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

Welcome to I Tried It, a GOLF.com series about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.

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The internet was set ablaze earlier this year when Shot Scope released its LM1 launch monitor for $199.

For the price of four cases of balls, the LM1 launch monitor couldn’t possibly be accurate enough to be a useful practice tool . . . could it?

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

In testing the new LM1 at a range, I’ve found not only are the distances accurate but there also are a few cool features that give you some value over much higher-priced launch monitors.

At the lowest price in the market, ShotScope has delivered a worthy product for any golfers who want to improve their games.

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Shot Scope LM1 Launch Monitor

The Shot Scope LM1 Launch Monitor is a compact training device designed for golfers who want reliable data without complexity. The LM1 delivers accurate, instant feedback on key metrics that are crucial to game improvement. This includes club speed, ball speed, smash factor, carry distance, and total distance. Test and measure how fast you are with the dedicated speed training mode, which works with clubs and speed sticks. Whether you’re working on speed training, dialling in distances on the range, or measuring shots on the course, the LM1 provides clear, easy-to-read data directly on the 3.5inch color screen that can be synced to the Shot Scope mobile app to view your session history. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the LM1 allows you to select any club in your bag directly on the device. This ensures all data is recorded for each club, making it easy to sync sessions and review performance history in detail.

What the LM1 can do

The LM1 offers you five data points: clubhead speed, ball speed, smash 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 actually hit the ball. They may know that they once reached 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 carry the ball and how far it goes overall.

The data is displayed on a 3.5″ display that I have no issues seeing in bright sunlight. This is a big differentiator between other low-cost launch monitors that require the use of a smartphone or tablet to get the data. You don’t need any device to use the LM1.

But if you choose to utilize the Shot Scope app, you can keep track of all the data from your sessions, creating average distances and ball speeds for each one of your clubs. Not only can that be useful to see how far you actually hit your clubs but to also view your gapping. That data can also be used for the Shot Scope app’s MyStrategy function to create game plans for any golf course.

I tested the accuracy by hitting wedge shots to a clear driving range and then using a range finder to shoot the landing site. While unscientific, I found the accuracy to be pretty spot on. I tested with wedges because I find that when speeds get lower, lower-priced launch monitors tend to get a little wacky. The LM1 stayed tight.

The small size and lightning-fast setup (it takes just seconds to turn on) also make the LM1 perfect to take on the course and get your yardages in real-world situations.

What the LM1 can’t do

With the ultra-low price point, the LM1 can’t do everything, nor would we expect it to.

The unit isn’t able to measure launch angle, spin or any directional data like dispersion or club path.

It’s also not a simulator. This is purely a launch monitor.

Bottom line

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

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

If you’re looking for the easiest launch monitor to operate and acquire, it’s hard to go wrong with the LM1.