Rapsodo MLM Experience

[sooner66]

Looks like they brought back the ability to scroll through video. Good on them for getting it corrected quickly. 

[Crn50]

On 4/25/2022 at 11:15 AM, Cmart050 said:

I posted this is another thread but this one see,so to get more attention..

 

my distances and ball speeds are about 20-25% lower than they should be. Other people have had 5is problem across multiple forums, but no one has posted a solution. Is there? I can’t believe we all spent nearly half a grand on this thing and would be ok with it just being completely off. 

Yeah I've compared my Rapsodo to Top Tracer at the driving range and I got similar numbers, but I've also had numbers almost the same so I don't know what's going on. I'm guessing for $500 that's the nature of the beast, I know from a Technology freak friend you can't make a cheap device and expect it to perform as good as $20-40k devices...

[North Butte]

19 minutes ago, Crn50 said:

Yeah I've compared my Rapsodo to Top Tracer at the driving range and I got similar numbers, but I've also had numbers almost the same so I don't know what's going on. I'm guessing for $500 that's the nature of the beast, I know from a Technology freak friend you can't make a cheap device and expect it to perform as good as $20-40k devices...

Shouldn't the question be, "Can this $500 device do what I need it to do?" rather than, "Can this $500 device perform as good as $20K devices"? 

 

My Camry doesn't have to perform like a Formula One car but it does need to be reliable enough that I can count on it to make a 4-hour drive to the beach and back at 70mph when I go on vacation. 

 

My question would be is the Rapsodo MLM a Camry-level launch monitor. From everything I've seen and read the answer is "not quite", same for all the other $500-$600 personal launch monitor products at present. To me that category of devices is still a generation or two away from giving information I'd trust for actually working on my golf swing, gapping my clubs, etc. 

 

They will usually give fairly repeatable results that are convincing enough to use as a sim. But not really close to reliably distinguishing small differences in ball flight, shot shape and distances from swing to swing. Too many approximations, interpolations and algorithmic estimations of values that aren't actually being measured. 

Edited April 29, 2022 by North Butte

[Crn50]

10 hours ago, North Butte said:

 

My Camry doesn't have to perform like a Formula One car but it does need to be reliable enough that I can count on it to make a 4-hour drive to the beach and back at 70mph when I go on vacation. 

 

Yeah back in the day my Camry took me anywhere I wanted to go, did it do in the same comfort as my Mercedes does now NO way, you get what you pay for mate. The one thing that Rapsodo does that the Top tracer doesn’t do is video of every shot, and that’s actually of more use to me than all the mathematical numbers that I doubt are 100% accurate as me and my friends debate lol…

[North Butte]

35 minutes ago, Crn50 said:

Yeah back in the day my Camry took me anywhere I wanted to go, did it do in the same comfort as my Mercedes does now NO way, you get what you pay for mate. The one thing that Rapsodo does that the Top tracer doesn’t do is video of every shot, and that’s actually of more use to me than all the mathematical numbers that I doubt are 100% accurate as me and my friends debate lol…

Yeah, I briefly tried a Mevo and the numbers were crap unless you could somehow get it perfectly square and level and the right height and distance behind the ball (impossible to do out on the golf course). But I really liked how it would trigger my iPhone to take a short video capture of my swing. Still it was too expensive just as a phone-video trigger!

[Crn50]

2 hours ago, North Butte said:

Yeah, I briefly tried a Mevo and the numbers were crap unless you could somehow get it perfectly square and level and the right height and distance behind the ball (impossible to do out on the golf course). But I really liked how it would trigger my iPhone to take a short video capture of my swing. Still it was too expensive just as a phone-video trigger!

Watching the video helped me because I could SEE the video of my swing which is quite different to what I imagined it was, the guys at the range said add 20% to the Rapsodo numbers which is rubbish because I can't carry my ball 240 meters. Maybe in the right conditions it might run out to that distance if I hit it perfect hahahaha

[thechief16]

On 4/29/2022 at 7:17 AM, North Butte said:

Shouldn't the question be, "Can this $500 device do what I need it to do?" rather than, "Can this $500 device perform as good as $20K devices"? 

 

My Camry doesn't have to perform like a Formula One car but it does need to be reliable enough that I can count on it to make a 4-hour drive to the beach and back at 70mph when I go on vacation. 

