FIRST LOOK: Rapsodo MLM2XPRO Adds Putting, Faster Performance & More

After nearly three years of waiting, Rapsodo finally has a new launch monitor—and it comes with several of the features MLM2PRO users have been asking for.

The Rapsodo MLM2XPRO is a new upgraded launch monitor that builds on the foundation of the popular MLM2PRO with faster processing, a quicker and easier setup process, new training tools and, perhaps most importantly, putting capability.

That last addition alone could be a big deal for golfers looking to use a Rapsodo launch monitor as the centerpiece of a home golf simulator.

But with the original MLM2PRO still available, how different is the MLM2XPRO really? And if you already own an MLM2PRO, is it worth upgrading?

Let’s take a closer look.

MLM2XPRO vs. MLM2PRO: What’s Actually Different?

At first glance, the MLM2XPRO and MLM2PRO look very similar. In fact, it’s difficult to think of the MLM2XPRO as a completely new launch monitor in the traditional sense.

A good way to think about the relationship between the two might be the difference between an iPhone and an iPhone Pro.

Both Rapsodo launch monitors share a similar form factor and use a combination of radar and high-speed cameras to capture ball and club data. But the MLM2XPRO has a little more going on under the hood, along with several hardware and software improvements that make the overall experience feel more refined.

And one of the first places you’ll notice that difference is speed.

Faster Shot Processing and Feedback

The MLM2XPRO delivers noticeably faster feedback after each shot.

There’s now little to no noticeable lag between hitting the golf ball and seeing the resulting shot data on screen. That might sound like a relatively small upgrade, but when you’re hitting a full range session or playing a simulated round of golf, those seconds add up.

The result is a smoother and more realistic experience.

That’s not to say the original MLM2PRO is slow. It’s still perfectly usable. But put the two side-by-side and the MLM2XPRO feels noticeably quicker.

A Much Easier Setup Process

Another significant improvement comes before you even hit your first shot.

Rapsodo has introduced a completely redesigned app experience alongside the MLM2XPRO, including a new setup and alignment process designed to get golfers playing faster while helping ensure the launch monitor is positioned correctly.

The hardware itself also gets a couple of useful upgrades.

The MLM2XPRO features a new display on top of the unit that can show whether the launch monitor is level. It’s paired with a new adjustable tripod, allowing you to quickly make small adjustments until everything is positioned properly.

Once you’re playing, that display continues to provide useful information including connection strength and remaining battery life.

None of these changes completely reinvent the launch monitor, but together they eliminate some of the friction involved in setting up a portable unit every time you want to practice or play.

Yes, the Rapsodo MLM2XPRO Can Read Putts

Now we get to what might be the biggest upgrade of all: putting.

Unlike the original MLM2PRO, the new MLM2XPRO is capable of reading putts.

That means when you’re playing virtual golf, you can finally play the ball all the way into the hole rather than reaching the green and relying on automatic putting.

For golfers building a home simulator, this is a substantial upgrade.

Putting has been one of the missing pieces preventing the MLM2PRO from delivering a truly complete simulator experience. Adding it to the MLM2XPRO makes the new unit much more compelling for golfers who want to play full virtual rounds rather than primarily using their launch monitor for practice.

A New Rapsodo Virtual Golf Experience

The timing of the putting update is particularly interesting because Rapsodo is also working on a broader overhaul of its virtual golf ecosystem.

The company has been developing a new PC-based golf simulator experience, while the new mobile app paired with the MLM2XPRO also receives an upgraded virtual golf mode.

The updated experience offers improved graphics and performance, along with the ability to take advantage of the MLM2XPRO’s faster processing and new putting capability.

Rapsodo’s virtual course library includes more than 30,000 golf courses and supports up to eight players, making the MLM2XPRO a much more complete option for golfers looking to build an affordable home simulator setup.

New Practice and Training Tools

Rapsodo hasn’t focused exclusively on simulation, either. The MLM2XPRO and its new app introduce several upgraded practice features.

Both the traditional driving range and target range experiences have been overhauled, with the faster processing of the MLM2XPRO helping shots appear almost immediately after impact.

There are also two particularly useful new training tools: Bag Mapping and the Wedge Matrix.

Bag Mapping

Bag Mapping is designed to help you determine how far you actually hit every club in your bag.

Rapsodo prompts you to hit five shots with each club and then uses that data to build a picture of your distances throughout the bag. The system is also designed to recognize and remove outliers, helping prevent one bad swing from skewing your numbers.

