MEMBER REVIEWS: L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter Testing | See What Members Are Saying!

[GolfWRX_Official]

We have 10 GolfWRX members testing the brand new L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter. The members below will participate in a remote fitting with one of L.A.B.'s fitting experts to ensure they have the appropriate specs before receiving their custom DF3 Putter. The members below will report back to the community about the things they noticed while testing this product. Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have, as the testers will be happy to answer them!

 

The testers are:

 

• @snipzky9
• @PINSEEKER72
• @benrd5420
• @ccape0328
• @jasman29
• @Drrussell
• @rooski
• @molecularman
• @coreyhr
• @Hunteruu
• @SEP1006

 

About the L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter

Like L.A.B. Golf’s larger DF 2.1 putter, DF3 is “fully automatic.” That means golfers will get the full experience of DF3 wanting to guide itself on the correct path on the way back and through. This is possible thanks to L.A.B. Golf’s patented Lie Angle Balance technology. The technology creates true zero-torque putters that stay square by themselves. Golfers can trust that L.A.B. Golf putters will return to square without any need for manipulation.

 

Learn more about the L.A.B. Golf DF3 Putter here.

 

Special thank you to @labgolffor putting on this member testing event. 

[golfinbrad]

Congrats!!!!  Can't wait to hear that results.

[coreyhr]

Thank you @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for this incredible opportunity. 

 

 

About Me

 

I’m 38 years old and I’ve been playing golf since the age of 10. My GHIN handicap hovers in the +2 to +4 range, depending on what time of year it is. I’m a golf nut and total gear junkie who pretty much always has 8-10 putters sitting around. The majority of my rounds are played at my home course which is a traditional, old style, tree lined country club layout with mature bent greens. While not overly quick (usually in the 10-11.5 range on the stimp), they roll very true. Putting is the one thing I feel like has always held me back. I’ve won a few amateur tournaments over the years, but not near the amount I feel like I should have. Ball striking and accuracy with my irons has always been my biggest strength, averaging around 14 GIR per round. This leads to a lot of 2 putt pars and creates frustration when I don’t see anything go in. This then can spill over in to the rest of my game. If I know I’m not likely to make the putt, my brain subconsciously says “what’s the point in hitting this fairway, or this green?” I play my best golf when I’m literally excited to get to the green and putt. That feeling has been few and far between for me over the last 4-5 years. My biggest issue currently is inability to consistently hit my start line, especially when it’s a pressure packed putt. I’ve been on a Quintic machine before and it revealed that I had excessive face rotation in my stroke. I’m hoping a LAB putter will help with eliminating that feeling of having to time the rotation up at impact. I have had experience with LAB putters in the past, in the form of a Broomstick DF 2.1 (with steel shaft) as well as an Armlock DF 2.1 (with LA Golf 135 shaft). So I should be able to provide a good comparison between it and the DF3. My current putter in the bag is a Jailbird 380 with the micro hinge insert, playing at 37.5”.

 

Remote Fitting

 

This process couldn't have been easier for sending in my fitting video. I used a phone tripod and set it up straight down the line, 2 feet off the ground. Calvin at LAB was able to check my eye position from the video along with proper length and lie angle. He said my eyes were perfectly over the ball, therefore the 37.5" length I'm currently using was my best bet. He determined that a 69* lie angle would work best for me, this is slightly flatter than what I'm currently using. The follow up call with Calvin about these details was a great experience. He was extremely courteous and gave detailed answers to all my questions. I was unsure of what head weight I wanted and explained to me that most players sense that the LAB putters feel lighter in the head due to not having any torque. Due to that fact, we both agreed to go with the "Heavy" head weight option on my build. He also described to me the different feel throughout the various shaft options. Because of the heavier head weight, and the longer shaft length, the stability of the TPT shaft made the most sense. Calvin also explained that the TPT shaft provides more feedback with different strikes, with the Accra shaft being a softer feeling at impact. Finally, we discussed color, alignment options and grip. I already had my mind made up on black with the small "T" alignment. I also was leaning toward the Garsen 17" grip as I don't enjoy the diameter of the Superstroke. He confirmed that the Garsen would have more of a pistol feel, and we were all set.  

