Set your Rapsodo MLM2 Pro about 2.0 to 2.6 metres (6.5 to 8.5 feet) directly behind the ball, with the line on top of the unit aimed at your target. Indoors, you then need at least 2.4 metres (8 feet) of ball flight in front of the ball, so plan on roughly 4.4 to 5 metres of total depth.
That is the short answer. The rest of this guide covers the bits that actually cause bad readings: getting the ball in the right zone for club data, levelling, alignment, light, and the balls you use. Get these right once and the MLM2 Pro just works. Get them wrong and you will spend an evening blaming your swing for what was really a wonky tripod. Dilly has been there.
The key setup numbers
All figures below come from Rapsodo's manual, FAQ and product pages, checked 27 September 2026.
| What | Rapsodo figure | In metres |
|---|---|---|
| Unit to ball | 6.5 to 8.5 ft | about 2.0 to 2.6 m |
| Ball position for club data | 7.5 ft (250 cm) | about 2.3 to 2.5 m |
| Ball flight needed, net mode | at least 8 ft | about 2.4 m |
| Ball flight needed, range mode | about 30 yards | about 27 m |
| Total indoor depth | a little over 14 ft | about 4.3 m minimum |
| Operating temperature | 5 to 50°C |
Rapsodo's club data guide gives the ball position as 7.5 feet or 250 cm, "about two paces". Those two figures are not quite the same (7.5 feet is about 229 cm), so treat it as a zone rather than a line you need a tape measure for. The app shows you when the ball is in the right spot.
Step by step: setting up the MLM2 Pro
1. Pick your spot and level it
Rapsodo's manual says to set the MLM2 Pro up on level ground. The unit has a built-in accelerometer and the app shows live tilt feedback, so you can get it into the green zone before you start. On an uneven range mat or a sloping backyard, Rapsodo suggests shims or a levelling stand rather than hoping for the best.
Rapsodo's tip is to start the session with the unit already on its tripod, so the app reads the tilt it will actually be working with.
2. Put it behind the ball, not beside it
The MLM2 Pro sits behind the ball on the target line, like a caddie reading a putt from behind. That matters for space: you need room behind you as well as in front. In a single garage the usual pinch point is the back wall, not the net.
Set your handedness in the app (Profile, then App Settings). The club data zones shift depending on which side of the ball you stand.
3. Place the ball in the right box
In the camera view, the app shows two boxes:
- The orange box captures club and ball data.
- The yellow box captures ball data only.
If you want club path and angle of attack, keep the ball in the orange box. If you only see ball numbers, the ball has probably drifted into the yellow zone.
4. Align to your target
Use the alignment aid on top of the unit first. Then, in the Shot Vision camera view, the app draws a target line that Rapsodo says matches a 0 degree launch direction. Line it up with the centre of your net, screen or range flag. If you bump the unit mid-session, use View Alignment in the app to reset it rather than guessing.
Poor alignment does not change your ball speed, but it does make launch direction, side and your shot map lie to you. If every shot shows a 3 degree push and you swear you hit it straight, check alignment before you change your grip.
5. Check your light and sight lines
The MLM2 Pro uses two cameras plus Doppler radar. Rapsodo's manual asks for a well-lit environment and no obstructions in front of the radar or cameras. Rapsodo does not publish a minimum light level, so we will not invent one. In practice, if an indoor setup misses shots, more even light on the hitting area is the first thing to try.
The unit is not water resistant, so keep it out of the rain and the sprinklers.
6. Use RPT balls if you want spin
Rapsodo says a Titleist or Callaway RPT ball is required to show spin rate and spin axis. Without one, spin is not shown at all. A sleeve of three comes in the box, and the other numbers work fine with normal balls. Measured spin is also listed as a Premium membership feature, which we cover in our MLM2 Pro subscription guide.
Indoor vs outdoor setup
Indoors (net or simulator). The ball only flies about 2.4 metres before it hits the net, so carry and total are modelled from the launch numbers rather than watched. That is normal for every launch monitor in a garage. It makes clean setup more important, because a small launch error grows once the maths flies the ball 140 metres.
