About to purchase personal launch monitor < $800, but can't decide which one.

NevinW · November 2, 2023

I am about to purchase a personal launch monitor. I don't want to spend more than $800. I can't seem to make up my mind between a Mevo, Swing Caddie SC4 Simulator / Launch Monitor, Rapsodo MLM2 Pro. Rapsodo MLM, and the Garmin R10. Saving money is a factor here. I would like something that would work indoors but I'd like to take it to the outdoor range too. I would use it primarily for a practice tool but a visual of a driving range would be nice. There is a simulator at my club but I never use it to play Sim golf, just range practice to get numbers (my club is 25 miles away so I can't go every day). I have a steel shed on my property that I have set up a net and a mat and it is should be more than adequate for hitting balls but it isn't heated. I've got an old TV monitor I can use. It would be me and 10 million dead stink bugs. I've almost pulled the trigger for the MLM2 and the Garmin R10 but then stopped when I read or watched something else. Is there another that I haven't considered that would work better for my needs?

So which of these would work best for my situation?

MD_ · November 2, 2023

I have an MLM you definitely don't want that for hitting into a net...its ok on the range where it gets full ball flight but into a net without spin readings its not even accurate.

Get a used OG skytrak you should be able to find one on the used marketplace for around $800 if you look long enough...or be impatient and spend about $1k through second swing.

I had one prior to upgrading to an eye mini...its' proven accurate, has a good range you can use on a regular computer (doesn't have to be a gaming computer) or an ipad and you can even get into sim later if you so desire.

Hitting into a net in a steel building is asking for interference issues from anything using Doppler...camera based is much more reliable and needs WAY less ball flight to be accurate and doesn't need special balls like the MLM2Pro which is still partially Doppler based.

NevinW · November 3, 2023

10 hours ago, MD_ said:

I have an MLM you definitely don't want that for hitting into a net...its ok on the range where it gets full ball flight but into a net without spin readings its not even accurate.

Get a used OG skytrak you should be able to find one on the used marketplace for around $800 if you look long enough...or be impatient and spend about $1k through second swing.

I had one prior to upgrading to an eye mini...its' proven accurate, has a good range you can use on a regular computer (doesn't have to be a gaming computer) or an ipad and you can even get into sim later if you so desire.

Hitting into a net in a steel building is asking for interference issues from anything using Doppler...camera based is much more reliable and needs WAY less ball flight to be accurate and doesn't need special balls like the MLM2Pro which is still partially Doppler based.

Thank you. That was exactly the kind of information I was seeking. I'm glad I waited.

Triple Lindy · November 3, 2023

I have an MLM2Pro and hit exclusively into a net. It’s spot on accurate. As a matter of fact, it’s the most accurate option you have in your price range, which is the reason I ended up with it after trying several of the other options you’re considering.

The MLM2 has both a dual camera system and radar. Spin numbers come from using specially marked balls that come with the unit. You can also get stickers that are pre-arranged so that you can apply them to any ball. There’s not another PLM in your price range that reads spin. If you also use the camera from your phone or tablet, you get 3 different views: face-on, from behind, and impact of the club hitting the ball. It’s a really good way to see what’s going on in your swing. When I tested the Garmin R10, it was pretty good, but every now and then, you’d hit a shot that you just knew went the opposite of what showed on the screen. That’s due to spin miscalculation, at least from what I’ve read. This was before the release of the specialized balls made for the R10.

There are issues with the app for the MLM2, but it’s getting better, at least from a stability perspective. If you don’t have the patience for Rapsodo to fix the issues, most of which are well-documented, it’s probably not for you. I’m putting up with it because for what I want, it works relatively well. My current issue is with syncing. My sessions initially sync up, but then show not synced. It’s not a big deal if I review data on the device I used during the session, but if I want to review data on a display device, I can’t because the data isn’t synced to the cloud. I don’t think this is widespread, as I haven’t found anyone else having the issue.

I’ve also tested the OG SkyTrak and liked it. It was just too pricey - over $2k with the case and zero included sim courses. Both Garmin and Rapsodo include 5 free E6 Connect courses, as well as the E6 practice range, which is much better than the one in the MLM2 app. I don’t play a ton of sim golf, but I like having the option at no cost when I want to. And I don’t think you get any video capture with SkyTrak. I didn’t realize how much I’d like that feature until I used the MLM2.

There are LOTS of YouTube videos that compare the different units side by side, as well as against much more expensive, pro-level PLMs. The MLM2 Pro comes out on top of virtually all of the comparisons. And the good thing is, you can test any of them for a 30 day trial, some have 60 days.

Good luck!

elsie451 · November 3, 2023

My concern would be whether the steel shed might result in a lot of interference when using radar based devices (too many radar waves being reflected back at the device for it to accurately see the ball). If so, you might need to use an optical solution.

zlawson36 · November 4, 2023

I bought a used SkyTrak for $1050 and it has been an invaluable piece of equipment for me. I can only swing 7 iron or less in my garage set up, but has really helped me hone in my ball striking. SkyTrak is older tech, but proven to be accurate at average swing speeds (less than 100 mph). I would definitely not hesitate to purchase an OG Skytrak. You will not regret it.

Cheers!

NevinW · November 8, 2023

How well will the original Skytrak work out on the range? How bad will sunlight blind the cameras and is there a fix for it?

MD_ · November 8, 2023

I used it on the range only a few times, on cloudy/overcast days without a lot of bright direct sunlight (or if you can get to a shaded/covered range) and hitting off of a mat it did just fine, maybe a miss shot rate a little higher than indoors but not by much...

On a bright full sun day without shade (also happened to be hitting off grass) it did not do well, picked up maybe 2-3 out of 10. I didn't have an umbrella or anything to try to shade it with me and that was part of what drove me to upgrade (along with the desire to get club data).

Triple Lindy · November 9, 2023

On 11/8/2023 at 7:58 AM, NevinW said:

How well will the original Skytrak work out on the range? How bad will sunlight blind the cameras and is there a fix for it?

I only had a Skytrak for the 30 day trial, but I hit into a net in direct sunlight with zero issues. I hit almost every day during that trial period. I was somewhat surprised because I had heard it did not do well in sunlight, but that wasn’t my experience. Granted, this is only anecdotal from 1 person’s experience.

Spinozist · November 9, 2023

I have the SC4 and am happy with it: but I'm exclusively using it on the range.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Spinozist
fix

yeee707 · November 10, 2023

I'm using the OG Skytrak, got it used for $1k but have seen it go for $800 as well. I use it in my garage, and its great. No subscription needed for the basic driving range and don't need a lot of space like the radar based ones. Never used it outdoors, so can't speak to that. One thing it does seem to need is a pretty strong wifi signal if you are going to use it in network mode.

NevinW · November 11, 2023

Are there any of these that actually work the way they are supposed to? Everything I read suggests constant problems. My shed is too far away from my Wi-Fi signal is that going to be a problem?

MD_ · November 13, 2023

I did not use wifi on my skytrak...I used a high quality electrostatic sheilded usb cable plugged directly into my laptop. I never had connection issues, though sometimes I would have to restart the GSPro interface to get it to register...I do not believe that was an issue with the Skytrak or my connection to it but rather an issue with the GSPro interface that feeds the info from the skytrak into GSPro.

I don't know which device you're speaking of when you say they have constant problems, in general all of the LM, even the GCQuad, EyeX02, Trackman, etc have issues that have you will have to troubleshoot from time to time...sometimes these are more frequent/common on entry level LM's but if you're decent with technology its not a problem...if you don't want to troubleshoot you should probably skip home SIM and use the money on SIM bay rental time at a commercial business.