 

My LAB DF 3 Specs

 

Color: Black

Alignment: "C" (Small T Alignment)

Length: 37.5" Counterbalanced

Lie: 69*

Shaft: LAB Golf x TPT 

Grip: Garsen Quad Tour 17"

Head Weight: Heavy (Calvin said this would put the head in the 390g range) I highly recommend going with heavy, especially in counterbalance model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks

 

It’s no secret that the DF 2.1 wasn’t exactly going to be winning any beauty contests. The DF 3 probably isn’t either. While it is certainly smaller than the DF 2.1, my playing competitors all commented on how weird it looked. I personally don’t have a problem with the new size and I happen to love the shape as it’s incredibly easy to align this putter behind the ball. The finish on the DF 3 is high quality and appears like it will hold up very well in the long run. The white “T” alignment aid that I went with has a very nice contrast to the black head and gives me tons of confidence when I sit it down behind the ball. There’s also very little manipulation required to get the putter to sit square to the target. Having the counterbalance version, there’s not the same amount of forward press that’s found with the standard-length versions. So, there was very little adjustment period going from my Jailbird 380 to the DF 3. When ordering the counterbalance model, you have the choice between the Garsen Quad Tour 17” or the Superstroke 3.0 17” grips. I’ve never personally been a fan of the diameter of the 3.0 Superstroke grips. I also don’t love the material in which they’re made of. The Garsen has a nice pistol feel to it with a premium feel to go with it. It is black and white in color and looks awesome when paired with the black/white of the TPT shaft and the black head. I’m very pleased that I went with the black head. With the reduced size of the DF 3, you shouldn’t be concerned at all about the looks or footprint. The adjustment period will be minor at worst.

 

 

Sound and Feel

 

Other than shrinking the size of the DF 2.1, this to me is where LAB made the biggest improvement with the DF 3. As you can hear in my videos, my DF 2.1 made a higher pitched sound at impact and the feel to me wasn’t anything to write home about. That is not the case at all with the DF 3. It produces a much duller sound at impact that’s very pleasing to the ears. I love everything about the muted sound and solid feel this thing produces. The same playing partners that commented on the unflattering looks of the DF 3, have also repeatedly talked about how good this thing sounds on the green. I’ve owned countless milled putters over the years, both OTR and boutique/custom, and I don’t hesitate for a second to claim that this putter feels every bit as satisfying off the face. Everything about the strike feels premium. Now whether that is the head, TPT shaft, heavier head weight or all of the above that’s to thank for the feel is something I can’t really speak to. I just know that if you go with this setup that I have, you’ll be extremely happy with how it sounds and feels. I’ve documented in other LAB threads that I just didn’t like the sound of the Mezz or DF 2.1, that’s something I no longer have to declare. They’ve perfected the sound and feel with this model.

 

 

DF 2.1 Sound

 

 

 

 

 

DF 3 Sound

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance

 

 

In addition to a few hours of indoor putting mat practice, I’ve now got a couple hours of putting green practice and 27 holes of golf with the DF 3. While not enough to formulate a definitive opinion of the DF 3, I’ve learned quite a lot about it and am becoming increasingly confident in the help it can provide me. For starters, I’m a big fan of how the putter looks behind the ball and how easy it is for me to align it to my target. As mentioned in my opening paragraph, alignment and start lines is by far the weakest part of my putting. This putter appears to be already assisting me with both of those issues. I'm also very impressed with the forgiveness of the putter, you can strike this thing pretty much anywhere on the face and see very similar results. I will say however, that I found myself hitting this thing out of the middle on a repeated basis. I love the TPT paired with the heavy head of the counterbalance model. It's just so easy to make the same stroke time and again. The TPT shaft also seems to really take out any vibration on longer lag putts, which I love. I've had other counterbalance putters that on those longer 50' or so lag putts you could really feel the vibration of the head at impact due to the speed at which the putt had to be struck. That's not the case with the TPT and DF 3. Even when you get out to those longer distances and start making lengthier strokes, it feels just as solid as it does at 5 feet. It's obviously debatable whether or not a $400 putter shaft is worth it. I don't think I can answer that, as everyone has different priorities and budgets. I've never bought in to the importance of a putter shaft. But what I can say, is that something does feel more stable and consistent with this TPT shaft. If there was an instance where I would be more inclined to say that the expense is worth it, it would be in a counterbalanced set up with a heavier head such as this. I can't say with certainty that a steel shaft at the longer length and heavy head would have more vibration and deflection on longer putts, but I'm inclined to think that the difference would be noticeable. It took me a while to get my speed dialed in with the DF 3, but that issue seems to be a thing of the past now. I’ve been making all of those slick 5 footers that require you to start the ball outside the hole due to significant break. In my first 27 holes, I’ve been scaring the hole and burning edges of more 30 footers that I can remember in recent memory. My plan is to refrain from making even as much as a practice stroke with any other putter for at least the next month or so. Completely freeing my muscle memory and brain of the feeling of a “conventional” putter with torque. I think doing this will only continue to improve the results I see with the DF 3. The lack of torque and excessive face rotation in my takeaway seems to be something I had no clue that I needed. I’m no longer having to try and time the face rotation at impact and thus seeing much more consistent start lines. This is the feeling that I’ve been searching for when trying the Mezz and DF 2.1 in the past. Now I’m able to achieve that with a putter that sounds and feels much better in my opinion.

