A single streak camera line imaging velocimeter has been applied to Armco® iron plate impact experiments to study material response at the grain scale. The grain size and phase distribution were determined with electron back scatter diffraction. The optical system resolution and fringe size were optimised to suit the grain size distribution. Comparisons of the performance and merits of several analysis algorithms including the ‘Fourier transform’, ‘fringe tracking’, ‘quadrature’ and the ‘continuous wavelet transform’ have been made by application to synthetic data. Point heterodyne velocimetry measurements made at the same location on the target surface have been compared with the line imaging velocimetry data for confirmation.