My guess is you've heard plenty of reasons why you should buy Garmin's new FlightScope Mevo Gen2.
And I'll admit, a lot of those reasons make sense.
The Mevo Gen2 is a really solid launch monitor. I mean, it's a FlightScope, which means it uses radar technology to track your ball flight. For less than $1,200, you get professional-level data tracking, no subscription fees, and built-in simulation features that let you play virtual golf courses. Those features alone might make the Gen2 worth your money. It's a beautiful device, no question about it.
But here's the thing — for a lot of golfers, the Mevo Gen2 isn't the right fit. I think many of you would actually do better with a different launch monitor.
So in today's video, I'm sharing five reasons why you might want to look at something else besides the Mevo Gen2.
Let's dive in!
Alright, you know I think the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is pretty great. I made a whole video about why you should buy one, and I meant every word. There's no doubt it's one of the best launch monitors you can get for under $1,000 — maybe even THE best.
But does that make it right for every golfer?
Definitely not.
Here's the mistake I see people make all the time. They think that because something gets good reviews, it automatically works for them.
That's not how this works, though. No launch monitor is perfect. Every single one comes with trade-offs, quirks, and frustrations that make it better for some golfers than others.
This is especially true when you're shopping in that middle ground between budget gear and professional equipment. The MLM2PRO packs a punch for its price, no doubt. But sometimes the exact features that make it appealing can actually turn other golfers off.
Think about it this way — you need to understand why NOT to buy the MLM2PRO just as much as you need to hear why you should. Otherwise, you might drop serious cash on gear that looks amazing on paper but doesn't actually match how you want to practice.
So let's flip the script here. Instead of talking about how the MLM2PRO raises the bar for devices under $1,000 (which it definitely does), let's look at the other side. The drawbacks, the compromises, the reasons why this excellent launch monitor might not work for you.
Here are five reasons you should think twice before buying the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.
Experience top-tier golf analytics with Rapsodo MLM2PRO, dual cameras, Doppler radar, and precise shot feedback in a sleek, portable launch monitor.
The MLM2PRO costs $699 on the price tag. But here's the thing—you won't get the experience you're looking for at that price.
Sure, you can use the MLM2PRO without paying for a Premium membership. But when you do that, you lose almost everything that makes this device worth buying in the first place.
Think about what disappears without Premium: Combine mode, which lets you see multiple shots at once. Insights that tell you what your swing data actually means. Rapsodo Courses and Rapsodo Range, where you can practice on virtual courses. Impact Vision that shows you exactly how your club hits the ball. Your spin rate and spin axis numbers—basically, how your ball rotates through the air. Club path tracking that shows your swing direction. Angle of attack measurements that reveal if you're hitting up or down on the ball. And deeper video storage, so you can actually save and review your swings later.
Without Premium, all these features either vanish completely or get cut down to almost nothing. It's like buying a smartphone that only makes calls unless you pay extra!
The free trial runs out fast, and then you're stuck choosing. You can pay $199 every year, which adds up quickly. Or you can bite the bullet and pay $499 once for lifetime access.
Let me break down what this means for your wallet. When you add that $499 lifetime fee to the $699 device, you're suddenly looking at $1,200 total. That's way past "budget-friendly" for most people, right?
This matters because you've got solid alternatives out there. Some competitors include all their features without making you pay extra subscription. Others give you professional-level accuracy and better data dashboards for just a bit more money upfront—and nothing extra later.
If subscription fees make your blood boil, or if you're buying this thing specifically to avoid spending four figures on launch monitor tech, grab a calculator first. The MLM2PRO looks like a great deal at $699, until you realize the features you actually want were never really $699 to begin with.
Here's the thing about practicing indoors—if you care about spin (and trust me, you should), the MLM2PRO delivers impressive spin accuracy. But wait, there's more to the story. You'll only get those accurate spin numbers if you use RPT balls. These special balls have a tracking pattern that helps the monitor read your shots correctly. We're talking about specific Callaway or Titleist models here, not just any ball from your bag.