 

 

Summary

 

 

This putter isn't going to magically turn a poor putter in to Brad Faxon on the greens. But what I can say with confidence is that removing the excessive face rotation from the putter makes creating a repeatable, consistent stroke infinitely easier to obtain. If you've been wanting to try a LAB putter, this is the one truly worth taking the dive on in my opinion. Having never been completely blown away with the Mezz or DF 2.1, this putter has really changed my opinion. I've always been really intrigued by the technology, and completely buy in to the concept, but I've never been able to get past what I perceived to be less than stellar looks, sound and feel. LAB, in my opinion, has address and improved on all of those things. While this putter still looks far from conventional, it did not take long to get comfortable with the look or footprint. It's not overly obnoxious in size and sets up so well behind the ball. If you're a counterbalance user like myself, my one piece of advice would be to opt for the "Heavy" head option when ordering. The lack of torque creates a lighter feeling club head and the heavier head option helps offset that. This set up I have feels so well balanced that it significantly removes all thought from my mind when making a stroke. It almost feels like autopilot. Very rarely do I make a stroke now that feels "off" or "foreign" feeling to the previous one. They all feel the same. That in itself has me excited to see how this putter might help me on the greens throughout the start of this golf season. 

Edited March 27 by coreyhr

[eric61]

Congratulations to all the testers! This is one I'll be watching closely. 

[ChrisATL]

Congrats to all the testers! Will be watching this thread intently!

[rooski]

First off I'd like to start by thanking @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for this truly amazing opportunity.

 

I feel extremely blessed that I was chosen to test this putter, and I am excited to give the best, most honest review I can of the L.A.B DF3.

 

It is especially exciting knowing that a putter built in Oregon will be in my bag for testing, considering I've lived here most of my life, and am only a relatively short drive away from the L.A.B Golf HQ. I have to imagine the blades of grass on the green will understand how cool it is to have something locally built making putts on them.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

I'm currently a +0.7 HDCP who has generally been quite a good putter, if but a bit inconsistent and streaky at times. Many times putting is the only thing keeping my round within the realm of decency, however there are certainly rounds that are quite the opposite.

 

A few months back I played in a tournament and shot a 76 with 40 putts and not a single 1 putt all day. You can imagine the strokes gained on that. If using the L.A.B DF3 improves days like that even 10%, I think we will seriously be onto something. (Sam and the crew may regret sending me this putter when I'm using it against them at the Tokatee Oregon Amateur qualifier this year). Even just yesterday, I played 9 holes and shot -1 with two three putts.

My previous experience with L.A.B putters is extremely limited. A PGA buddy of mine who is a seriously good golfer uses a MEZZ Broomstick and I have messed around with that on the practice green a few times -- the problem being he is left handed and I've never used a broomstick :)

 

Even with those admittedly giant caveats, it was abundantly clear that there is something to the putters. My way to describe it was that the putter just "floats" for you. It doesn't fight you at all. I cannot wait to test it out on the correct side of the ball. 

For comparison, I am currently using a Viktor Hovland inspired PING DS72 counterbalanced at 37.5". I have been using this putter for roughly 6-7 months and thoroughly enough counterbalanced weighting.

While I never had or used the word "torque" to describe it before L.A.B Golf came onto the scene, since my youth I have always had similar thoughts to L.A.B and Sam Hahn that the torque on putters was extremely noticeable, and in my mind the best putter fit happened to be whatever "torque" profile serendipitously worked best for your stroke. Even more so lately after being selected for this opportunity, the feeling of torque is the only thing I can think about on short putts. This is probably just in my head now, but wow it's noticeable.

 

That being said, I have a strong belief that their 0-torque putters are a serious advancement in golf technology -- the complete opposite of snake oil. 

I recognize that belief is a bias in my testing, but I don't find that confidence to be a negative thing. Primarily because I think many golfers here on GolfWRX as well as everybody I have talked to about them in person often feel similarly that there is REALLY something to the 0-torque design, they just haven't taken the plunge for one reason or another.

 

I hope that my review will function as a well written, deeply thought through example of somebody in a similar headspace as many of us experiencing 0-torque for the first time.

THE REMOTE FITTING EXPERIENCE

 

I just finished my remote fitting with Calvin from L.A.B. and the experience was easy. I won't go through the details of what the remote fitting entails as it's all detailed here on their page. 

 

I currently putt with a counterbalanced putter and love it, so after a discussion with Calvin on the phone about the specs and options we are working with, we decided to build out the L.A.B DF3 counterbalanced at 38" and 69* of lie.

 

One really cool thing about the remote fitting is that they come up with your lie angle without any knowledge of the current lie angle of your putter. I was fit to 69* degrees of lie, which is definitely flatter than what I've played before but seems to be correct when looking at my address position. I trust this number because Calvin had no idea of the lie angle I was currently using, and their system bases your fit on the geometry of a 90* angle behind you and not just a random "ehh looks a little upright if he's currently playing 70* lets just go a little flatter" type of thought process.

