Common recording issues in Metric Lift — Docs

If a set comes back with missing reps or numbers that look wrong, start with what the camera could see. Metric Lift tracks the plate on the camera side of the bar. Poor light, a moving phone or a plate that leaves the frame all cost accuracy.

Metric Lift corrects for many angles, distances and gyms. It still needs a still phone, enough light and a clear view of the plate for the whole set.

Know what Metric Lift does with a bad recording

It drops reps. When the plate leaves the frame, Metric Lift drops all or part of that rep.
It flags the set. The set review shows a warning, such as Wrong angle or No reps detected. See Recording a set for every warning and its fix.
It keeps the numbers it measured. A shaky phone does not raise a warning. Metric Lift reads the shake as bar movement, so check the stability indicator before you record.

Fix the lighting

Low light is the gym problem that causes the most trouble. Before you record, make sure the bar and the plates are well lit.

Too dark. In a dim gym the camera raises its gain, and the picture turns grainy. Grain makes the plate harder to track. Turn on more lights, change the angle, or move the bar into better light. Dark plates, dark clothes and a dark room together are the hardest setup to track.
Bright light behind the bar. A window or a lamp behind you turns the bar into a dark outline. Move the phone to the other side of the bar so the light sits behind the camera. Or shift the tripod until the light sits in a corner of the frame, away from the bar.

Keep the phone still

Metric Lift measures the bar’s movement, so any movement of the phone ends up in your data. Do not film hand-held. Use a tripod, a phone stand, or rest the phone against something solid, such as a kettlebell on a box. See the best gym tripods.

Fix the angle and position

Film from the side, within 0–30° of the end of the bar.

Front or back. Metric Lift cannot lock onto the plate from in front of you or behind you. Move the phone to the side.
Too high or too low. Put the phone within the height the bar travels through. The floor works for a deadlift. For a bench press or a squat, raise it to between knee and chest height. For a snatch, raise it to between chest and shoulder height.
Too close. When the bar leaves the frame, Metric Lift cannot track that part of the rep. Move the phone back or zoom out.
Too far. Before you record, the plate indicator shows when the plate is too small or too large. Move the phone or change the zoom until it turns green.

Fix the plate

Non-round plates. Metric Lift tracks round plates. Swap any 12-sided, hex or square plate on the camera side for a round bumper or iron plate.
Small or hidden plate. A small plate, or one behind a collar, gives the camera little to track. Keep a large round plate in clear view.
The wrong plate size. Metric Lift uses the plate’s diameter to measure distance. If the size is wrong, every speed is wrong. See Custom plate sizes.
Low contrast. A plate that matches the floor or the wall behind it is harder to find. A plain background in a different colour helps.

If the data is still wrong

Check your phone against Supported devices. Older or budget phones may not run tracking well.
Go through the checks in Recording a set again.
Open the menu at the top of the set review and tap Report a bug. The report sends the set to the Metric team. They can see what the camera saw and suggest a fix for your setup.