Rapsodo MLM first impressions

[Chip Strokes]

I ordered the Rapsodo MLM on Amazon Prime day. it got delivered yesterday, and i got it out to the range today. 

after a few more range sessions and some tweaking, i’ll do an unofficial review with a full write up, but i wanted to get some initial impressions in here. 

the packaging, the monitor itself, and getting it set up are all great. it comes with an  nice carrying case not unlike what a rangefinder comes with, and even a tech idiot like me can get it up and running in a few minutes  

i had a lot of issues at the range though, and wanted to see if anyone else who has used one could chime in here. 

i followed the setup instructions as best i could: monitor on flat ground, 8 feet behind the ball, lined up with the ball, phone in the cradle with the screen facing out.  that was the initial setup and i sort of moved it around during the session as i was having issues.

issue 1: missed shots. i think the monitor missed more than half the shots i took today. this sucked not only because it wasn’t working like it’s supposed to, but also because swinging then looking back hoping the shot was picked up got really distracting really quickly. it seemed to have no problem with partial swings. if i just took a half swing and punched a drive out into the fairway, it picked all of those up but really struggled with full swings. 

issue 2: accuracy past 200 yards. now this definitely isn’t me puffing my chest out and saying i hit booming 500 yards drives when the ball goes 250 maybe, but i know how far i can hit a golf ball when i tag it well, and the MLM was picking a lot of my drives up at 230-240? some were as short as 218 when i’m watching the ball bounce high off the fence that’s sitting 260 yards out.  

all in all, it was a pretty disappointing first time out for a product i was really stoked to use. 

[GolfSpy MPR]

That is a really disappointing first impression.

I haven't used one of these. Are there mitigating factors in the conditions that can affect its performance? My understanding is that it's a combo radar/phone camera system. Do lighting conditions affect it?

[Chip Strokes]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

That is a really disappointing first impression.

I haven't used one of these. Are there mitigating factors in the conditions that can affect its performance? My understanding is that it's a combo radar/phone camera system. Do lighting conditions affect it?

i’m sure they can affect it. i read that sun shining directly at the camera can cause some misreads, but the range i was at has their stalls well shaded

the monitor and i were in the shade, with the sun behind the building that houses the bays. 

i’m hoping i was doing something wrong, because this has the potential to be an awesome tool. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

I dont know if you saw my thread i started about it. 
 

i have had zero missed shots in 3 different sessions with it.  The only real issue im dealing with is it capturing my full body in the frame.   
 

But that is probably due to it being closer to 6 feet behind me than 8.  Our range is mats and grass.  We are off the grass the rest of the year.  The mats have the cart path running parallel right behind them.   If i go much further back, i run the risk of being in traffic.   I have positioned my golf bag next to ot to help block it.  But even with thst i’m probably blocking more of the cart parh traffic than i should. 
 

As for the distance, i can’t hit anything past 230.  But our Super has been on it and his limit is about 260 and his readings have been pretty spot on.  
 

I’ve used it on cloudy and sunny days.  
 

Really sorry to hear of your issues.  I have a contact at their HQ.  I’ll ask him about that next week.  Or find out if there is a Tech or support person you csn reach out to. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

@Chip Strokes what phone (version) are you using. 

[Chip Strokes]

2 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

@Chip Strokes what phone (version) are you using. 

iPhone 11 pro

[Golfspy_CG2]

Oh, well that’s certainly not the issue.  As that’s one of the best phones they recommend for it. 

[1mcozik]

I had one and figure the distance reading was more of a guess-timate more than anything. I see readings of 240-250 but I know in the real world its 340-360 

[DPattGolf]

I looked long and hard into the MLM and even got ahold of a demo unit to test. I really really wanted to love it but just couldn't. For me it was pretty good from my 9iron to 5iron in terms of having believable and realistic carry numbers. But that still left me with 4 clubs on at both the bottom and top of the bag that it was just terrible with. And that is assuming it even captured the shot at all. Now maybe it has something to do with myself having a higher swing speed or maybe its because it doesn't have the ability to read spin. Personally I think its a good amount of both. But from perspective of both an instruction and a competitive player, it is just not anywhere near the point where I can trust the information it is providing. 

*Additional nitpick

I hate the angle that you are forced to take video from. Its terrible. You can't see half of the swing and its also far to low

[Golfspy_CG2]

Dpat, I have spoken to our rep about similar issues another poster who has long drive competitor speed.  He was getting yardages like 240 instead of 340.  

MLM does in fact work with some long drive competitors so it's not a matter of anyone's swing being too fast for it.   A couple things he told me to pass on for him to check.  To make sure he has updated the unit to the latest version, also to make sure the app on the phone is updated.   And that you are using a late model I phone at least 7 or higher prefererably I think 10 or above.  I have a 7+ and the only issue I have is the battery drain on my phone, that lasts about an hour.   But he gave me some hints there to try and extend that, such as closing al other apps and lowering the brightness level. 

I'm 6'5" and I had to play with the placement a bit, but I was able to get it to get my full swing in the frame.  I believe there is some work going on at MLM to see about effective ways to be able to use it at a higher angle.   

For the record, I know I swing slow barely cracking 90 on a good swing, but I have not had it miss more than 1 shot of mine or my buddies that have used it, in well over 150 shots or so so far.

 

[Golfspy_CG2]

Here is a still shot of one of my shots from last week showing me in the full frame--unfortunately

[JonMUSC08]

Messaged Rapsodo about info and if simulation software might be something they are working on and they said YES! AKA a Skytrak sub $500 price (from my understanding)! I would hope this is a firmware update and not a new unit. We’ll see what happens.