 

THE BUILD

 

Putting Style: Counterbalanced

Putter Color: Green

Shaft Selection: L.A.B Golf x TPT (the ability to upgrade to the TPT shaft was a late addition from L.A.B, and is just another cherry on top of the already amazing cake we've been lucky enough to have!)

Shaft Length: 38"

Lie Angle: 69*

Grip: Superstroke 3.0 17"

Alignment Mark: G, which is a single straight line across the putter (pictured below)

Head Weight: Standard (should be in the 375-380g range for a counterbalanced putter)

 

 

On the online builder, the green appears a bit lighter than it does in person from what I've seen, so it should be a bit more of a striking emerald which is a perfect color.

 

First Impressions

 

 

The putter just arrived today, roughly 22 hours after being shipped (thanks for being in Oregon @labgolf). Spent 20 or so minutes on the carpet with it along with a 4 foot steel ruler to test it out and compare to my PING DS72, and first impressions are excellent. Headcover is super-premium, at least as nice as all of my SWAG headcovers on my other clubs.

 

I don't think my adjustment period to the center shafted and onset face will be especially long as I already play the ball up near my front foot while putting and that is often recommend for those new to L.A.B putters. There's no doubt when initially testing that soft hands seem to be a key, you gotta let this putter do it's thing (or rather just stay square by itself). 

 

As I mentioned earlier in my review, I feel quite sensitive to the feeling of "torque" in a putter, and there's no doubt that this putter feels extremely free'ing. You can objectively tell that the clubhead just doesn't move -- I can't wait to get on actual putting greens and feel what this means. 

 

This is especially obvious when putting with just the trail hand on the putter (a drill recommended by L.A.B), compared to doing the same with a standard putter. I have absolutely no chance keeping the putter head square with my existing setup, however in comparison I feel like I could putt an entire round like that with the DF3. I was aiming at the corner of a door from 20 feet away on carpet and hit it 3 times in a row right-handed with the L.A.B

 

Sound and feel is much better than I was anticipating. I need to get it outside to give a full opinion here, but it feels quite close to all of the standard milled steel PING, Scotty, Toulon putters I've played before. Nice and soft while still containing as much feedback as you could want. (A lot of this could come down to the TPT shaft which is well known for it's feedback over everything else)

 

Pretty wild stuff! Can't wait to get out to the course today and play around on the putting green and walk 9.

 

 

First Practice + 9 Holes

 

 

 

 

Positives

 

This may be the most humbling putter I've ever used, let me explain why..

 

Spent 20 minutes on the putting green then went and walked 9 to put the DF3 through the paces.

 

After a brief period of adjustment finding the correct ball position and where I wanted my hands on the grip, this putter even so far has likely been the most accurate putter I've ever had at honestly hitting the line I am intending to hit (I have realized I was probably lying a bit to myself before). Every putt I hit all day started exactly where I wanted it to.

 

This of course was quite humbling, because I realized that the putter was doing everything it was supposed to, and the only issue was with the large hunk of meat between my ears. I had two 1-putts, and the rest 2-putts, which I am extremely pleased with given my general focus and lack of ability to read greens today, especially considering how large the greens are at this course.

 

Another thing I was shocked with considering how new this putter was to me was how good my speed control was. From every length I putted at today, including some test putts up to 60 feet, my speed control was basically perfect all day. Something about not having to adjust the hands to counteract the face really worked well for me. We will see if this pattern continues on different greens -- especially ones I am more familiar with.

 

Negatives

 

My only negative so far is that there is definitely an adjustment period to learning how to aim the putter with the onset and center shaft. I was having to stand over putts for a lot longer than I like making sure I was pointing where I thought I was.

 

I go back and forth between using a line on the ball and not, however I think for the next set of testing I do I will draw some lines on the golf balls and use those so I can start to get a subconscious understanding of aim. This will also have the nice side effect of watching the ball roll really nicely end over end as I know it will be with how good those putts looked on the course.

 

Takeaways

 

The key takeaway for me today, which is likely useful to others who are getting a DF3 or other L.A.B putter for the first time: I had to put the ball more forward in my stance than I was anticipating. Once I figured that out it started to feel like a magic wand. I already played the ball a decent amount forward, but the trick for me today was nearly feeling like I was setting up with a driver for ball position.

 

I'm very excited to see how this continues now that the putter and I are starting to build a relationship. Here's a short video of a 2-putt from about 40 feet. Couldn't believe how good my speed control was today. 

 

  

The Next Excursion

 

For the first time in many months had a nice dedicated few hours of practice today, at least half of which was exclusively putting with the L.A.B DF3 on some really nice, large greens. 

 

Earlier I mentioned I thought that using the line on the ball would be a good matchup with the DF3 and the alignment aid I chose, and I think I was correct. I practiced exclusively with a line on the ball today and I think I will continue to do that for the foreseeable future with this putter. I hit at least 100 putts and I think only a few weren't rolling end over end, probably a record for me.

