If you’re thinking about your first golf launch monitor, odds are you don’t want to spend a fortune on it.
You’re not yet sure it’s something you’ll use enough to justify it, so laying out serious money feels like a lot just to find out. That’s a reasonable place to be.
Good news: You don’t have to. For right around $200, there are three real devices worth weighing, and any of them will get you started without much of a dent.
Those three are the Shot Scope LM1, the PRGR, and the original Rapsodo MLM.
I’ve put time in with each. And I’m going to give you my honest thoughts on all the pros and cons on all of these. And I’ll tell you which one of them I’d buy.
Let’s sort it out.
About That $200 Price Point
One quick thing on cost.
The PRGR lists at $229. The original Rapsodo MLM sits at $249. The Shot Scope LM1 comes in lowest at $199.
But the MLM and the PRGR both go on sale often. And when they do, they typically land right around that same $199 mark.
So for this comparison, assume all three run you roughly two hundred bucks. That’s the honest way to weigh them against each other.
Comparing the Very Similar LM1 and PRGR
These two are the most alike of the group, so let’s start there.
Both run Doppler radar. Both give you the same five metrics of ball speed, club speed, smash factor, total distance, and carry distance.
Total distance is generally a throw-away number for me. Every launch monitor arrives at that figure its own way, through its own math, so it’s the softest number in the set. Carry distance is the number I actually pay attention to, and it’s the one you should trust.
Between the Shot Scope LM1 and PRGR, it isn’t particularly close. There’s a single situation where I’d recommend the PRGR, which I’ll cover. But other than that, the LM1 wins.
Here’s why.
Superior Accuracy with Shot Scope’s LM1
This is the part that matters most.
In my testing, the LM1 was consistently more accurate than the PRGR.
Both brands say you can use these launch monitors indoors or outdoors. And you can. But all three devices on this list, including these two, do their best work outdoors on a range. That’s where you’re going to get your most trustworthy data.
And outside, the LM1 has held up far better than I expected for the money.
The PRGR hasn’t. I’ve gone back to it repeatedly over the years, checked it against a few other launch monitors, tested it with different clubs, and while it’ll occasionally be reasonably accurate, I’ve never gotten it to stay consistent enough to fully trust.
There’s something smart about Shot Scope’s restraint, too. A lot of launch monitors give you a long list of data metrics, but most of the figures are estimated rather than actually measured.
Shot Scope decided to create a device that just gives you what they can measure and know is right. They’re not bothering with the rest. And I actually love that. I’d count having only five metrics as a point in the LM1’s favor, not against it.
You could make the same argument for the PRGR. I just don’t think it delivers on it the way the LM1 does.
Even if accuracy were equal between the LM1 and PRGR, the LM1 would still be my call.
You get a nicer display. You can scroll through it and choose which metrics you want in front of you. And it ties into the Shot Scope app, so you can hold onto your session data instead of losing it when you’re done.
I wouldn’t buy the LM1 on the strength of the app alone. It’s really not that deep. But having any app connection at all on a $199 device is more than you’d expect.
The LM1 also includes a carrying case. Minor, sure, but still a nice thing to have at this price.
The Shot Scope LM1 is the most accurate launch monitor you'll find under $300. So to see it at $199 with no subscription? Let's just say it lives up to the hype.
This has high demand, so if it's not available from Shot Scope, try Play Better!
The One Case for the PRGR Over the LM1
Availability is probably the one big advantage that PRGR has over the Shot Scope LM1.
The LM1 has been in heavy demand since it arrived, and it’s constantly going out of stock. So if you want one, you may have to wait.
If you don’t want to wait, that’s when I would actually recommend the PRGR. You can generally order it and have it show up quickly.
Honestly, that’s pretty much the only scenario where I would choose the PRGR over the LM1
I wouldn't put this device on the same level as higher-priced, more feature-rich launch monitors, but if you just want to get some rough numbers, the PRGR makes the range a lot more engaging.
Shot Scope LM1 vs. Rapsodo MLM
This is where the decision gets tougher and more interesting.
And just to be clear, we’re talking about the original Rapsodo MLM, not the MLM2PRO. The Pro is a newer, more capable, and overall better launch monitor that also includes simulator compatibility. Different conversation.
The original MLM has some history. It showed up five or six years ago at $499, dropped to $200, and now has a $249 list price. I’ve regularly seen it for as low as $199, and at that number it gets pretty interesting.
