This $699 Golf Tech Just Did What $5,000 Units Do

It used to be simple. If you wanted elite club data, you paid elite prices. But Rapsodo just changed that math.

With its latest firmware and app update, dropped on May 28, the MLM2PRO now directly measures two of the most sought-after metrics in golf: Club Path and Angle of Attack. Not estimates. Not projections. Measured. Using a Doppler radar/dual-camera system.

And it’s doing all that on a launch monitor that costs $699.

Yes, club data has existed in the sub-$1,000 space before. But until the Square came along, it was always estimated. And while the Square does measure these metrics, it’s limited to indoor-only use. That makes the MLM2PRO the only launch monitor in this price class that works indoors and outdoors while delivering directly measured Club Path and Angle of Attack.

That’s a big deal. And if you’re thinking about buying a golf launch monitor, it’s worth your attention. It might save you some money.

Because the thing is, the MLM2PRO was already seriously impressive. It’s been known for best-in-class accuracy. Now you’re getting more data, with more insight, for the same price.

So let’s break it down. What does this update really mean?Why it matters. And whether this makes the MLM2PRO the best value in golf tech right now.

The reason Club Path and Angle of Attack are so exciting is that these are numbers regular golfers can use to legitimately have a chance to get better. Like, this is good stuff. There are plenty of golf data metrics that I barely even understand. But these are bread-and-butter metrics that can make a difference.

Club Path tells you the direction the clubhead is moving at the moment it hits the ball. Is it traveling in-to-out? Out-to-in? Square down the line?

That’s the information that you can combine with the ball flight you’re seeing to start to understand why you’re getting the shot shapes that you’re getting.

Look, guys, I’m not a golf teaching professional. I’m not trying to pretend to be one. And I’m not going to give you a golf lesson. But this is all stuff that you should take the time to learn yourself. And once you do, I really do think it’s going to help you.

Angle of Attack is about steepness. It tells you whether you’re hitting up or down on the ball and by how much.

It’s one of those metrics that, for a lot of golfers, is one of the numbers they pay attention to constantly. Want to launch your driver higher with less spin? Want to compress your irons through impact? That kind of stuff.

The ball flight tells you what happened. These two metrics help you understand why it happened.

And now, with the MLM2PRO, you’re not guessing. You’re not estimating. And, if you don’t have an indoor golf simulator studio, you’re now getting these numbers for only $700 outdoors.

The under-$1,000 launch monitor world has always been a balancing act. If you push too far in one direction, more data, more visuals, more portability- you usually give something else up. That’s how it’s been. Until now.

The Rapsodo MLM2PRO was already navigating that trade-off game better than most. But now that it’s directly measuring Club Path and Angle of Attack, the whole balance has shifted.

Let’s talk about where the rest of the field stands.

The Garmin Approach R10 offers a ton of data. It’s awesome. I was using it in the backyard at my buddy’s house just a couple of weeks ago, and we had a blast. It’s still cool even after a few years since its release.

But it’s important to understand that more of the data on the R10, including Club Path and Angle of Attack, are derived from algorithms based on the measured data. And that can definitely affect the precision of the data metrics.

The SC4 Pro is a great radar launch monitor that’s got a nice screen and does a good job covering ball data. You get pretty much all of the usual suspect data points. And it’s super easy to use.

But here’s the thing: It doesn’t give you club data. No Club Path. No Angle of Attack. Nothing to show you what your club is doing with the ball. So while it’s a solid pick for getting numbers like distance, spin, and speed, it’s not going to give you as much information about why the ball is doing what it’s doing. Or, more specifically, what in your swing is causing it to happen?

That’s a big distinction. Especially now that the MLM2PRO does give you that insight.

Square’s launch monitor stands out by directly measuring Club Path and Angle of Attack. And it’s a camera-based device, the first of its kind for less than $1,000. So I’m definitely not talking trash on it or saying you shouldn’t buy it.

But if you want to go outside, to the range, you can’t do that with the Square. So, the MLM2PRO definitely has a leg up in versatility. It’s an option for either inside or outside.

