How do YOU get the best sports picture?

Title says it all.

Since mine ain't the best I don't qualify. But I do the following

1. Shoot at the lowest ISO possible
2. Shoot at the highest ss possible
3. Shoot at the highest app possible 3.2 is higher than 2.8 ect
4. Shoot raw
5. Shoot manual
6. Get the fastest lens you can
7. Get the best low light camera you can
8. Know your camera like the back of your hand
9. Read POTN like the bible
10. Know the sport and the team you shoot like their coach
11. Shoot low
12. Use monopod
13. Learn your pp software like the back of your hand
14. Flash can be your friend
15. Know the stadium field gym ect
16. Shoot shoot shoot shoot

Move along nothing to see here.

17. Make Dr Z, elray, Thomas , LD, Malone , Chico ect your friends

I can't really comment, as my sports photos aren't the best, but I do shoot for a newspaper, and shoot a bit of sport.

here is my advice anyway

1. Know the sport - I know Motorsport better than tennis for example and my pics reflect that.
2. Have the right gear - a 70-200 isn't ideal for AFL, it works ok as a second lens with a 500
3. Know how to drive the gear from #2 and how to get the best from it.
4. Only put the best frames in - better to have 10 crackers, than 10 crackers and another 20 average shots.
5. Know the Arena/Stadium/Oval - and what the light does there.
NIB stadium here in Perth used to have a green/purple cycle to it, and there is some big dark patches too, it falls off half a stop across the field, and on the centre line it falls off another half stop.
It was a pig of a place to shoot, until they did the lighting upgrade (now its a nice bright evenly lit wonderland, one of the best two lit sporting fields in perth)

Settings/technique aside, for me it's about thinking outside the box and going out of your comfort zone. It's hard to do, but often times you are rewarded for doing it.

And having great access always helps.

Haha hail POTN it actually is starting to be my bible haha

Top secret.

normally the saying is its not the equipment its the photographer, but in cases like this, a majority is the equipment haha

Not entirely true, you HAVE to be at the right place at the right time, which means that you need to know the sport very well so you can anticipate where and when the peak of action will be. If you're not THERE, then it doesn't matter what gear you have, you've missed it.

The mechanics of taking sound photographs is universal across the board.

Biffbradford wrote in post #16321818
Not entirely true, you HAVE to be at the right place at the right time, which means that you need to know the sport very well so you can anticipate where and when the peak of action will be. If you're not THERE, then it doesn't matter what gear you have, you've missed it.

very true, but in my opinion i feel equipment does matter alot more then in any other situations

Equipment matters just as much when shooting birds and wildlife as in shooting sports. There again, you need to know where you have to be and when.

I does because of low light and movement
as all of you know
aint like we can control light much or ask them to be still

yep, its all about timing and finding the right moment

jonathanheierle wrote in post #16321809
normally the saying is its not the equipment its the photographer, but in cases like this, a majority is the equipment haha

I remember as a kid hanging many soccer posters on my wall, that was in 1970s, the posters were of powerful kicks or goal keeper dives / jumps. The image was crisp, excellent lighting and beautiful colors, back then ISO film rarely went above 800 and fps was relatively compared with today's 10-14fps cameras, photographers understood the sport they were covering, they also understood their cameras and lenses, lighting, shadows and positioned themselves accordingly.

The only advice I can offer is to really be into the sport you are covering, you can predict body movements, facial expressions, and things that a sports-hoping photographer wouldn't be able to achieve. Another important thing is to learn the history of the team or individual in the sport, a goal against a weak team is different than one against a powerful one, a qualifying goal has more weight than other goals, and this is very apparent on the team and fans.

thats why I shoot football

Well that's great, I'm sure you know this but a photo showing the happiness, anger or other facial expressions is worth more than a crisp photo with a boring subject. Here's a photo I took a while back, I know it's not crisp and with a better lens or camera AF could have come out better. I always get compliments on it, and by the way it is a crop.

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/karimnn/5549612​270/#