Choose Your Setup

This is your show

Start with BallHawk and an iPhone, or build a more advanced production with additional cameras, commentary, replay, and automatic scoreboard workflows. The same BallHawk app powers every setup on this page. Your gear determines how advanced you want to go.

Explore setups The app behind it Capabilities See how setup works Shop Apollo Streams Gear
One production app. Two ways to use it.

Own BallHawk hardware? Sign into your free BallHawk account, connect BallHawk when you start your production, and the complete production feature set is included. No separate subscription and no credit card required for that production access.

No BallHawk hardware? Use BallHawk Pro for $39.95 a month or $399 a year and produce with a compatible camera setup.

The software is the same either way. BallHawk hardware adds motorized AI camera movement, physically panning and tilting your iPhone to keep the action in frame.
Compare BallHawk Options

Choose Your Setup

Start simple. Add power when you want it. You control the budget, the complexity, and the effort. Every setup on this page runs through the BallHawk app. Start simple, then add cameras, audio, networking, automatic scoreboard reading, and other gear as your production grows. Software stays consistent. Gear determines the setup.

Some gear links are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

BallHawk Starter Setup

The most common way people start. One camera, Sport AI tracking, fast setup.

Apollo Streams Gear Most common Production included with BallHawk
BallHawk Starter Setup example View full size

What you need

  • BallHawk gimbal with removable weather shield
  • 9 foot carbon fiber tripod
  • Backpack for easy transport
  • iPhone
  • Free BallHawk account

What it enables

  • One BallHawk camera angle
  • Sport AI game tracking or player tracking
  • Automatic pan and tilt, plus optical zoom
  • Manual or controller-based camera control whenever you want it
  • Live scoreboard and game clock
  • One-tap highlights and instant replay
  • Full game recording
  • Live streaming when internet is available
The weather shield rotates to help keep direct sunlight off the phone, which can help reduce heat exposure, and offers some protection from light weather. It is not a fully weatherproof enclosure and does not actively cool the phone. For rain, the rain bag protects the gimbal while the weather shield helps protect the phone.
View Apollo Streams Gear How production access works

iPad Only Setup

Ultra simple filming when you are elevated above the crowd with a clear view and you want to control the iPad camera, panning, and tilting. Even though this can look cheaper and simpler, it often requires more effort than BallHawk.

Recommended Gear Manual control BallHawk Pro required without BallHawk
iPad Only Setup example View full size

What you need

  • iPad
  • Tripod
  • Recommended: iPad filming tripod mount View
  • Free BallHawk account, plus BallHawk Pro if no BallHawk hardware is connected

What it enables

  • One camera angle using the iPad camera
  • Live scoreboard and game clock
  • Full game recording
  • Instant replay, highlights, and commentary recording
  • Live streaming when internet is available
Best when you can film from above the crowd and keep the full field or court in frame. This setup is manually operated: without BallHawk hardware there is no motorized pan and tilt tracking, so you aim and frame the camera yourself.

HDMI Camera Into iPad Setup

For schools and teams that already have a video camera. Newer iPadOS versions allow you to bring a camera feed into iPad using an HDMI capture adapter. This lets you use the BallHawk app as the production control center even without iPhones as cameras.

Recommended Gear Camera friendly BallHawk Pro required without BallHawk
HDMI Camera Into iPad example View full size

What you need

  • iPad control center
  • Video camera with HDMI out
  • HDMI cable
  • HDMI capture adapter View
  • Free BallHawk account, plus BallHawk Pro if no BallHawk hardware is connected

What it enables

  • One camera angle from a traditional video camera
  • Live scoreboard and game clock
  • Full game recording
  • Instant replay and highlights
  • Live streaming when internet is available
Note: This assumes an iPad model and iPadOS version that supports external camera input through a capture adapter.

Multi Camera Setup

iPad control center plus multiple cameras for live switching and streaming. BallHawk supports up to three camera angles, and not every angle needs its own BallHawk gimbal. Mix BallHawk-controlled iPhones with compatible fixed or manually operated cameras, and turn AI tracking on or off where it makes sense.

Apollo Streams Gear More angles BallHawk hardware or BallHawk Pro
Multi Camera Setup example View full size

What you need

  • iPad control center
  • Two or more cameras: BallHawk units, iPhones, or a mix depending on your workflow
  • Stationary mounts and weather shields as needed

What it enables

  • Up to three camera angles, AI tracked or fixed
  • Turn AI tracking on or off per camera
  • Live switching and live streaming
  • Optional handheld operator for tighter shots
  • Game clock, scoreboard workflow, and better highlight capture
Motorized tracking happens on the cameras mounted to a BallHawk gimbal. A fixed camera stays fixed, so plan your angles around what each position needs to cover. Small venue tip: you can often run a three phone network on a mobile hotspot when devices have strong signal and clear line of sight.

The One Tripod Founder's Setup

This is the setup our founder personally runs for league games. One tripod carries the main broadcast: BallHawk tracks the action up top, a telescoping arm holds a second iPhone aimed at the scoreboard for automatic score and clock, and a battery power bank built into the column keeps everything powered for long tournament days. Two more BallHawks sit at each end of the court or field, giving you three switchable angles. Run it all from the iPad and BallHawk controller, and add a PodTrak with headsets when someone wants to call the game. No new phones required, either: our founder runs all four cameras on iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Founder's setup Three angles, one tripod Production included with BallHawk
One Tripod Founder's Setup example View full size

What you need

  • Apollo Streams 9 foot tripod View
  • 3 BallHawks View
  • Tripod power bank extender View
  • Telescoping extension arm View
  • Apollo Streams ball joint and phone mount View
  • 4 iPhones (main camera, two end cameras, scoreboard camera)
  • iPad
  • BallHawk controller View
  • Optional: PodTrak P4 View and headsets View

What it enables

  • Three camera angles with live switching
  • Automatic AI scoreboard and game clock once the scoreboard camera is aimed and set up
  • Extended battery on the main tripod for long tournament days
  • Live streaming, replays, and highlight capture
  • Commentary when you want it
  • Carried and set up by one person
Fair warning: this one takes about 15 minutes to set up instead of five. Three cameras and a scoreboard arm take a little longer to place. For a full three angle broadcast with an automatic scoreboard, that's a trade worth making. It looks like a production crew was there. It's one person, one tripod, and one bag.