The other thing is the Square is far from perfect. (and, look, to be fair, no launch monitor is perfect), but it lacks certain metrics like Clubhead Speed and Smash Factor, which a lot of golfers rely on as important numbers for analysis.

With the integration of directly measured Club Path and Angle of Attack, the MLM2PRO distinguishes itself as the only launch monitor under $1,000 that offers:

• Direct measurement of these key club metrics

• Functionality for both indoor and outdoor use

• A combination of Doppler radar and dual-camera technology

• An intuitive app interface with video playback capabilities

This combination of features positions the MLM2PRO as a versatile and comprehensive tool for golfers who want to go deeper in their swing study. Basically, this one’s a big win for the golf data nerds on a budget.

If that’s you, here you go.

Golf launch monitors don’t usually jump levels like this without raising the price. And, guys, I haven’t even talked about a couple of the other updates that Rapsodo recently made plus all of the improvements they’ve made in the last couple of years. They’ve improved the MLM2PRO a ton.

But they’ve kept the price the same. And, now, they’re still keeping it at $699. So that’s pretty cool, I think.

But 700 bucks is still 700 bucks. And I think a lot of golfers have been waiting for a serious-level launch monitor that they can afford that gets close to what they’d have to spend thousands of dollars for otherwise. And that’s what I see this update as.

These are important data metrics, as we’ve already talked about. They’re ones everyone who’s serious about this stuff is going to want. But not all of those people can or even want to use their launch monitor only indoors.

One thing to know: when you’re trying to measure club data, alignment matters a lot. So Rapsodo addressed that too. And while it’s a subtle change, it makes a big difference. You’ll see a level indicator that helps you make sure the unit is flat. That’s crucial. If the unit’s tilted or off, your numbers are likewise going to be off.

And there’s another addition. The two-zone alignment boxes are in the camera view. You’ll now see a large yellow box for ball data and a smaller orange box for club data plus ball data. So if you want all the numbers, your ball has to be in the orange box.

That box is smaller, so it can be a little tricky. Especially if you’re outdoors and you’re moving the ball around because of divots. So you may want to put down a marker of some kind so you always know where that orange box zone is located. It’s manageable. You’ll be fine.

There’s something kind of exciting about seeing the budget golf tech world take a leap like this. Because for a long time, it felt like that space was stuck. The options were good, but not really changing all that much.

But now we’re starting to see some action. The Square was a big one. I’m still planning to get more hands-on with that one and do some more content around it. But this MLM2PRO is the next big thing in the recent wave, I think.

The MLM2PRO isn’t the only device trying to push things forward. But with the whole indoor-outdoor thing, it might be the most complete.

And what makes this update stand out is how it breaks that old mold. You’re getting directly measured club metrics on a $699 device. That’s not a small upgrade. That’s a category shift.

Is every golfer going to care about that? No. And that’s fine. But for the ones who do, the players who are really trying to understand what their swing is doing, it means they finally have a new kind of tool in their price range.

So, I think it’s cool because it’s a legit improvement to what a budget-friendly launch monitor can be.

The other thing, too, is that Rapsodo has proven that they’re going to stay on top of improvements and updates. They’ve made their whole user experience better as they’ve gone, and they just added a GSPro connection, which I know is going to be popular.

If you’re just looking for a distance readout or want something super plug-and-play, honestly, the MLM2PRO might actually be more than you need. There are simpler, cheaper launch monitors that will give you the basics. And they’re great. The R10 and SC4 Pro, and Square are all worth buying for the right person.

But if you’re the type of person who wants to learn more and try to self-diagnose and make some corrections, the MLM2PRO might have just become a no-brainer. I mean, guys, I think this is some pretty big news.

You’re getting some of that higher-end, directly-measured club data without being limited to indoor-only use. And it used to cost a lot more money to get that. Period.

That’s why this is a big deal. That’s why it’s not just another tweak or small feature rollout. I think this now marks a shift in what you can expect for $699.