Pre-game checklist
Phone prep
- Auto-Lock "Never": Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never.
- Audio: Bluetooth speaker for practice/scrimmage, or earbuds for umpire-only game calls.
- Mount: tripod (for outside the fence) or fence mount (for attaching to fence posts). See mount recommendations below.
- • Battery pack + charging cable for extended outdoor use.
- • Protective phone case if mounted on or near the field of play.
- • Shade or heat protection to keep the phone out of direct sun.
- • Mount: See mount recommendations in FAQ below.
Mount & camera position
Prep and test the mount so the full pitch is visible and the camera is unobstructed.
- • Position the phone between 15–30 ft behind home plate.
- • Directly inline with 3rd-base foul line or just inside the line, at about 4–4.5 ft high.
- • Ensure the full plate and full pitch flight are in view, and the full strike zone and all possible pitches can be seen.
- • Best if no netting is in view (be sure to protect the camera).
- • If space is limited, the closer to home plate, the lower the camera height placement needs to be to see the entire pitch flight.
Field scan
Move slowly and follow the guided instructions. If tracking or alignment seems off, repeat the scan.
Start session
Secure the phone, confirm the strike zone, press Play, and keep the phone still during play.
Conditions
Stabilize the mount and shade the phone. Extreme wind, dust, or vibration can reduce tracking accuracy.
Top quick FAQ
The essential answers most people need on day one.
Place the phone on a tripod or fence clip about 15 to 30 feet behind home plate, in line with the 3rd-base foul line or inward. (see diagram). The closer to the plate, the lower the camera, the further, the higher the camera. Be sure to see the full ball flight, and the entire strike zone.
You can use either a fence mount (for outside the fence) or a tripod (ideal for inside the fence). Here are our recommendations:
For outside the fence:
We recommend the Post Mount from FenceClip. This magnetic camera mount attaches securely to steel fence posts and includes a positioning arm for flexible camera placement.
For inside the fence (tripods):
We recommend the JOILCAN Tripod Camera Tripods, 74" Tripod for Camera Cell Phone Video Recording or any other sturdy tripod that is at least 5 feet high and can hold iPhones securely. Make sure the tripod has a phone mount adapter.
Do the guided field scan while holding the phone (follow the slow on-screen motions) first, then mount the phone on the tripod and press Play.
Use the app's Place Mound and Place Plate steps — hover the camera over the feature and tap the center as the app guides you.
Tap Play to start, use Pause/Resume during play, and End/Stop to finish so the app saves the session for review.
Usually you need slower, wider scanning motions and a stable background (avoid big moving objects); try rescanning from a slightly different spot and follow the on-screen guide.
Tap the icon that looks like a compass. Slide the virtual home plate on top of the real home plate.
Pause or end the session, move the phone out of direct sun or provide shade, plug it into power, and clear storage or shorten sessions if needed.
Check tripod stability, ensure the full plate is visible, remove distracting white objects or large moving objects from the camera view, and re-scan if conditions changed.
Yes — BLU supports a live coach view (iPad) using local peer-to-peer connection; have the iPad join the session from the Live/Follow Game screen.
Anyone can 'Follow the Game' if they are near by and have an iPhone or iPad.
A regular non-LiDAR iPhone works; Pro/LiDAR models can improve relocalization and performance in some conditions but aren't required.
Pair your Bluetooth speaker or earbuds in the phone's Bluetooth settings (or use the app's audio control), set volume before starting, and test audio during your pre-game checklist.
Still stuck?
If you've tried everything above and still need help, contact our support team. Before reaching out, please collect: app version, iPhone model, a short video of the setup or problem, exact timestamp of the issue, and a brief description.