 

Definitely learned a few new things about the DF3 today though.

 

1.) You really need to let gravity and tempo do the work with this putter. If you're hitting a really long putt you can run into issues if you try to force it by creating speed aggressively in transition. It really seems to me that everything is determined by the length of backstroke and letting nature run it's course. This is an awesome way to putt though, and with the putter not trying to rotate on it's own this style is putting is SO MUCH easier than it has been before.

 

2.) The DF3 face feels and sounds awesome, it is a really solid milled feeling with nice deep grooves, overall I almost don't notice a difference between PING's deep AMP milling and the L.A.B, which has made the transition really seamless.

 

3.) The L.A.B however seems a lot less hot off the face than other putters I've played before, which I've personally found to be a positive. If you're somebody who struggles to get the ball to the hole you may not like this, but personally as somebody who has a tendency to just absolutely hammer fist one past the hole it is really nice to be able to feel like I'm solidly hitting the putt.

 

4.) Sam talks about it in a lot of his YouTube videos, but I find the L.A.B is working a bit better if I let my hands be a bit more under the grip rather than on top. It's a really slight approximation of the thumbs-off drill talked about so much with L.A.B putters. 

 

I hit dozens and dozens of putts today, everywhere from 5 feet to nearly 200 feet and I once again cannot believe how good my speed control has been with this putter. It is thus far easily the best part of the putter to me. I do think this is because I am being forced by the technology into letting gravity do the work rather than creating clubhead speed with my hands.

 

The DF3 is becoming a solid candidate for a permanent spot in the bag.

 

 

First 18

 

I track most of my rounds using a strokes gained spreadsheet. Yesterday was the first round I can remember since I started tracking that I had a positive strokes gained putting against scratch. Please pay no heed to the rest of the strokes gained as this was the first full round I've played yet this season lol..

 

 

I am getting much more used to the feeling of aiming with the onset and center shafted build. It is definitely different but my eyes are becoming a lot more used to it.

 

One fun thing about this round is I was playing with a PGA buddy who putts with a L.A.B MEZZ, and all day every time he would say "that's good" I got to walk up and say "I bet you wish you could do this" while using the gimme-getter built into the DF3. It's safe to say he was quite jealous. 

 

My speed control remains great, consistently better than any other putter I've used previously.

 

My other favorite part of this putter is how it completely takes the shakes out of 4-5 foot putts for birdie or par. The lack of torque is noticeable on your longer putts, but it is ESPECIALLY noticeable when it is not there in the 4-5 footers. It's not going to magically make every single one for you, but it sure feels a lot better when not trying to manage torque on such a short finesse stroke. 

 

Continued Thoughts

 

At this point, I feel completely confident with this putter. I have never seen the ball roll this consistently end over end on my start line. It has made me realize that I definitely have a bit of work to do in the green reading department, but what's really nice is that it never leaves me guessing. When I watch the ball start on my line and roll perfectly end over end, it is at least nice to be able to definitively say "oh I just misread that" while taking out almost every other variable.

 

Also for whatever reason people find the gimme getter so hilarious. It's always just "oh cool that picks up balls?!"

 

I don't know what to say other than I wish L.A.B made a Toulon Atlanta or PING DS72 type D shaped mid-mallet, but all I know is at this point if and when they do I will order one the moment they become available.

 

Unless something wild happens this putter will be staying in the bag for the foreseeable future including the tournament schedule over the season, I've got almost nothing bad to say about it.

 

I suppose my only continued negative would be that I'm not sure I would feel confident lining this putter up without using the line on the ball. It is definitely quite unique compared to other putters I find myself able to line up well naturally, but it's not really that big of a deal considering I can just trust the line on the ball.

Edited March 21 by rooski

[mkidding]

Congrats for the lucky members!

 

Would be great if some of you who have DF2.1 or Mezz or Link.1 can help with a side-by-side comparison. I really want to invest in one of these. So far DF3 is running slightly ahead (because I can pick the ball up with it) but it would be great to learn more from actual testers!

 

Update: 

 

Though I was not lucky enough to be selected, I was so interested that I decided to grab a stock version and test it out. The results are very encouraging.

Now I really can't wait to see how the custom-built ones for our lucky members perform. Hopefully it can help me cross the line and order a custom one myself!

 

 

 

Update:

 

Took it out for a round and the caddy at Pebble Beach loved it!

 

 

 

Edited March 6 by mkidding

[SEP1006]

As the others have said above. MANY THANKS to LAB Golf and Golfwrx for this opportunity.

 

I tried a LAB 2.1 Armlock sometime mid last year but never could gain any consistency. Not because of the putter but because of the Armlock Method. It just seemed to me that the Armlock would have to be an easier but obviously it wasn't for me.

