Skytrak, Flight scope Mevo, Foresight, Trackman, Voice Caddie, Ernest Sports, and now the Rapsodo, to name a few, a few what? One of the hottest gadgets in golf over the last few years, Mobile Launch Monitors! What is a mobile launch monitor anyway, and why do I need one?
Feedback, that’s why!
As we stand on the driving range or in our garage hitting ball after ball, that is what we all are looking for, feedback. Did the ball go too high, too low, too far left, too far right? Did it start online? Mobile Launch Monitors are the second set of eyes telling you how things looked, even after your range session. They can compare your progress over time. Even better, if you hit balls into a net at home, this feedback is fantastic! Without this, how do you know if you are practicing the right thing or the wrong thing!
For years now, the Trackman Launch Monitor has been the gold standard in golf ball flight analysis and feedback. However, you do not see them a lot on the driving range, thanks to their hefty $20,000 price tag. Then came Skytrak, state of the art, best-selling launch monitor, but still with a price tag in the thousands. Many competitors have entered the market, but one has stepped forward and out of the pack, the new Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor!
What is so different?
Well, everything! For starters, it is affordable at $399! When it comes to MLM’s (Mobile Launch Monitors), there are generally four major price points, $250, $500, $2000, and $15,000+. You would expect certain things in each tier, but never has a sub $500 unit performed as well as a $2000 MLM. The Rapsodo MLM does!
One of the most significant differences you see with these pricing tiers is the accuracy of the device. Usually, the more you spend, the more accurate you get with your flight detail. The accuracy percentage varies a lot in the cheaper models and is very precise in the more expensive options. We tested the Rapsodo against the Skytrak, which sells in the $2,000 plus range, and we found the accuracy to be extremely close, much closer than we have ever seen before. How close? We hit 7-irons simultaneously using both MLM devices. The ball speed was off a maximum of 1%, resulting in a 1-yard distance. What that means, if the 7-iron was shown to go 165 yards on the expensive Skytrak, the Rapsodo might show 164 or 166. I do not know about you, but I am not good enough to nitpick that much on yardages just yet. Maybe Dustin Johnson needs that level of accuracy, but not me. I’d rather have that extra money in my wallet instead!
Another major factor is the cool factor! Unlike other MLM’s, you use your phone on top of the device and get to see your numbers PLUS your swing. When looking at your practice sessions, you can easily pick out a swing with the best numbers and study that specific swing. It is excellent to help you see what you may have tried or stumbled on that maybe you now want to repeat! Be sure to check out my swing in the Rapsodo video!
Not to mention, this thing is super portable! It’s just a little bigger than your range finder, and the storage case clips onto your bag, just your Bushnell case!
Bottom Line
I find the interface and navigation easy and intuitive. I did not feel like I needed to be Bryson DeChambeau and have a degree in aerodynamics to understand the numbers. Rapsodo does a great job of giving you enough detail to help and satisfy your needs, but not so much you need a calculator and a degree from MIT to understand! You can even export your favorite swings and share them with friends or your swing coach! Rapsodo has thought of everything!
If you are looking for more feedback, spending time in your garage hitting balls, or looking to trend progress over time, the bottom line we love the Rapsodo MLM, and we think you will too! Start dropping hints to your wife (or husband) for Christmas now. This one needs to be on your list!