Outdoors (range mode). Rapsodo's manual asks for about 30 yards (27 metres) of ball flight in range mode. Set up on the flattest bit of mat you can find. Harsh sun and shadows can affect camera readings just like dim light can, so if shots start dropping out as the light changes, re-check alignment and light first.
How much room do you need for an MLM2 Pro simulator?
Rapsodo publishes depth, not width or ceiling height. Here is how the depth adds up:
| Zone | Distance |
|---|---|
| Unit behind the ball | 2.0 to 2.6 m |
| Ball to net or screen | at least 2.4 m |
| Total | about 4.4 to 5.0 m |
For width and height there is no official Rapsodo number, so work from your own swing. Stand where the ball will be, make a slow full swing with a driver, and check nothing gets close to a wall, light or ceiling. A projector and screen add their own space needs, and your simulator software matters too (see our third-party apps guide).
Common setup problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No club data | Ball outside the orange box | Move the ball, check handedness |
| No spin numbers | Not an RPT ball, or no Premium | Use an RPT ball, check membership |
| Every shot pushes or pulls | Alignment off | Re-align using View Alignment |
| Missed shots indoors | Poor light or blocked view | More light, clear the sight line |
| Readings drift mid-session | Unit bumped or tilted | Re-level on the tripod, re-align |
Why a consistent setup matters for improving
Launch monitor numbers are only useful if you can trust them week to week. If the unit sits half a metre further back one session and tilted the next, you will chase changes that are really setup changes. Mark your spots with tape: where the ball goes, where the tripod goes, and your target line. Then every session starts the same, and the only variable is you.
We cover how close the MLM2 Pro gets to tour-grade units in Is the Rapsodo MLM2 Pro accurate?, and what every number on the screen means in launch monitor data explained.
How Pickle Shot helps
Pickle Shot is a golf improvement app built for Rapsodo owners first. It is pre-launch, with early access opening to people on the waitlist. Your MLM2 Pro tells you what you did. Pickle Shot will line those numbers up against what a golfer at your goal handicap typically hits, then tell you the one thing to fix next. A consistent setup is step one, because good targets need honest data. More on our Rapsodo page and in how it works.
Pickle Shot is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Rapsodo.
Set up once, then stop guessing. Join the Pickle Shot waitlist.
Questions
How far behind the ball should the Rapsodo MLM2 Pro be?
Rapsodo says approximately 6.5 to 8.5 feet (about 2.0 to 2.6 m) directly behind the ball, with the alignment line on top of the unit pointing at your target. For club data, Rapsodo's own guide puts the ball about 7.5 feet (roughly 2.3 m) from the unit.
How much room do I need to use the MLM2 Pro indoors?
Rapsodo quotes a little more than 14 feet (about 4.3 m) of total depth: at least 8 feet (2.4 m) of ball flight from the ball to the net or screen, plus the 6.5 to 8.5 feet behind the ball. Rapsodo does not publish an official room width or ceiling height, so allow comfortable swing room for your longest club.
Do I need special balls for the MLM2 Pro?
Only for spin. Rapsodo says a Titleist or Callaway RPT ball is required to show spin rate and spin axis. A sleeve of three comes in the box. The other numbers work with normal balls.
Does the MLM2 Pro need to be level?
Yes. Rapsodo's manual says to set it up on level ground, and the app shows live tilt feedback from the built-in accelerometer so you can get it into the green zone before you start.
Can I use the MLM2 Pro in a dim garage?
It uses cameras as well as radar, and Rapsodo's manual asks for a well-lit environment with nothing blocking the radar or cameras. Rapsodo does not publish a minimum light level, so if readings go missing, add light first.
Sources
- Rapsodo, MLM2PRO User Manual (PDF)
- Rapsodo, Golf FAQ
- Rapsodo Australia, MLM2PRO product page
- Rapsodo, Aligning and levelling your MLM2PRO for club data
- Rapsodo, MLM2PRO product page (US)
Pickle Shot is independent and not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Rapsodo or any launch monitor maker. Product details change, so check the maker's site before you buy.