 

Like @rooski above I have pretty much always been a good putter. My short game pretty much gets me out of any trouble most of the time. Aside from my trial with the LAB/Armlock putter I have been gaming a PXG One and Done putter. Really like the alignment aids and the way the milled face rolls the ball. So this will definitely be a good battle.

 

So now the DF 3.0 comes out. LAB really knocked it out of the park with the size and looks. Also for me, I REALLY think I'm going to like the heavier option. And what makes this even better is there is a LAB Rep at my club. We spent about 30 minutes on the putting green and came up with the following specs:

 

Color - Blue

Shaft - TPT

Alignment - J ( I thought this was the #9 when I was on the website the other day )

Style - Standard

Head Weight - Heavier

Grip - Press II 1.5* Textured

Shaft - TPT

Length - 35"

Lie - 71*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[molecularman]

I am so excited for this opportunity!   It goes without saying that we are all super thankful to GolfWRX and L.A.B. Golf for making this possible.

I sent in a fitting video on Friday, but because I am a chronic over thinker,  I sent another video in this morning just to make sure my set-up was okay.   I've used all stock putters that have been too upright for me,  which has caused my set-up and stroke to get wonky (even moreso than it already was).   So I've been working hard to get into more of a neutral set-up and wanted to double check that with Calvin before we finalize the numbers.  I should hopefully get a phone call from him in the coming days.  For now I go onto L.A.B. Golf's website and build putters and change the color and alignment mark every single time, lol.

I've never even seen a L.A.B. putter in person. I recall when Directed Force came out, I really chalked it up to a gimmick, like so many infomercial style clubs I've seen in the past.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I started to actually learn more about (now) L.A.B. Golf and the science behind the putters.  Once they introduced other models, and I started seeing guys like Erik Anders Lang, BustaJack and some tour pros using them and really doing well with them - I thought,  hmm, there really must be something here.   So I'm super stoked to give this a true go.  The more I've researched and watched videos and gotten to learn about Sam,  L.A.B. and the science behind it, the more excited I am to try it.  The fact that Sam believed so much in the technology and has always kept that faith in the product really says a lot about it.

A quick background about me:

I'm one of those classic "I'd be on tour if it wasn't for my putting"  guys (slightly tongue- in-cheek).  Now it could be a case of the older I get, the better I was, but back when I was really playing I firmly believed my ball striking was at that level. I wouldn't miss many fairways or greens,  but unless I was in gimme range,  I was not making a putt.  That put more pressure on my ball striking, and then you start getting more aggressive,  you start trying to change your swing, you do everything but get better at putting and it leads down a bad path. 

Fast forward to now.  I had gone away from the game (not fully)  for several years and over the past few years have really started to pick it up again.  I spent a lot of time last season working on my game - but my putting has remained violently mediocre.  I've worked a lot on my set-up and stroke which has lead to improving the roll I put on the ball - but I find myself changing how I grip the club every other day.  I keep really fighting the putter.  And it wasn't until recently that I realize a large part of that is the torque the putter is producing.  The head wants to flop open,  and if I don't actively release the putter head, I get a push.   Then with all the putters being too upright for me,  I end up aiming right to account for the pull that happens off the face.   So it's been a mess.   I'm really excited to get a putter that fits and a putter that just wants to stay square.  It takes such a large variable out of the equation so I can simplify and just focus on making a quality stroke.

[ccape0328]

A huge thanks to @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for the opportunity to review the new DF3! 
 

Currently a 5.3 handicap with the majority of my strokes being lost on the green. Looking forward to getting my game in a much better place with the help of our friends at LAB Golf. 
 

I sent my video fitting into Calvin @ LAB and have gotten the specs figured out. Waiting on a call from him to discuss the other options. 
 

Will keep everyone filled in as things progress!

[Rbsiedsc]

congrats guys

[gprubes]

Very sick win ya'll. How they work wonders!!

[jasman29]

Like the other members chosen have said, and I want to reiterate, a very big thank you to @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for this opportunity!!

 

I am very excited to have been chosen as one of the testers of the L.A.B DF3.

 

Prior to a few months ago, the only thing I knew of the L.A.B. putters was that Adam Scott was using and then Lucas Glover popped up with one. I knew what putting woes he had from short distance. They Camilo won with one and now Will Z is gaming one and he has improved dramatically from close range.

 

I was at a tournament this past January and a guy I play in the event with who is a very good putter showed up with the Mezz 1 Max. He gamed for a long time the original Spider and dude was solid with that stick. He was dropping everything inside of 15 feet. I started to ask a some questions but he didn’t have the answers I was looking for so I there I was reading as much a could on GolfWRX, watching youtube content about this putter. I was very intrigued and was thinking this putter could definitely improve my game.

