Rapsodo Launch Monitor Review: Is the MLM2Pro Worth $699?

My list of pros of the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is long, and every time I use it, it gets even longer. Here are eight things the Rapsodo MLM2PRO does great.

Pros:

• Excellent value: You will not find a better unit than this Rapsodo for anywhere near $699. For reference, a new Trackman 4 runs $21,995. No, this is not a Trackman, but the comparison is certainly not laughable. Rapsodo puts out an excellent product in the MLM2PRO, regardless of price point. The $699 MSRP is simply a huge bonus.
• Accuracy: I already elaborated on this, but the unit is pointless without reliable accuracy, so it’s worth mentioning again here that the accuracy is great.
• Quick and easy to set up: I’ve loved other high-tech training devices, but when I only have 10-15 minutes to hit balls in the garage, I’m reluctant to spend five of those minutes getting something set up and connected. The Rapsodo sets up and connects to the app in about one minute, so it’s easy to elevate even the shortest practice sessions. 
• Speed Training: The MLM2PRO has a speed training mode that works with various speed training products out there to measure and track your swing speed and your speed gains. Anyone can gain speed and distance, and boost their chances of shooting lower scores, by speed training, and tracking your progress with Rapsodo is a great way to get the most out of your swing. 
• Battery Life: I’m approaching five hours of practice time with the Rapsodo – which includes a few marathon sessions and plenty of quickies, and I’ve only had to re-charge the unit once.
• Storage: According to my Rapsodo app, I have 206 videos stored at the time of this review, which looks like it accounts for less than 5% of my storage. Rapsodo’s MLM Premium membership provides video storage for 10,000 shots.
• Data Export: Rapsodo’s own website says that they currently don’t offer the ability to export data in a CSV format, but that’s outdated. I just exported a CSV of a range session with the data beautifully broken down by club (type and brand, I was comparing two head-to-head) through the online dashboard.
• Minimal space requirements: One thing I love – that should not go unrecognized – about the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is that you don’t need a ton of space to use it indoors. The MLM2PRO requires 14-15 feet of space, with eight feet required from ball to net, and 6.5-8.5 feet from the unit to the ball. Most garages should easily have enough space.

Even though at $699, the MLM2PRO is a steal in the launch monitor category, that’s not chump change, and you should know exactly what to expect before you spend hundreds of dollars.

I know I’ve talked a lot about the great qualities of the MLM2PRO, but there are some drawbacks you should consider. 

Cons: 

• $200 yearly subscription fee for premium features: That’s a steep annual price and since the premium membership gains you access to Rapsodo combines, slow motion video replay, and the shot apex metric, you'll have to decide whether or not that subscription is worth it
• Using the MLM2PRO on a grass driving range requires periodic adjustment as your ball migrates out of Rapsodo’s hitting zone
• Special balls – Rapsodo/Callaway RPT balls – are required to capture spin data: This means you don’t get spin data on range balls and the MLM2PRO is not ideal for comparing golf balls to see which is best for your game. Additionally, if you need more RPT balls beyond the sleeve that comes with the unit, they’re $70 a dozen.
• MLM2PRO does not track putting

I spent most of my time testing the MLM2PRO using the iPhone app, but I knew I needed to check out the desktop platform as well.

When I got there, I was even more impressed. I left my experience in the app thinking there was no way to export data, and no way to compare two clubs head-to-head (two things I thought were drawbacks of this unit). I’m happy to report that I was wrong about both.

Using the dashboard on a computer, it’s easy to export data, save swing and impact videos, and compare clubs head-to-head. In my book, those are important features of any launch monitor.

You can use the MLM2PRO to stay sharp during the offseason or to have a convenient place to practice any time of day. Given it’s also a golf simulator with access to multiple virtual golf platforms, you can also play rounds of golf on this Rapsodo (granted you won’t be putting), but there are some other ways you can get the most out of this unit that might not be quite so obvious.

Many of the best-value golf clubs today come from Direct-to-Consumer brands and have one huge catch: you don’t always have the opportunity to test them or get fit before you buy them. They usually do, however, give you an extended hassle-free return window. Using a unit like this Rapsodo, you can test and compare clubs to see exactly how they stack up.

If you have any adjustable clubs in your bag, it’s easy to make sure you get the most out of them when you can compare different settings using a launch monitor. With the MLM2PRO you can see how different settings churn out different carry and total distances, spin rates, and dispersion patterns to make sure your adjustable clubs are dialed in to your swing.

Do you have two clubs that churn out redundant distances, or too big of a gap between two clubs? 

Periodically hitting 5-10 shots with each club in the bag on the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is a great way to make sure you know how far to expect to hit each club on the course, and identify any potential distance gapping issues in your bag.

It’s natural to ask a lot of questions before making a big purchase. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.

Yes. After your 1-year free subscription to Rapsodo premium features, the annual subscription costs $199. That price gives you access to performance combines, slow motion video replays, storage of up to 10,000 swing videos, and the shot apex data point.

No, the MLM2PRO does not track putting.

About 14-15 feet is required from the unit to the net. This includes a minimum of eight feet from the ball to the net, and another 6.5-8.5 feet from the unit to the ball.

Yes. The MLM2PRO connects with its own app in iOS or Android, which you can mirror on a smart TV using AirPlay or Screen Mirror.

In our opinion, absolutely. If you’ve budgeted for a launch monitor/virtual golf product, I don’t believe you’ll find more features, better accuracy, and more data points in another unit for $699 or less. Other options you may want to compare it to include the Garmin Approach R10 and Swing Caddie SC4.

It’s hard to sum up everything the Rapsodo MLM2PRO does well in one review. The best I can do is simply to say this is one of the most impressive products I’ve tested in recent memory. 

To me, it stands out for its accuracy and the variety of functions it offers (practice range, virtual golf, speed training, training combines, swing videos, impact videos). Then, I remember this is a $699 unit, and I’m even more impressed with its value.

If you’re considering bringing a launch monitor or golf simulator home, the Rapsodo MLM2PRO should be at the top of your list to look into.