 

My question would be is the Rapsodo MLM a Camry-level launch monitor. From everything I've seen and read the answer is "not quite", same for all the other $500-$600 personal launch monitor products at present. To me that category of devices is still a generation or two away from giving information I'd trust for actually working on my golf swing, gapping my clubs, etc. 

 

They will usually give fairly repeatable results that are convincing enough to use as a sim. But not really close to reliably distinguishing small differences in ball flight, shot shape and distances from swing to swing. Too many approximations, interpolations and algorithmic estimations of values that aren't actually being measured. 

 

Except when Rapsodo itself is marketing their product as within 2% of a $20,000 Trackman.

 

 

 

[stuman74]

I have had the MLM for just over a year now.  Overall I like it.  I am now trying it out with a net.  Usually ok, but maybe I need more light.  Or need to move the MLM further back from the tee.  At exactly 6 feet back, my iPhone 13 Pro doesn't quite fit me in the frame...unless there's some zoom setting in the app for the video that I haven't discovered yet.  I like to see what I did or didn't do after my shots.  Would setting it 7 or 8 feet back impact the doppler readings?

[Binson]

I wish it would work as just a swing speed machine as well (without hitting a ball).

[Crn50]

1 hour ago, stuman74 said:

I have had the MLM for just over a year now.  Overall I like it.  I am now trying it out with a net.  Usually ok, but maybe I need more light.  Or need to move the MLM further back from the tee.  At exactly 6 feet back, my iPhone 13 Pro doesn't quite fit me in the frame...unless there's some zoom setting in the app for the video that I haven't discovered yet.  I like to see what I did or didn't do after my shots.  Would setting it 7 or 8 feet back impact the doppler readings?

@stuman74 yeah I had the same issues with mine, I found the mlm works better sitting on the case it's stored in. Plus I don't sit it directly behind the ball but about 12inches away from the ball and fiddle with directions to get body and swing in the video, it surprised me just seeing my swing because that was so different to what I felt it was. It's worth the money just to see how your hitting the ball, you can use the slow mo to see impact a few other positions in the swing...

[stuman74]

3 hours ago, Crn50 said:

@stuman74 yeah I had the same issues with mine, I found the mlm works better sitting on the case it's stored in. Plus I don't sit it directly behind the ball but about 12inches away from the ball and fiddle with directions to get body and swing in the video, it surprised me just seeing my swing because that was so different to what I felt it was. It's worth the money just to see how your hitting the ball, you can use the slow mo to see impact a few other positions in the swing...

I often do the same at my local range.  Their mat is pretty thick and the asphalt behind it has a slight downhill so the angled case is a perfect prop-up.  For flat surfaces, I have 3 little cut foam mats sized about the same as the case that I can stack as needed depending on the mat thickness.

[Crn50]

58 minutes ago, stuman74 said:

I often do the same at my local range.  Their mat is pretty thick and the asphalt behind it has a slight downhill so the angled case is a perfect prop-up.  For flat surfaces, I have 3 little cut foam mats sized about the same as the case that I can stack as needed depending on the mat thickness.

Yeah good idea with cutout mats, I've attached my swing video what do you think?

 

[zap311]

1 hour ago, Crn50 said:

Yeah good idea with cutout mats, I've attached my swing video what do you think?

 

6-8 feet has been plenty of space for me into a net. I don’t  use anything to prop it up and ball sits on a ~1-inch thick hitting mat. 
 

I could be wrong, but it seems like you don’t have the device aiming down your target line. My recordings are always straight on and yours looks to be angled to the right. Use the guide on the app screen to make sure the target line goes where you’re aiming, between your feet and the ball. 

[Crn50]

6 hours ago, zap311 said:

 My recordings are always straight on and yours looks to be angled to the right. Use the guide on the app screen to make sure the target line goes where you’re aiming, between your feet and the ball. 

Your right, but I'm more interested in seeing my swing at the moment. I aim down the ball line usually but the app tells me if I'm left right or straight when I'm Checking out my swing..

[stuman74]

Has anyone by chance used an iPad Mini 6 5G tablet propped up on the Rapsodo?  I use my iPhone 13 Pro, but just got this Mini 6 iPad and was wondering if there are any benefits to performance (camera ability, view, etc).  Obviously larger screen, but I've had no issues viewing my iPhone.  Might look goofy with the size and hopefully stable enough propped up on the Rapsodo.  Thanks.

