Rapsodo MLM2PRO Space Requirements – How Much Space Do You Need? [Home Golf Simulator Guide – Full Indoor/Outdoor Specs]

Of all the product classes in golf technology, we’ve probably tested golf launch monitors under $1,000 the most extensively. That market has exploded in the last three years. And from the products that have cropped up in that class, our bar-none favorite is the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.

The launch monitor data and golf simulator capability that you can get for $699.99 will blow your mind, meaning the MLM2PRO makes for a great anchor piece to an indoor golf simulator studio.

But there’s one issue.

It’s got to be kind of a large golf simulator studio.

Because that’s the thing about the Rapsodo MLM2PRO and other Doppler-radar-based units that record data from behind the golf ball. They’re kind of space hogs.

But if you do have the room, you really can’t get more for the money.

So that’s the conundrum.

Let’s walk you through exactly how much space you’ll need to comfortably use a Rapsodo MLM2PRO indoors. If you have the room, and if this is the right price point for your budget, it should be all systems go. The MLM2PRO gets our highest recommendation.

But if you don’t have a large enough space, which we’ll help you figure out in just a minute, don’t fret. There are other options. Read on.

How Much Indoor Space Do You Need for a Rapsodo MLM2PRO Golf Simulator?

The Rapsodo MLM2PRO needs to sit between 6.5 and 8.5 feet behind the golf ball in order to accurately read your shots. And we recommend that you use the full 8.5 feet behind the ball if that’s an option.

Even though the Rapsodo does have two built-in cameras, it is capturing most of its data via radar, which means it’s actually tracking the ball’s flight for several revolutions after you’ve hit it. That means that not only do you need that 6.5 to 8.5 feet behind the ball, but you need at minimum another 8 feet in front of the ball for it to accurately read spin and shot shape. And to really ensure accurate readings, we recommend 13 feet between the ball and your impact screen or hitting net.

That brings our room-size recommendations for comfortably using a Rapsodo MLM2PRO indoors to:

• 10 feet wide
• 21.5 feet deep
• 9 feet tall

You can get away with as little as 14.5 feet of room depth if you set the MLM2PRO the minimum-required 6.5 feet behind the ball and only have 8 feet between your ball and hitting mat or net. But, again, operating with this minimum depth has the potential to compromise accuracy. And 14.5 feet is still a lot of room depth.

Room width and height recommendations for the Rapsodo are fairly standard. You really just need enough width and height to be able to swing your longest golf club without touching the walls or ceilings. If you're a shorter golfer with a shorter swing, you might be able to get away with less width and height. But don’t forget about all the friends who are probably going to want to hang out in your golf simulator studio.

Speaking of having friends over, using a golf launch monitor that sits behind the golf ball gives you one very nice benefit. Let’s take a look.

Radar vs Camera: Which Type of Golf Launch Monitor Is Best for an Indoor Simulator Studio?

One significant advantage of camera-based, or photometric, golf launch monitors like the SkyTrak+, Bushnell Launch Pro, and Foresight Sports GC3 is that, because they record data from the side of the golf ball rather than from behind, they require considerably less room depth.

This advantage is even more pronounced considering camera launch monitors need less space in front of the golf ball to accurately track the golf ball post-impact. This means setting up an indoor golf simulator studio with a device like the Bushnell Launch Pro requires less distance between the ball and net or screen compared to a radar-based unit like the Rapsodo MLM2PRO.

But if you’ve got the room and if you plan to play simulator golf with both right-handed and left-handed people at the same time, something like the MLM2PRO is the way to go.

Imagine hosting a round of sim golf if you’re a righty but one of your visiting friends is a lefty. If you had, say, a SkyTrak Plus, you’d literally have to move and realign the golf launch monitor every time you switched who was hitting. Talk about a pain! In fact, it’s downright unrealistic. Nobody is going to go through that back-and-forth when you’re trying to have a good time.

But with a Rapsodo, or the FlightScope Mevo+, Garmin Approach R10, or Swing Caddie SC4, you would never have to worry about that. You could host as many righty or lefty golfers as you wanted with no issue or delays to your rounds of golf.

So, if you’re going to play with both righties and lefties and you’ve got a big enough room, doesn’t it make a lot of sense to consider a radar golf launch monitor?

If, on the other hand, your biggest challenge is room space, then a camera-based system is likely your best choice. The great news is you’ve got choices.

Is the Rapsodo MLM2PRO a Good Indoor Golf Simulator Option?

The MLM2PRO is far more than a good golf simulator option. It’s an absolutely awesome one!

It’s incredibly accurate and delivers more data metrics than any golf launch monitor costing less than $1,000. It’s got two built-in cameras that allow you to review your full swing and impact after each shot. The Rapsodo software is really easy and fun to use, and the company continues to make the whole user experience better.

One thing to note is that the MLM2PRO does not read putts, but neither do most golf launch monitors near this price point. And, honestly, a lot of sim golfers prefer to auto putt anyway, finding the putting experience to be the least accurate part of indoor golf.

You will need an MLM2PRO Premium Membership, which is $199 per year after a free first year, in order to use this launch monitor as a simulator. That subscription gives you compatibility with E6 Connect and Awesome Golf, and you get more than 30,000 Rapsodo Courses, which are more of an animated, cartoon-style version of simulated golf. It’s not as realistic as what you’ll unlock through E6 Connect or Awesome Golf, but playing the Rapsodo Courses, which probably includes your home track, is actually a blast.

If you’re trying to build an indoor golf simulator studio and have a launch monitor budget that tops out at $1,000, the Rapsodo MLM2PRO is the way to go. And go ahead and double down on that point if you also plan to play simulator golf with both righties and lefties.

So, get out the tape measurer and see if you’ve got enough space.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.