Original SkyTrak vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO: Home Setup Tradeoffs
The original SkyTrak and the Rapsodo MLM2PRO now cost about the same new, which puts a camera unit that sits beside the ball against a radar and camera unit that sits behind it. That placement difference shapes the room more than any spec on the box. The software plans that follow each device shape the budget.
Research disclosure: We compared these devices using SkyTrak and Rapsodo documentation checked October 9, 2026. We have not hit balls with either one. Prices below are from each company’s US store at the time of writing and include sale pricing that may end.
Verdict up front
The original SkyTrak fits a narrow-but-deep room where you would rather not leave a device eight feet behind you, and suits golfers who want to play SkyTrak’s own software. The MLM2PRO fits golfers who want swing video, Android support and the option to take it to the range, and who accept special balls for spin. Before choosing the SkyTrak, confirm that SkyTrak still supports the original unit in the current app, because it is the oldest hardware in this comparison.
Price and plans at a glance
| Item | Original SkyTrak | Rapsodo MLM2PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Device price | About $695 new on SkyTrak’s store (listed against $1,995); certified pre-owned about $495 | About $599.99 on Rapsodo’s store (listed against $699.99) |
| Tracking | Photometric camera | Doppler radar plus two optical cameras |
| Where it sits | Beside the ball, about 11.5 to 12.5 inches away per SkyTrak’s user guide | 6.5 to 8.5 feet directly behind the ball |
| Connection | Built-in WiFi hotspot | Apple or Android phone or tablet |
| Spin | Listed among its core metrics | Requires Rapsodo RPT balls |
| Included software time | 14-day trial membership | Premium trial (21 days on the product page, 45 days in Rapsodo’s FAQ) |
| Annual software | Essential $99.99, Core $299.99 or $349.99, Elite $599.99 per year | Premium $199.99 per year; two years $329.99; a limited lifetime offer at $599.99 |
Sources: SkyTrak launch monitor page, SkyTrak membership plans, SkyTrak user guide (PDF), MLM2PRO product page and MLM2PRO Premium membership page. Rapsodo’s lifetime offer was marked as ending October 14.
Two different room shapes
The SkyTrak is placed next to the ball, with the ball set on a red laser dot that marks the hitting spot. Nothing sits behind you. SkyTrak’s planning page recommends at least 8.5 feet wide, 15 feet deep and 8 feet high for a simulator room, with 17 feet of depth for a comfortable setup.
The MLM2PRO goes behind the ball. Rapsodo’s FAQ says you need a little more than 14 feet in total indoors: 8 feet from ball to net plus 6.5 to 8.5 feet from ball to device. Rapsodo adds that taller players may need to move the device further back so the camera captures the whole swing.
On paper the depths are close. In practice the question is what else lives in that space. A device behind the golfer has to stay out of the backswing and out of foot traffic. A device beside the ball has to be protected from a shank and kept level with the hitting surface. Draw both on your floor plan before deciding. The home simulator setup guide has a checklist.
Spin and the ball you use
Rapsodo is direct about this: golf balls with RPT are required to show spin numbers on the MLM2PRO. You get a free sleeve with purchase, and Rapsodo listed a dozen RPT Pro V1 balls at $69.99 at the time of writing. With ordinary balls, you lose the spin fields.
The SkyTrak is a camera system that reads the ball itself, and SkyTrak lists spin rate among the instant feedback the device provides. There is no special ball requirement in its product description. That is a practical advantage for a garage where balls wear out.
Club data
The original SkyTrak is a ball-data device. Its product description talks about shot shape, launch angle and spin rate, and SkyTrak added radar for club data in its later models. If club path or angle of attack are part of your practice, the original unit is the wrong tool.
Rapsodo lists 15 metrics for the MLM2PRO, 8 of them measured, and names spin rate, spin axis, angle of attack and club path among them. Several of those depend on Premium and on correct setup. Rapsodo publishes a separate alignment and leveling guide for club data, which is worth reading before you judge the numbers.
Software is the long-term cost
Both devices need a paid plan for the full experience, so compare two or three years rather than the checkout total.
SkyTrak’s membership page listed four annual plans in October 2026: Essential at $99.99, Core with Foresight courses at $299.99, Core with Trackman courses at $349.99 and Elite at $599.99. The device includes a 14-day trial. Course play starts at the Core level.
Rapsodo’s Premium membership was $199.99 per year, with a two-year plan at $329.99 and a lifetime option at $599.99 offered for a limited time. Premium covers the advanced spin, club data and simulation features Rapsodo advertises.
A rough two-year comparison using those list prices, for course play: the SkyTrak at $695 plus two years of Core FS ($599.98) comes to about $1,295. The MLM2PRO at $599.99 plus the two-year Premium plan ($329.99) comes to about $930, before RPT balls. Prices change often, so redo this sum on the day you buy. Our MLM2PRO cost analysis goes further on Rapsodo’s side.
Video and portability
The MLM2PRO records swing video through its cameras, with Shot Vision and Impact Vision replays listed on Rapsodo’s page, and works indoors and outdoors with Apple and Android devices. It is easy to take to a range.
The SkyTrak connects through its own WiFi hotspot to your device. It does not advertise swing video. Our reading of the documentation is that it suits a fixed indoor bay best.
Buying older hardware
The original SkyTrak has been replaced by the ST+ and ST MAX, which add radar for club data. SkyTrak still sells the original new at a deep discount and certified pre-owned. That can be good value, but check two things first: which app and membership features the original unit supports today, and the warranty on the unit you are buying. Our original SkyTrak review covers what the documentation says about its data.
Rapsodo has also introduced a newer MLM2XPRO, so the MLM2PRO is no longer its newest model. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is worth checking what the newer model changes before you buy.
Original explainer by Launch Monitor Pro. You may reuse this graphic with visible credit and a link to the source article. This is a planning aid, not product test data.
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Who should choose which
- Original SkyTrak: a dedicated indoor bay, a preference for any ball, no device behind the golfer, and SkyTrak or Foresight course play.
- MLM2PRO: range and home use, swing video, Android support and a lower two-year cost at current prices, with RPT balls for spin.
- Look up a tier: if club data matters, compare the SkyTrak+ and the Garmin R10 vs MLM2PRO comparison.
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