well as the In-The-Action module and the ability to edit events during live recording. The Dartfish platform syncs all videos and data across all of your devices, which is handy and time-saving.
Disadvantages
Dartfish is not native to Apple software and while the mobile app is compatible with both Android and Mac, the Mac computer users will need extra steps to make it work. MyDartfish app cloud storage capacity varies from 50GB for the simplest versions, and to the Unlimited for the more expensive subscriptions. Video files are heavy, but to give you an idea, 50 gigabytes of data can hold up to 14-15 hours of video footage in 1080p video resolution; if you were livestreaming video footage in standard definition (SD) it would amount to around 50 hours, and in high definition (HD) it would be around 16 hours at 4K. So, restricted storage capacity can be seen as a limiting factor for those working with a higher volume of athletes. One of the biggest downsides to those who want to be more casual with their payments is that all Dartfish packages are annually billed only.
Plans, Prices, Free Trial
Dartfish is available in four plans: Mobile/Mobile Plus, at £6 per month, Dartfish 360 for advanced live video and data for Pro games, at £34 per month, Dartfish Live for complete live video solution analysis, at £50 per month, and Dartfish Pro, the most advanced multi-view full package with special features like, simulcam and stromotion, the latter allowing to motion capture individual strokes overlaying the video with motion trajectory path, priced at £100 per month. Nevertheless, for archery, the mobile app and maybe the 360 versions are most suited. The 360 version adds the extra video annotation and editing tools, video publishing option, and notably includes the video overlay and compositing tools, as well as split screen viewing. All plans, including the Mobile app, offer a 15-day trial.
CoachNow: Overview and Key Features
Formerly known as Edufii®, this app was established by Spencer Dennis in 2014. Likewise with all the necessary features present, this app is more about the AI assisted experience. Today’s sports performance apps are geared towards AI learning, studying the players’ movements across the field of play and within the more confined space. For the purpose of our on-the-spot analysis of the archer, the AI assisted tracking system automatically overlays the visual representation of the body structure over the athlete.
CoachNow also allows for the side-by-side comparison, which is a great feature when analysing the student’s progress, but some may prefer the video overlay feature instead of the juxtaposition analysis. The video overlay feature is available here too, but it is only included with the more expensive PRO version. CoachNow is Android, Apple and iOS compatible and, interestingly, allows Apple Watch recording in addition to the in-app recording and the camera roll video upload. CoachNow platform design allows you to create Spaces and Groups for interaction and sharing.
Disadvantages
Though it sounds very useful, I found the AI skeletal overlay works best on athletes that show greater range of motion, like golfers and baseball batters – archers exhibit very little movement in comparison. The AI overlay nodules lag a lot and do not really sit precisely enough on the individual joints of the body that perform the movements, and you have to tweak them too often. This tool needs improvement, and I prefer to stick to the manual nodule overlay and operation for the more precise skeletal alignment and motion tracking. Storage is another consideration, the more basic option allows for 250 items, the more advanced gives 150GB of Cloud space, and the most expensive version, 300GB, where other apps would offer unlimited storage. Lastly, creating Spaces and Groups may be cumbersome, and even invasive, for some users, and not everyone may want to use the tool to communicate or post about their work with others.
Plans, Prices, Free Trial
CoachNow presents four plans that can be billed monthly, offering a discount on annual subscriptions. With each plan increasing in price, from $59.99 for CoachNow Analyze plan, to $349 CoachNow+, $499 CoachNow PRO, and with an all-inclusive big organisation CoachNow Academy plan, price agreement negotiable upon contact. This company offers a 7-day free trial for any relevant plan.
OnForm: Overview and Key Features
“From archery to wrestling and every sport in-between” is the slogan on their website, and it ticks all the boxes for essential features. Established by Gear Fisher and Krishna Ramachandranin in 2020, it offers five 1080p HD video recording modes at up to 240FPS for detailed analysis, instant replay and video share, allowing for private in-built chat messaging. It permits you to analyse technique in slow motion with frame-by-frame scrubbing and drawing annotation with voice-over. Other important features are multi-angle capture, for a more comprehensive analysis, manual shutter speed, to assist in capturing clear stop-motion HD videos, eliminating motion blur. OnForm also emphasises the AI learning and offers the skeleton overlay feature. It is fully compatible with Apple devices.
Disadvantages
The key disadvantage is the limited access for the Android users, where, unfortunately, coach-specific tools are not available and the account can only be created via an Apple device, where only the coach can invite the athlete to benefit from the basic experience of this multi-tool app.
Another downside of this app is the price negotiation and the need to combine OnForm with other software for payment processing. This can be frustrating for coaches who organise remote work, or for bigger multi-coach account organisations. Some users have expressed feedback in relation to issues with frame-by-frame analysis and lagging in the use of the fly-wheel tool, but it likely reminds you to update your devices on time and shows that the app developers are constantly working on updating their software and its features. Creators note that the AI overlay feature requires latest iPhone models for the optimum operation of this tool, which is an obvious limitation to those who wish to make use of the feature but have a device that is incompatible.
Plans, Prices, Free Trial
OnForm offers four plans: Individual, with limited features, 500 video storage and up to 5 voice-overs per 30-day period, at $5 per month, $49 per year; Coach plan, a single account allowing unlimited clients, videos and voice-overs, at $29 a month, $299 per year; Academy plan for larger organisations, with all the benefits of the Coach plan, for three individual coach accounts and an option to enlarge the account number, priced at $79 a month, $799 per year. A 14-day free trial of the app is available.
Conclusion
All the apps mentioned here have the same basic features and allow for in-app recording, camera roll video upload, and have sufficient decent cloud storage for a user who has a low to average client stream. However, if you have a steady stream of students and wish to keep the recordings for historic comparison, or to track progress over time, you can do so with all of the apps; all three allow for edited videos to be uploaded onto your devices, thereby clearing the in-app memory allowance. However, remember that video files are heavy and will require another solution for storage. Therefore, you will have to see whether it is worthwhile to upgrade and have the unlimited storage within the app, or to use an external storage solution, provided you are prepared to deal with downloading and uploading the files. Always make sure to set clear terms of use, file handling, storage and individual privacy, letting your clients know how and when their personal data will be viewed, handled and stored, and for how long. I would also recommend considering the device compatibility as one of the important factors, especially if you go for an app with an in-built sharing community, or if you switch between multiple devices.
But the key deciding factor must be budget – you can’t spend money you don’t have. See if you can afford a preferred app for at least a year, keeping the basic and necessary tools in mind. Video analysis is a skill that needs practice. In all fairness, many other secondary features are an unnecessary gimmick, distracting you from the primary task – the analysis of the archer’s form. To conclude, before committing to the one, I recommend you try all of the above as a free trial to see if it suits your working methods and individual needs. Make sure you unsubscribe before any automatic billing starts. Happy coaching!