[Crn50]

On 6/4/2022 at 1:04 AM, stuman74 said:

Has anyone by chance used an iPad Mini 6 5G tablet propped up on the Rapsodo?  I use my iPhone 13 Pro, but just got this Mini 6 iPad and was wondering if there are any benefits to performance (camera ability, view, etc).  Obviously larger screen, but I've had no issues viewing my iPhone.  Might look goofy with the size and hopefully stable enough propped up on the Rapsodo.  Thanks.

At my course it's very windy at times so bigger device will blow over easy, I'm thinking of making a box on 12inch legs to the Rapsodo and my iPhone from the elements...

[wingfoot64]

On 6/10/2022 at 9:19 PM, Crn50 said:

At my course it's very windy at times so bigger device will blow over easy, I'm thinking of making a box on 12inch legs to the Rapsodo and my iPhone from the elements...

The box idea might help with overheating I get in the full sun, tried an umbrella which is fine until the wind blows.

[zap311]

My honeymoon period with Rapsodo is officially over. It’s been a fun device to use, but I am disappointed with its utility on the driving range. 
 

I set it up correctly today and captured most shots, but since my public course’s range balls are so awful, the distances and launch angle are not that helpful. It’s hard to rely on beat-up range balls, some of which are visibly damaged. I suppose if I was a member at a club with better range balls, then this would not be as much of an issue. 
 

I still like it for hitting into a net at home, but I’ve also wondered if it’s worth getting the Garmin R10 if for that purpose only. 
 

Anyone else have low confidence in your data on the driving range?

Edited July 18, 2022 by zap311

[hammersia]

4 hours ago, zap311 said:

My honeymoon period with Rapsodo is officially over. It’s been a fun device to use, but I am disappointed with its utility on the driving range. 
 

I set it up correctly today and captured most shots, but since my public course’s range balls are so awful, the distances and launch angle are not that helpful. It’s hard to rely on beat-up range balls, some of which are visibly damaged. I suppose if I was a member at a club with better range balls, then this would not be as much of an issue. 
 

I still like it for hitting into a net at home, but I’ve also wondered if it’s worth getting the Garmin R10 if for that purpose only. 
 

Anyone else have low confidence in your data on the driving range?

I would at least take it to a decent range, ideally with Toptracer, and compare numbers there. Pointless with rubbish balls really. 

 

I ran some numbers on the accuracy of the R10, see below. Conclusion was it's good.... but I'm not convinced in terms of direction / shot shape that it's going to give you a noticeable improvement over the Rapsodo when hitting into a net. 

 

[zap311]

22 hours ago, hammersia said:

I would at least take it to a decent range, ideally with Toptracer, and compare numbers there. Pointless with rubbish balls really. 

 

I ran some numbers on the accuracy of the R10, see below. Conclusion was it's good.... but I'm not convinced in terms of direction / shot shape that it's going to give you a noticeable improvement over the Rapsodo when hitting into a net. 

 

Thanks for the reply! I read your notes on the R10 and I appreciated your thorough statistical analysis. It sounds like a solid device, but not necessarily more accurate than the Rapsodo. 
 

I have a Top Tracer range near me, so I may try to do a test there.  At a minimum, it would be nice to know what factor to apply to my numbers when hitting range balls (i.e. 10% less carry on avg).

[hammersia]

2 hours ago, zap311 said:

Thanks for the reply! I read your notes on the R10 and I appreciated your thorough statistical analysis. It sounds like a solid device, but not necessarily more accurate than the Rapsodo. 
 

I have a Top Tracer range near me, so I may try to do a test there.  At a minimum, it would be nice to know what factor to apply to my numbers when hitting range balls (i.e. 10% less carry on avg).

There is a setting on Top Tracer that pops up on the top right of the screen that shows whether "ball normalisation" is applied to correct the distances of range balls. I can't see a way to change this, seems to be something the range administrator decides on. 

 

You may have to laser a few targets to get confidence in your testing.

[zap311]

Has anyone tried the Rapsodo Combines feature that they released for Premium users? I can't tell if it would make the range more fun, like Toptracer30, or if it's more so to assess skill level. 

[Crn50]

On 9/27/2022 at 8:58 AM, zap311 said:

Has anyone tried the Rapsodo Combines feature that they released for Premium users? I can't tell if it would make the range more fun, like Toptracer30, or if it's more so to assess skill level. 

I’ve thought about premium but I’m ok with the feedback on the free setup, went to a different range today and Rapsodo wouldn’t connect and I tried other apps that worked fine. No idea why but will ask Rapsodo, maybe the data on my iPhone was weak…

[stuman74]

I hope this means they will be adding spin rate!  