Without RPT balls, you lose two critical pieces of data indoors: spin rate and spin axis. That means you won't know if your 7-iron is spinning at 6,000 RPM like it should, or if you're putting unwanted sidespin on your drives.
Now, let me explain the practical headache you're signing up for. RPT balls scuff up pretty quickly—think about how beat up range balls get, and you'll get the idea. Rapsodo includes three RPT balls when you buy the MLM2PRO, which sounds nice until you realize that's barely enough for a practice session! You'll be rotating through the same three balls, watching them get more beat up with each swing.
Look, I can't completely fault Rapsodo here. Nearly every launch monitor that works indoors needs either special golf balls or those little stickers you put on your clubs. That's just how the technology works right now. The cameras and radars need something extra to track when you're not outside with perfect lighting and space.
But here's what you need to think about before you buy. First, ask yourself how much indoor spin data matters to your game. Are you the type who needs to know your exact spin rates, or are you happy just seeing ball speed and carry distance? Second, consider the hassle factor. Can you deal with managing special balls and replacing them regularly? And finally, here's the kicker—those RPT balls cost about $50 per dozen! That's premium golf ball pricing for balls you're only using indoors.
Let me break it down with real numbers. If you practice twice a week indoors and those three balls last you a month (which is optimistic), you're looking at buying a new dozen every four months. That's $150 a year just for practice balls, on top of the monitor's price tag.
Here's the thing about Rapsodo's software—it's actually pretty great. The app looks polished, works smoothly, and won't make you want to throw your phone across the driving range. That's a win!
But let me tell you where it falls short, especially if you're serious about your game.
When you're out there hitting balls with your phone, the app only shows you a few data points at once. You might see your ball speed and carry distance, but what about your launch angle and spin rate? You'll need to switch screens to see those. Even if you upgrade to a tablet, you're still flipping between different layouts instead of seeing everything in one place—kind of like trying to watch multiple TV channels at once without picture-in-picture.
Now, if you're just starting out or playing for fun, this setup actually works in your favor. Fewer numbers mean less confusion, cleaner screens mean less stress, and you won't feel like you need a degree in data science just to understand your swing. But here's where it gets frustrating—if you're a coach trying to help multiple students, or if you're the type who loves diving deep into numbers, the app feels like it's holding you back.
The Compare and Insights features help a bit, but they don't give you the freedom to really dig into your raw data when you want it. Imagine trying to improve your swing, but after each shot, you can only see three or four of your ten available metrics. Want to see the rest? Time to tap through more screens. It gets old fast, trust me!
What really gets me is the irony here. The MLM2PRO captures some of the best data you can get for under $1,000—we're talking tour-level accuracy on many metrics. But then Rapsodo makes you work harder than necessary to actually see all that beautiful data at once. It's like having a sports car that only lets you use third gear most of the time.
Remember that video I made a couple months back? The one where I talked about how the MLM2PRO now measures your club path and angle of attack directly. That's pretty amazing for a launch monitor at this price—trust me, it's a big deal!
But here's the thing: to get those numbers reading correctly, you need to set up your MLM2PRO just right. And I mean *just right*.
Now, don't panic. Setting this thing up is actually easier than dealing with FlightScope launch monitors, which can be a real headache. But you still need to budget an extra 5 to 10 minutes before each practice session to dial everything in. Think of it like tuning a guitar—you want it perfect before you start playing.
Here's what really gets annoying though. When you're hitting little chip shots around the green, the MLM2PRO sometimes just... doesn't see them. You're trying to play a round on your simulator, you hit a nice little bump-and-run from 20 yards out, and nothing happens. The screen just sits there, waiting. Super frustrating! And once you actually get on the green? Forget about it—you'll need to use the auto-putt feature since it won't track your putting stroke at all.
The hitting zone is another thing to watch out for. Let me explain what I mean. The area where the MLM2PRO can actually detect your ball is smaller than what you get with some other launch monitors. When you're hitting off a mat in your garage, no problem—you just put the ball in the same spot every time. But take this thing outside on real grass, and it gets tricky fast.