Stadium Network Setup

When crowds and distance get big, use a dedicated router setup to keep your BallHawk production network stable.

Recommended Gear Stability BallHawk hardware or BallHawk Pro
Stadium Network Setup example View full size

Recommended Gear

  • GL iNet router with USB phone tethering View
  • USB tether cable View
  • USB C hub for iPad View
  • Ethernet cable View
  • Outdoor Wavlink long range router View

Why it matters

  • Creates a private production network
  • Improves reliability in crowded stadiums
  • Ethernet to iPad reduces wireless interference
  • Supports longer distance camera placement
A mobile hotspot is often enough at a small venue, but it is not a guarantee in every building or crowd. Packed stands, thick walls, and long camera distances are where a dedicated router earns its place.

Broadcast Pro Setup

Commentary, replay workflow, sponsors, commercials, and AI scoreboard workflows. This is an advanced gear configuration, not a separate software tier, and it is not the same thing as BallHawk Pro.

Recommended Gear Full production BallHawk hardware or BallHawk Pro
Broadcast Pro Setup example View full size

Recommended Gear

  • Zoom PodTrak P4 View
  • Microphones and headsets View
  • BallHawk Controller View
  • Boom mic and wireless interview mic View

What it enables

  • Play by play commentary
  • Instant replay capture
  • Sponsor logos and commercial playback
  • AI scoreboard camera workflow
  • Most professional look and feel
Sponsor logos and commercials are part of the BallHawk production feature set. Teams and leagues sell their own sponsorships and are paid directly by those sponsors. Apollo Streams does not process sponsor-to-team advertising payments.

Multi Camera Setup Diagrams

See exactly where to place cameras for football, basketball, and baseball productions. Click any diagram to expand it.

Football multi camera setup diagram
Football View full size
Basketball multi camera setup diagram
Basketball View full size
Baseball multi camera setup diagram
Baseball View full size

Scoreboard Control Options

Choose the input method that fits your crew size and workflow. Each option supports a different set of scoreboard controls. All of them are part of the BallHawk production feature set. What changes is the hardware you use to run them.

14-7
Apple Watch
Home score
Away score
Wrist tap
BallHawk Controller
Home score
Away score
Downs
Yards to go
Timeouts
Periods / quarters
Game clock (manual)
Most popular
14-7
Second iPhone
Home score
Away score
Downs
Yards to go
Timeouts
Periods / quarters
Game clock (manual)
Manual
14-7
iPad
Home score
Away score
Downs
Yards to go
Timeouts
Periods / quarters
Game clock (manual)
Manual
AI scoreboard reading
Home score
Away score
Downs
Yards to go
Timeouts
Periods / quarters
Game clock
Automatic during the game After camera setup
AI scoreboard reading needs a camera or spare phone aimed at the venue scoreboard, and you mark which areas are the clock, the score, and the period before the game. Once that is set, it reads and updates your scoreboard during the game without anyone touching it.

One app runs every setup

Every setup above runs through the BallHawk app. The software stays the same as your production grows. Add cameras, audio, networking, or scoreboard hardware when you want a more advanced show.

BallHawk production access

With BallHawk hardware: Sign into your free BallHawk account and connect BallHawk when starting production. The complete production feature set is included. No separate BallHawk Pro subscription and no credit card required for that access.

Without BallHawk hardware: BallHawk Pro is $39.95 a month or $399 a year and provides the same production software for compatible camera setups.

The difference is hardware, not a different production feature tier. BallHawk hardware adds the motorized pan and tilt that physically moves the iPhone to follow the action.

Compare BallHawk Options

Capabilities

This is not a bundle chart. Capabilities depend on hardware and workflow, not on software tiers. Here is what each one actually needs.

Capability BallHawk hardware needed? Additional gear or workflow Notes
Full game recording No Compatible camera or device Available through the BallHawk app
Sport AI game and player tracking Software AI runs in the BallHawk app BallHawk gimbal for motorized pan and tilt movement The app provides the intelligence. The gimbal provides the physical camera movement.
Motorized pan and tilt Yes BallHawk gimbal Controlled automatically or manually
Optical zoom No Supported iPhone camera Automatic or manual, and adjustable from the BallHawk game controller
Live streaming No Internet connection Available through the BallHawk production software
Multi-camera production No, not for every angle Multiple compatible cameras or devices Up to three camera angles
Instant replay No Compatible production setup A controller or iPad may improve the workflow
Commentary No Microphone, headset, or audio interface Optional
Sponsor logos and commercials No Production workflow Teams and leagues sell their own sponsorships and are paid directly
AI scoreboard reader No Dedicated camera or phone aimed at the venue scoreboard Reads the scoreboard during production once it is aimed and set up
Manual scoreboard and game clock No iPad, phone, BallHawk game controller, or supported input method Available when an AI scoreboard camera is not used

Start simple. Grow advanced.

Most people start with BallHawk and an iPhone. Build your production one piece at a time. This is your show.

Compare BallHawk Options See the Setup Guide Shop Gear Get Help