 

 

 

[Frankiezz]

Has Rapsodo changed the app in a way that now you cannot see distance of the shots without paying for the subscription? In that default view where you can see yourself and the range, there is no more distance shown, only side carry, shot type and launch direction. WTF, have they really removed the distance? Earlier it was possible to change the metrics but not anymore without paying 99$ per year. If that is the case, this apparatus will be returned to vendor.

[Norsegolf]

I have had good luck with my MLM. It works well on the mats if you set the MLM on its carry case, to level it out. I did have an error in January where it ceased working, almost as if it sent an error message that there was not sufficient room on the iPhone for data, which was not correct. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app on the phone and it has worked fine since.

[ericschlukebir]

Anyone notice a significant difference in swing speed in net mode vs outdoors?

 

It was finally nice enough to go to the range today so it was my first time with the MLM outside.  It’s still cold and the balls are crap and the distance numbers reflect that, but my swing speed was up about 5 mph with my driver.  I wasn’t pushing to hard, but it was showing pretty close to my max effort swings indoors.

 

 

[Drivingrangehero]

I recently picked up the Rapsodo MLM and have used it at the range a few times, and have been happy with its performance over all. 
 

the range balls are not new, but not totally beat either, they are pretty good condition for a range. The range balls are yellow Top-Flite Super Range. 
 

I get some consistent launch angles, ball speeds, peak height, apex, carry … etc, but they aren’t exactly what I see with premium balls on a GC Quad. 
 

I’m at the point where I may be slowing down some, so that may be a factor. I haven’t been on a GC Quad or Trackman in over 6 months and I did hit a driver a few weeks ago at PGASS that was lower ball speeds (160-162mph)  than what I had been used to over the past two years 163mph low and 168mph high on average, so maybe it’s me and not the device. 
 

The Rapsodo, outdoor mode at the driving range with Top-Flite range balls, I hover between 158-160mph usually averaging 159mph with a 1.45 smash factor average and a 110mph club speed, at 14.7° launch angle at 263 carry 
 

Im not sure how this algorithm works. I know that they are supposed to be very close to some $$$$$ LM’s. 
 

I usually see 4-6mph more ball speed  about 1° higher launch, and a bit more carry, so I’m not sure if it’s me, the ball, or a little bit of both ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

With all that said, I’m very happy with the device. I mainly got it to see a video my swing (which needs work 😂) and I wanted to see ball speed, and peak height as well, so everything else is just a bonus. 
 

if I wasn’t so cheap, I’d just hit a couple of premium balls, but I can’t justify throwing away money 😂 

[jimecherry]

4 hours ago, Drivingrangehero said:

I recently picked up the Rapsodo MLM and have used it at the range a few times, and have been happy with its performance over all. 
 

the range balls are not new, but not totally beat either, they are pretty good condition for a range. The range balls are yellow Top-Flite Super Range. 
 

I get some consistent launch angles, ball speeds, peak height, apex, carry … etc, but they aren’t exactly what I see with premium balls on a GC Quad. 
 

I’m at the point where I may be slowing down some, so that may be a factor. I haven’t been on a GC Quad or Trackman in over 6 months and I did hit a driver a few weeks ago at PGASS that was lower ball speeds (160-162mph)  than what I had been used to over the past two years 163mph low and 168mph high on average, so maybe it’s me and not the device. 
 

The Rapsodo, outdoor mode at the driving range with Top-Flite range balls, I hover between 158-160mph usually averaging 159mph with a 1.45 smash factor average and a 110mph club speed, at 14.7° launch angle at 263 carry 
 

Im not sure how this algorithm works. I know that they are supposed to be very close to some $$$$$ LM’s. 
 

I usually see 4-6mph more ball speed  about 1° higher launch, and a bit more carry, so I’m not sure if it’s me, the ball, or a little bit of both ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

With all that said, I’m very happy with the device. I mainly got it to see a video my swing (which needs work 😂) and I wanted to see ball speed, and peak height as well, so everything else is just a bonus. 
 

if I wasn’t so cheap, I’d just hit a couple of premium balls, but I can’t justify throwing away money 😂 

are you referring to the original mlm or the new one?

[Drivingrangehero]

5 hours ago, jimecherry said:

are you referring to the original mlm or the new one?

Original MLM