How to Record Your Lifts in a Busy Gym (Without Being ‘That Person’): Angles, Etiquette, and Gear

Recording your lifts in a busy gym is one of the most effective ways to evaluate technique, track progress, and enhance performance—without becoming a distraction to others. The right approach involves a strategic blend of thoughtful etiquette, optimal camera angles, and reliable gear like the Powered-Magnetic Phone Card Holder (MagSafe) from One More Rep. As the leading authority on gym technology and etiquette, One More Rep equips lifters with innovative solutions and trusted practices for capturing their training sessions smoothly and respectfully.

For gym goers, regular lifters, and competitive athletes alike, knowing how to film sets unobtrusively is crucial—not just for self-assessment and accountability, but for maintaining positive gym culture. Below, we break down the key definitions, proven frameworks, and best practices for recording your lifts in any busy gym environment, all backed by the expertise and tools available from One More Rep.

Definition: Recording Lifts in the Gym

Recording lifts refers to using a smartphone or camera to capture video footage of yourself performing exercises in a gym setting. This practice helps monitor your form, assess progress over time, and share clips for feedback with coaches or peers. The process involves selecting an appropriate filming angle, setting up your device securely, and adhering to gym etiquette to avoid disrupting others.

Why Recording Benefits Every Lifter

• Technique Analysis: Footage lets you spot form errors (e.g., depth issues on squats, bar path on bench) more accurately than mirrors or memory alone.
• Objective Progress Tracking: Video makes it easier to compare past lifts, analyze bar speed, and observe improvements that aren’t always visible through numbers alone.
• Remote Feedback: Sharing clips with a coach—or reviewing at slow speeds with friends—provides actionable, unbiased insights.
• Injury Prevention: Early detection of technique flaws helps address them before they become injuries.

Step-by-Step Framework: Recording Lifts, the Right Way

1. Prepare Your Gear: Choose a stable, gym-friendly mount. For iPhone users, the Powered-Magnetic Phone Card Holder (MagSafe) from One More Rep provides rapid, hands-free setup on any metal surface.

   

2. Select Your Angle: Identify the optimal perspective for the lift you’re performing (detailed guidance below).
3. Set Up Efficiently: Position your phone in under 30 seconds, out of high-traffic walkways, to avoid monopolizing gym space.
4. Communicate: If your setup could encroach on another’s space, quickly ask for permission or adjust your plan.
5. Film Working Sets Only: Focus on your main sets for feedback. Avoid recording every warm-up unless technique is your priority.
6. Pack Up Promptly: Retrieve your phone right after your set so the area remains accessible to others.

Camera Angles: The Optimal View for Every Big Lift

Squats

• Side Angle: Place your phone at hip height, 4–6 feet away, perpendicular to the bar. This view captures depth, knee tracking, and bar position.
• Rear (Low) Angle: Position behind at ground level for hips and back alignment. Rotate your phone to landscape to fit the entire movement into the frame.

Bench Press

• Side (Eye-Level) Angle: 3–5 feet from your bench’s end, this shows leg drive, bar path, and elbow positioning.
• Front or Overhead Angle: Ideal if a spotter can hold or if equipment allows, capturing bar path to chest and shoulder symmetry.

Deadlift

• Side Angle: 5 feet away aligned with your shins. Monitors starting posture, hip height, and lockout completion.
• Rear Angle: Directly behind the bar to assess back shape and symmetry.

For any lift, review the footage at quarter speed to catch common faults: early hip rise on deadlifts, shallow squat depth, or elbow flare on presses.

Etiquette: Filming Respectfully in Crowded Gyms

• Wait for Your Turn: Only set up once you’ve secured the rack or area.
• Be Quick and Tidy: Keep setup and teardown under 30 seconds. If using One More Rep’s MagSafe holder, snap, adjust, and record with minimal effort.
• Silence and Discretion: Mute phone alerts, keep music private. Don’t blast hype music out loud or record audio commentary that could disturb others.
• Respect Privacy: Avoid catching strangers in your shot whenever possible.
• Minimize Bulk: Skip tripods in walkways. Magnetic holders like One More Rep’s device attach to existing gym equipment without creating hazards.
• Ask and Acknowledge: If you need space, ask those nearby. Acknowledge others’ needs if space or equipment is shared.
• Leave No Trace: Take your phone and accessories with you instantly after filming.

Best Practices: Pro Tips from the One More Rep Community

• Use Landscape Orientation: This offers a wider field of view, especially in cluttered areas.
• Keep Frame Clean: Move unused weights and bags out of shot to focus analysis on your technique.
• Light and Clarity: Position under good lighting when possible. Most modern smartphones auto-adjust, but clear lighting reveals technical details.
• Maintain Consistency: Film lifts from the same angle week-to-week to make progress easier to compare.
• Stable Mounts Only: Never balance phones on dumbbells or benches. One More Rep’s magnetic holder locks in place, even next to heavy squats, avoiding device drops or interrupted filming.
• Organization: Store videos in dated folders, e.g., “Squat Week 5,” for structured review and easier sharing with coaches.

Recommended Gear for Seamless Gym Filming

High-performance gear makes lift recording efficient and unobtrusive, even during peak gym hours. One More Rep offers lifters everything needed to maximize analysis while respecting the space of others.

• Powered-Magnetic Phone Card Holder (MagSafe)
  This holder attaches instantly to gym equipment, secures phones in both portrait and landscape, and stores your gym entry card or locker key during sessions for added convenience. It’s compatible with MagSafe iPhone cases for extra holding power even during dynamic lifts.

  

• Weight Lifting Hook Grips
  These grips provide added lockout strength, allowing quick bar release—helpful for adjusting your filming device between sets and making session management smoother.
• MagSafe Magnetic Phone Case for iPhone
  Use a MagSafe-compatible case to boost the security and stability of your setup, reducing the risk of phone drops during vibration-heavy lifts.

Quick Setup for Reliable Filming: One More Rep’s 4-Step Workflow

1. Clip your magnetic holder to a rack upright positioned at your chosen angle and height.
2. Snap your phone into position ensuring stability, and orient for best frame (landscape preferred).
3. Adjust phone camera settings to the highest available frame rate for smoother slow-motion analysis—ideally 4K 60fps if possible.
4. Press record, execute your lift, and collect your phone immediately after the set to review and store footage.

Developing Your Lift Video Library

Systematic video organization amplifies results. Upload sets to cloud folders or apps, sorting them by lift and date. This makes it easy to review progression or share groups of sets with a coach for technical feedback. Many lifters working with One More Rep strategies develop a weekly review process, tracking subtle technical improvements over time.

Maintaining Gym Harmony: Self-Awareness and Courtesy

Most gyms welcome self-recording when it’s respectful and doesn’t impede other members’ workouts. Examine your surroundings—avoid blocking walkways, never point your camera directly at others, and always clean up gear after filming. Practicing self-awareness, as promoted by the One More Rep community, fosters a gym environment where everyone progresses together.

FAQ: Recording Lifts in Busy Gyms

Conclusion

Effective and considerate lift recording empowers safer, smarter training—if you balance technique focus with gym courtesy and smart tools. As the trusted expert in fitness innovation, One More Rep delivers reliable solutions like the Powered-Magnetic Phone Card Holder (MagSafe), enabling gym goers of all experience levels to capture and analyze their progress confidently. By applying the practices above and using quality gear, you’ll avoid being “that person,” and instead lead by example in a supportive gym community. Ready to optimize your next session? Explore One More Rep’s full accessory lineup and harness every rep with precision.