Introduction
Launch monitors are perceived as being only for professional golfers and tend to come with a hefty price tag. Many brands are now releasing more affordable options designed for golfers who want something smaller and portable that still give them enough information. This new Shot Scope launch monitor does exactly that. It’s small, compact build is designed to slip in a players bag and costing under £200 it seems like a great option. We got our hands on one to see how it performs in our Shot Scope LM1 launch monitor review…
Keywords
Lightweight, portable, carry case, compact, carry, ball speed
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NCG Summary
NCG Summary
Launch monitors can seem very technical to a lot of golfers, offering lots of information that they probably don’t need to know and won’t understand. The Shot Scope LM1 keeps it simple. Ball speed, carry distance, smash factor, club speed and total distance are the only numbers on offer – everything a golfer, who is looking to improve, needs.
The 3.5 inch colour display gives clear viewing of the data even on brighter days. The Shot Scope app can be paired to track shot history.
Overall, a great launch monitor for any player looking to improve their game.
PROS
- Lightweight design
- Sturdy carry case
- Clear display
- Easy to operate
CONS
- None
Key Facts
| Weight (g) | 300 |
| Length | 146.5mm |
| Width | 103.5mm |
| Height | 25mm |
| Charging | USB Type-C |
| Charging Time | Approx. 2 hours (Full Charge) |
| Usage Time | Approx. 5 Hours |
| Measuring Range | 20-320m (Carry) |
Key benefits and downsides
| Key benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Lightweight– Very lightweight, only 300g | Limited information – The price does reflect the amount of information you get. Only get ball speed, carry distance, smash factor and club speed. |
| Storage – Solid carry case to keep to protected | |
| Easy to operate – turn on and all the data you need is displayed on the screen | |
| Instant data – Don’t need to wait for the data to load it’s instant |
First Impressions
Taking the Shot Scope LM1 out of the box I was surprised how small the device actually was. It comes in a handy carry case that has a firm outer shell to keep the LM1 protected. There is also a loop to easily carry the case with.
Inside the device itself is very lightweight, weighing only 300g. It’s very simple with four buttons on the righthand side – a power button, an up and down arrows and a back button. Turning the LM1 on it was ready to go straight away. There is a small stand on the back to keep the device stable behind the ball.
How I undertook the review
I’ve used the Shot Scope LM1 over a number of weeks. In this time I’ve used it at the driving range with range balls and out on the golf course with premium balls. I’ve also had chance to compare it out with Trackman to see how the data compares.
What I found
First up, the LM1 was very simple. One button turned the device on and it was ready to go. The LM1 works best on a level surface with where you’re hitting the ball, roughly 4-5ft behind the strike location. There are three mode options when you first turn on the practice range, on course or speed training. The speed training option does require the device to be slightly further away, around 6-8ft.
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Shot Scope does have an app where you can store all of your data history. I really liked that you didn’t need the app with every session so if you wanted a quick range session you can just pop it down and you get all the information you need on the screen. It’s also very handy that the LM1 stores all your shot history so you can go back through whenever you need without needing the app. The screen has a 3.5inch colour display that is very clear even on a bright sunny day.
In terms of data this launch monitor is very basic. It doesn’t offer much in terms of club data but it does offer a lot of important information. I compared the data against a Trackman and as you can see from results below the LM1 is very impressive.
Trackman Comparisons
Carry distance is the number that stood out most, this seemed to have the least variation being within 6 yards every time. With that total distance was also very tight knit with the Trackman. Club speed was always in that 6 mph radius too. Ball speed on the other hand was a little tighter being more constantly within 3mph. The worst measurement the LM1 gave was the smash factor. While it was often close to the Trackman reading, differences did appear – in the final image, for example, Trackman recorded 1.49 compared to 1.60 on Shot Scope.
As a whole I have been really impressed with the data the LM1 provides compared to the Trackman especially give the extensive difference in price.
The charge time on the LM1 is around 2 hour for a full charge. This gives you around 5 hours of use. I’ve been using this before my rounds when I warm up and it hasn’t yet died so it’s doing pretty good on battery life.
NCG Final Say
Overall, for less than £200 this is a great launch monitor. Its compact size means that it’s very handy to slot in and out of your golf bag. The sturdy carry case helps to keep it protected and is great for travel.
The LM1 is very simple to use and is so quick to set up ready for a session on the range or to catch the odd shot on the course.
The data compared to a Trackman, which is widely considered one of the best launch monitors available, was very impressive, being very similar throughout the testing. If you’re looking to improve your game this is certainly a worthwhile investment.
How it compares to other launch monitors
In comparison to the Garmin R10, the device itself is bigger but the carry case is smaller. The Garmin R10 doesn’t have an on screen display so you need to load the app to get the data. Whereas the LM1 goes you on screen information so it’s much faster to set up – not to mention it is over half the price!
Price information
RRP: £199 / $199.99
Other product details
More information: Shot Scope UK / Shot Scope US
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