What can a $199 launch monitor actually do? More than you might think

Welcome to I Tried, a GOLF.com series about golf articles – clothes, equipment, accessories, etc. — that we recently took out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest and simple opinions on the latest and greatest golf or golf related articles. So scroll down to read about what we love about the newest (or new to us) golf products.

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The internet lit up earlier this year when Shot Scope released its LM1 launch monitor for $199.

For the price of four boxes of balls, boot monitor LM1 may not be accurate enough to be a useful practical tool. . . can you

I’m here to tell you that I – gasp! – think you can!

While testing the new LM1 at a wide range, I found that not only are the distances accurate, but there are some interesting features that give you a value over much higher priced launch monitors.

At the lowest price on the market, ShotScope has provided a worthy product for any golfer looking to improve their game.

LM1 Firing Field Launch Monitor

The Shot Scope LM1 Launch Monitor is a compact training device designed for players who want reliable, uncomplicated data. LM1 provides accurate and immediate feedback on key metrics that are essential to game improvement. This includes club speed, ball speed, strike factor, carry distance and total distance. Test and measure how fast you are with the dedicated speed training mode, which works with sticks and speed sticks. Whether you’re working on speed drills, dialing in remote distances or measuring shots on the course, the LM1 provides clear, readable data directly on the 3.5-inch color screen that can be synced with the Shot Scope mobile app to view your session history. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the LM1 allows you to select every club in your bag right on the device. This ensures that all data is recorded for each club, making it easy to sync sessions and review performance history in detail.

What the LM1 can do

of level1 offers you five data points: ball speed, ball speed, strike factor, carry distance and total distance via radar.

If there’s one thing most pros universally agree on, it’s that amateurs don’t know how far they hit the ball. They may know that they once hit the front of a green 170 yards away with their 6-iron, so they think their 6-iron is their 170 club.

The LM1 provides honest feedback about how far you hit the ball and how far it travels overall.

Data is displayed on a 3.5-inch screen that I have no problem seeing in bright sunlight. This is a big difference from other low-cost launch monitors that require the use of a smartphone or tablet to get the data. You don’t need any equipment to use the LM1.

But if you choose to use the Shot Scope app, you can keep track of all the data from your sessions, creating average distances and ball speeds for each of your clubs. Not only can it be useful to see how far you actually hit your clubs, but also to also look at your gap. This data can also be used for the MyStrategy feature of the Shot Scope app to create game plans for each golf course.

I tested accuracy by hitting wedge shots at a clear heading distance and then using a range finder to shoot the landing spot. While unscientific, I found the accuracy to be quite accurate. I’ve been testing with wedges because I find that when the speeds drop, lowest priced launch monitors tend to get a little weird. LM1 stayed tight.

The small size and lightning-fast setup (takes just seconds to power up) also make the LM1 perfect for following the course and hitting your stride in real-world situations.

What the LM1 can’t do

At the extremely low price, the LM1 can’t do everythingwe wouldn’t even expect it.

The unit is unable to measure pitch angle, roll or any steering data such as distribution or club path.

It is also not a simulator. This is just a release monitor.

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The LM1 is a launch monitor that isn’t trying to be anything more than what it is: an affordable launch monitor that can deliver valuable practical data.

At a cheaper price than most charms, it offers limited intelligence, but it does it better than many other models in the price category, both more accurately and more easily.

If you are looking for the easiest launch monitor to operate and buy, it is hard to go wrong with the LM1.