 

I have always been a good green reader and good touch with speed. Up until the last couple of years I wasn’t having any issues from 10ft and in but as age sets in, being 53 now, the short ones are not falling like they used. I still make my fair share but percentages have definitely dropped. My hope is that this tech can bring my percentages drastically higher from that 10ft and in range.

 

My previous gamer since 2012 was a Scotty Cameron Select GoLo putter. This was my main gamer, with many other stand-ins over the last few years, but this one had been my go-to. Then came some of the putting woes from 10-15ft and in which had me search for something else so I decided to go down to Carlsbad ad got fit for my current gamer, EVNROLL EV5.1B - Mid Slant Hosel. My 10-15ft and in improved slightly but not where I want to be for sure which started me on my quest for information about L.A.B. putters.

 

I just sent in my video to Calvin last night so waiting for his feedback on length and lie and then we will talk and go from there on customization. I have always played a heavier putters (Scotty at 34 with 25 gram weights and EVNROLL at 34 and head weight at 380grams) so will probably be going with the heavy option but will finalize based on L.A.B. fitters recommendation.  

 

Looking forward to getting the DF3 in hand for plenty of practice and on course testing. I have some member guests and other club tourneys coming up so will really put this through its paces and providing lots of feedback. Feel free to reach out once I get some testing in for any questions you all might have.

 

 

***UPDATE****

 

I was able to connect with Calvin on the phone, spent about 30 mins with him, and we discussed in great detail my current setups with my gamers (2012 Golo and EVNRLL EV51.B Mid Slant Hosel) from length, weight, loft and grip size. We also had a great discussion about my short game as a whole as well as current strengths and weaknesses in my putting game. We talked about what he saw in the video I sent and how he fitted my for length and lie to better help my tendencies. Below is what we came up with for this build. 

 

 

My LAB DF3 Specs

 

Color: Blue (Dodger Blue!!!) 

Alignment: "B" (Large T Alignment)

Length: 35"

Lie: 70*

Shaft: LAB Golf x TPT 

Grip: Press II 3º  Textured 

Head Weight: Heavy

 

Edited February 21 by jasman29

[molecularman]

I was able to speak with Calvin earlier.     Super nice dude, and really helpful to nail down the final details of the build.  He helped ease my overthinking and provided valuable feedback on options.

I was/am pretty agnostic about the putter shafts.  My main concern was maintaining that line between feel and feedback, not getting too harsh or getting too soft with less feedback.  Calvin said the TPT shaft is probably ideal there,  so that's what we went with.

Regarding weight:  As I understand it,   the torque a normal putter produces is felt as weight by our brains.  I was concerned about the putter feeling too light vs too heavy.  Calvin was again super helpful here.   He mentioned he hasn't had anyone disappointed in going with the heavier option, and if you tend to prefer a slightly heavier feel, it's better to go with that vs. standard weight.

So we ended up with:

Green color
F alignment
35" TPT Shaft
65* lie angle
Press Pistol II grip
Heavier weight



 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Congratulations to the testers!  This will be a good one to follow, as i'm seriously considering this model.  I tried the Mezz Max 1 last year and it was ok, but nothing too much better than my current gamer.  But this one has me intrigued. 

[rooski]

51 minutes ago, molecularman said:

I was able to speak with Calvin earlier.     Super nice dude, and really helpful to nail down the final details of the build.  He helped ease my overthinking and provided valuable feedback on options.

I was/am pretty agnostic about the putter shafts.  My main concern was maintaining that line between feel and feedback, not getting too harsh or getting too soft with less feedback.  Calvin said the TPT shaft is probably ideal there,  so that's what we went with.

Regarding weight:  As I understand it,   the torque a normal putter produces is felt as weight by our brains.  I was concerned about the putter feeling too light vs too heavy.  Calvin was again super helpful here.   He mentioned he hasn't had anyone disappointed in going with the heavier option, and if you tend to prefer a slightly heavier feel, it's better to go with that vs. standard weight.

So we ended up with:

Green color
F alignment
35" TPT Shaft
65* lie angle
Press Pistol II grip
Heavier weight



 

 

Nice choice with the color and alignment :)

 

My experience messing around with my friends wrong-sided broomstick is that with no torque it did seem to "float" or just generally feel lighter, so it makes sense to me that torque is interpreted as weight to the brain.

[Rbsiedsc]

You get a TPT, you get a TPT, everybody gets a TPT!

[jholz]

Congratulations to all the winners! It is such a cool thing to get a free golf club - particularly one as nice as a L.A.B. putter. 

 

I hope you all have fun with it, play more golf, and hopefully it helps put a few more balls in the hole for everyone. 

 

Can't wait to read more about what everyone thinks. 

 

I appreciate WRX and L.A.B. for their efforts!

[molecularman]

19 minutes ago, rooski said:

 

Nice choice with the color and alignment 🙂

 

My experience messing around with my friends wrong-sided broomstick is that with no torque it did seem to "float" or just generally feel lighter, so it makes sense to me that torque is interpreted as weight to the brain.