Picture this: you're at the range, taking nice divots with your 7-iron. After about 10 shots, you've chewed up your hitting area pretty good. Now you need to move to fresh grass, which means picking up the MLM2PRO, repositioning it, making sure it's aligned properly, and checking that your new spot is in the detection zone. Do this every 10 to 15 balls, and it starts eating into your practice time.
None of these issues will ruin your experience—let's be clear about that. You'll figure out workarounds, and after a few sessions, setting it up becomes second nature. But if you're thinking about buying one, you deserve to know what you're getting into. These quirks won't break the deal, but they're definitely part of the package.
Experience top-tier golf analytics with Rapsodo MLM2PRO, dual cameras, Doppler radar, and precise shot feedback in a sleek, portable launch monitor.
Here's the thing about the MLM2PRO—it doesn't have any huge, obvious problems. Instead, you'll find a bunch of small quirks that might bug you, depending on how you plan to use it.
Let's start with the battery. You get about four hours of juice, which honestly works fine for most practice sessions. But if you're like me and sometimes forget to charge your gear, you might show up at the range with a dead unit. That's frustrating! And if you're playing indoors on a simulator, you'll basically need to keep this thing plugged in all the time. Nobody wants their launch monitor to die in the middle of a virtual round at Pebble Beach.
Now, about simulator play—this is where things get interesting. The MLM2PRO uses auto-putt, which means the software automatically finishes your putts for you. For plenty of golfers, that's totally fine. They just want to bang drivers and work on their iron game anyway. But if you're someone who wants the full experience, hitting every single shot, including putts, you'll need to look at other options.
There's a workaround, though. You can connect to GSPro, which does let you putt. The catch? That's another $250 per year for the software. So now you're adding to your costs, and it starts to feel less like a budget option.
Speaking of software, the Premium membership does give you access to Rapsodo Courses. Think of it like having pretty much every golf course in the world at your fingertips—but with a twist. These aren't those super-realistic, every-blade-of-grass-is-perfect renderings you might expect. They look more like a video game, kind of cartoonish. It's similar to what Garmin does with its Home Tee Hero feature. Some people love the simplicity, while others want that ultra-realistic experience you get with high-end simulators.
None of these issues will ruin your experience, but they do add up. When you're comparing the MLM2PRO to other launch monitors in this price range, you need to think about how much these little annoyances might bother you. Are you okay with charging it regularly? Can you live with auto-putt? Do cartoon-style courses work for you, or do you need photorealistic graphics? These aren't dealbreakers, but they're definitely things to consider before you pull the trigger.
Look, if spending extra money to unlock features drives you crazy, this isn't your system. Here's the thing—you basically need to buy the Premium membership to get the most out of it. That's just how it works!
If you're a golf coach or someone who uses launch monitors all day, the MLM2PRO probably won't cut it for you. Why? Well, you can't see enough data while you're actually swinging. You hit the ball, then you have to stop and check your phone for the numbers. That gets old fast when you're trying to help students or analyze your own swing in detail.
Got a problem with using special golf balls indoors? You've got two choices here. Either deal with it, or accept that you won't get any spin data with the MLM2PRO. Regular golf balls just won't give you those spin numbers—the system needs those special marked balls to track rotation.
Now, I've mentioned some other quirks and annoyances throughout this review. None of them are deal-breakers on their own. But here's what matters—you need to think about all these little things before you drop your money. They might not bug you at all, or they might drive you nuts every time you practice.
The bottom line? The MLM2PRO stands out as one of the best launch monitors you can get for under $1,000. That's impressive! But it's not perfect for everyone. The best launch monitor is the one you'll actually use, week after week, without getting frustrated or feeling like you're missing something. For some golfers, that means looking at other options besides the MLM2PRO.
Hey, let me know in the comments if you've used the Rapsodo MLM2PRO or any other affordable launch monitors. What's your experience been like? I really want to hear what you think!
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Thanks for watching, everyone. See you out on the course!