If you look at the spec sheets, it looks like the Rapsodo MLM does far more than the Shot Scope LM1.
But a feature only counts if it’s dependable and useful. So it’s worth separating where the MLM impresses and where it lost me.
The Rapsodo MLM’s Impressive Feature Set
Let’s start with how the MLM is built because the design is clever. You dock your phone onto the unit and let that screen act as your launch monitor display. And honestly, that looks a lot better than the little display on most cheap launch monitors.
You set it up behind you, take your swings, and scroll back through every shot.
And the feature list is where the Rapsodo MLM does outpace the LM1. It reads lateral data, so you can see your left-and-right tendencies. It’ll drop your shots onto a scatter chart laid over a GPS view of the range, so you can see patterns. It’s got games built in. It gives you spin.
And one of the coolest features of all… It’ll even visually recognize your club. You hold a club up to the front camera and it picks up that you’ve gone from, say a 4-iron to a 7-iron. It sometimes takes a couple of tries to get it right, but when this thing launched, that felt ahead of its time.
The real standout feature is the video. The MLM plays back a replay of every shot you hit. So if you’re the kind of golfer who wants to watch what your swing is doing, getting that after each swing for around $200 is a real win.
But the MLM’s Accuracy Isn’t Quite as Solid as the LM1’s
The trouble with the Rapsodo MLM and where the Shot Scope LM1 continues to excel is accuracy.
I’ve never found the MLM’s data dependable. The readings scatter. Spin numbers are often just totally off. I’ve hit obvious fades and seen them reported by the MLM as a draw. Carry distances don’t seem to be consistent.
I could keep going. But what it comes down to is I just don’t quite trust what the MLM is telling me enough to actually learn or get better.
So on the one hand, the MLM is a standout because you’ve got more fun features.
But just like with the PRGR, the MLM falls well short of the reliability and trustworthiness of the Shot Scope LM1’s data quality.
One note worth adding: The LM1 and the MLM both include a speed training mode. So if you want to build clubhead speed by swinging without a ball, each of them will track it. And both of them do it well.
Which Under-$200 Launch Monitor Would I Buy?
To be brutally honest, I’d pass on the PRGR. Unless it’s the only option you’ve got, you can do better.
Between the other two – the LM1 and MLM – it’s about what you value. The MLM is the more polished, more entertaining device by a decent margin. But the LM1 is clearly the more accurate and more dependable one.
So be honest with yourself. Do you want the fun and extra features and video feedback? Or do you want the numbers you can trust?
If it’s the former, the MLM could be a great fit. If it’s the latter, the LM1 is the one I’d recommend for most people.
As for me, I’d take the LM1. Of the three options here, it’s the one that comes closest to feeling like a legitimate launch monitor at this price. The feature set is stripped down, no question. But it gives you more than the price suggests in terms of the quality of the data.
At the end of the day, I want a launch monitor that is going to give me numbers that tell me what’s going on with my golf swing. And the Shot Scope LM1 does that better than any other launch monitor under $200.
The Shot Scope LM1 is the most accurate launch monitor you'll find under $300. So to see it at $199 with no subscription? Let's just say it lives up to the hype.
This has high demand, so if it's not available from Shot Scope, try Play Better!
Looking to make the range fun again? Rapsodo MLM is for you. The Rapsodo is the most full-featured launch monitor under $300, and is our best recommendation for a device at that price point.
I wouldn't put this device on the same level as higher-priced, more feature-rich launch monitors, but if you just want to get some rough numbers, the PRGR makes the range a lot more engaging.
Willing to Spend a Little Bit More Money?
If you’re willing to up your budget a little bit a lot of interesting options open up.
For under $1,000 there are a few I’d consider which will add sim features, better accuracy, and an overall more enjoyable experience.
The ones I’d take a look at:
- Rapsodo MLM2PRO – At $699 (plus a $199/year subscription) this is the most full-featured device under $1k.
- Square Home – This is the only camera-based unit worth buying under $1k. And if you just want to play sim golf at home in your garage? This is probably your best bet.
- Voice Caddie SC4 Pro – A built-in screen, included remote, and free e6 simulator courses for under $500? The value is undeniably there. Breaking Eighty readers get the special pricing right here.
- Garmin Approach R10 – This has been out for around 5 years, but it’s still a fantastic option. This is a no-brainer if you’re already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.
And if you’re looking for more of my favorites across the board, here are my picks for the best golf launch monitors.
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