For golfers who have never gone through a proper gapping session, this could become one of the most practically useful features in the app.

Wedge Matrix

The new Wedge Matrix takes that same concept and applies it specifically to scoring clubs.

You can evaluate carry distances for full, three-quarter, half and quarter swings with each wedge in your bag. Rapsodo then generates a wedge matrix showing those distances.

Instead of guessing how far a half wedge flies, for example, you’ll have actual measured numbers you can reference on the course.

For players serious about improving from inside 100 yards, that’s an extremely useful practice tool.

How Much Does the Rapsodo MLM2XPRO Cost?

With all of these upgrades, it would have been easy to assume the MLM2XPRO would come with a substantially higher price tag.

Instead, Rapsodo has priced the MLM2XPRO at $899.99.

That’s only $200 more than the original MLM2PRO, and it puts the new launch monitor in an interesting position against competing products offering similar simulator-focused features.

At under $1,000, the combination of dual-camera technology, radar, indoor and outdoor use, virtual golf and putting capability makes the MLM2XPRO one of the more intriguing launch monitor options in this price range.

Don’t Forget About the Rapsodo Membership

There is one additional cost worth considering.

Access to some of Rapsodo’s premium features requires a Rapsodo Core membership, which costs an additional $199 per year.

The MLM2XPRO does include a 21-day free trial, giving new owners a chance to test the premium features before committing to the annual subscription.

Rapsodo also includes a dozen premium RPT golf balls in the box. As with the MLM2PRO, RPT balls are required for certain measurements, including spin data.

Where to Buy the Rapsodo MLM2XPRO

If you’re ready to pick up the new Rapsodo MLM2XPRO, we recommend checking it out at PlayBetter.com.

We’ve worked with PlayBetter for years and they’re one of our go-to retailers for launch monitors and golf simulator equipment. Be sure to use coupon code GOLFICITY at checkout to get the best available price on the MLM2XPRO.

→ Check the latest Rapsodo MLM2XPRO price at PlayBetter.com

Should MLM2PRO Owners Upgrade to the MLM2XPRO?

This might be the toughest question to answer.

Even though it’s now several years old, the original MLM2PRO remains an excellent launch monitor for its price. If you already own one and primarily use it for range practice, shot data and occasional simulator golf, there may not be an urgent reason to replace it.

Instead, the decision comes down to how much you value the MLM2XPRO’s biggest upgrades.

If faster processing, easier setup, the new training features and especially putting are important to you, the MLM2XPRO becomes considerably more compelling.

One thing we’d love to see Rapsodo eventually introduce is some type of trade-in or trade-up program for existing MLM2PRO owners. If owners could trade their current unit toward the MLM2XPRO, upgrading would become a much easier decision.

What If You’re Buying Your First Launch Monitor?

This is where the MLM2XPRO starts to become particularly interesting.

If you don’t currently own a launch monitor and have been waiting to see what the next generation of sub-$1,000 devices looks like, the MLM2XPRO deserves serious consideration.

It takes many of the things we already liked about the MLM2PRO—including its cameras, accuracy and ability to work both indoors and outdoors—and adds several meaningful upgrades without pushing the price beyond $1,000.

Most importantly, putting capability helps close one of the biggest gaps in the original MLM2PRO’s simulator experience.

That means the MLM2XPRO can now compete much more directly from a feature standpoint with newer launch monitors and simulator-focused devices while maintaining a relatively aggressive $899.99 price.

Rapsodo MLM2XPRO: First Impressions

Overall, the MLM2XPRO looks like a smart evolution of one of the most popular affordable launch monitors on the market.

Rapsodo could have simply discontinued the MLM2PRO, replaced it with a substantially more expensive model and forced buyers into the higher price point. Instead, golfers now have two options.

The original MLM2PRO remains the more affordable entry point, while the MLM2XPRO adds faster performance, easier setup, improved training tools and a more complete simulator experience for golfers willing to spend a little more.

Going back to that iPhone analogy, you can essentially choose between the standard model and the Pro depending on your budget and which features matter most to you.

At $899.99, the new Rapsodo MLM2XPRO packs a lot of technology into a launch monitor that still comes in comfortably below the $1,000 mark. We’ll be spending more time testing the MLM2XPRO, including its new putting functionality and virtual golf experience, to see how it performs over the long term.