Hah!  I just saw you added your build.   Great minds I guess!    I was really stuck between a few marks and kept switching every time I built it.   I really liked P and W, but ultimate liked that little extra line on the back without being too busy. 

[molecularman]

24 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

You get a TPT, you get a TPT, everybody gets a TPT!

You down with TPT?   Yeah you know me!!!    I think that's how the song goes..

[coreyhr]

1 hour ago, Rbsiedsc said:

You get a TPT, you get a TPT, everybody gets a TPT!

Was quite the surprise and an incredibly generous gesture by L.A.B. 

[Drrussell]

Thank you @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf really excited to get started with testing. I will use this as my spot to update as testing progresses. 

 

Background

My review might be helpful for those in the market for a new putter because until I saw the promotion to be a tester, LAB putters were not really on my radar. I have gamed different putters over the years, but over the last 3 years, I have gamed: Scotty, Ping, Odyssey, SIK, Cobra and Bettinardi.

 

I always have two golf bags, one I leave at the golf club, the other is in my trunk and ready to go if the opportunity arises. I play off a 3 index.  I am a pretty good putter. Always have been.

 

A few years ago I realized that while I rarely 3 putted, I also didn’t make enough birdies. Because I never wanted to leave myself a 3-4 foot return putt, I died the ball to the hole and as a result I left a lot of putts short. I figured I could immediately increase putts made by simply being more aggressive on my putting, but that meant I needed to be confident in the come back putt. That revelation caused me to switch from the traditional putter to armlock. 

 

Truth is, over the last few years I have changed putters pretty frequently. After all, if I missed a 4 foot putt and it cost me money, it was clearly the putter’s fault. 

 

Recently, I started reading up on all things LAB. Their customization options hit home. I signed up for the remote fitting and ended up ordering the DF2.1 (Armlock) and then ordered another Mezz 1 Max (armlock). The day after I received the DF2.1, I was notified that I was going to be an official GolfWRX tester for the DF3. 

 

In my review, I will be able to compare the LAB DF3 to the putters I have played most recently which are most of the big name putters. At the same time, I will be able to compare the new DF3 to the previous models, both the DF2.1 and the Mezz1 Max.

 

 

 

 

 

Remote Fitting

The remote fitting was super simple and Calvin is awesome.

 

I shot the initial videos. We exchanged emails and based on some of my questions he asked to see a couple more videos to confirm some things. After dialing in the numbers, orders were placed. DF2.1 (blue), Mezz 1 Max (orange) and then the DF3 (red).

 

Since the DF3 isn’t available as an armlock, we discussed the options to best fit my putting stroke. I provided videos of a putting stroke for 3 putters (armlock, wristlock, and standard). 

 

We decided that for the DF3, we would do something a little different. 

40” length

75 degree lie angle

wrist lock grip

 

By using this setup the DF3 will only be a couple inches shorter than my armlock putters. It will connect to my lead arm mid-forearm and in my setup, the ball position will be slightly more forward so that the shaft lean allows the putter head to sit flat (giving it the proper loft). 

 

This will allow virtually no change to my putting stroke and allow for a more accurate comparison of the putters. 

 

Day 1 - New Putter Arrival

 

My LAB DF3 Specs

 

Color: Red

Alignment: Big T Alignment)

Length: 40" Counterbalanced

Lie: 75*

Shaft: White Accra X LAB long

Grip: Superstroke Wristlock 

Head Weight: Heavy

 

Unboxing - First Reaction

Out of the box, putter had headcover on and that was it. Other than a piece of paper that tells you about taking care of the putter and using oil on the screws to keep the putter looking nice. 

 

My other LAB putters were on standby waiting for the arrival of their new brother. Looks are obviously personal, but the DF3 is pretty sexy. Not nearly as obnoxiously big as the DF2.1. 

 

I dropped a couple balls on my putting sim putting green just to stroke a few and immediately felt that the DF3 is right in between the Mezz 1 Max and DF2.1. Meaning the Mezz has a bit harsher feel, the DF2.1 is silky soft. The DF3 is much softer than the Mezz and probably approaching the DF2.1 in terms of how soft the ball feels off the face. 

 

Testing Day 1

The putter was originally supposed to arrive yesterday and I blocked the second part of my day so I could get out and do some proper testing. It didn’t arrive until today. I had pretty limited time, but I did run out to the course just to get some time on the real putting green. 

 

I used all three putters from 5ft, 15ft, random lag putting. With 20 balls, I went through a rotation of putters. Mezz 1 Max, DF2.1, DF3. The practice putting green was rolling at a 10 on the stimp meter. Unfortunately, they are going to be aerating next week, so I will probably need to try and get out there tomorrow for more detailed testing and maybe even a real round of golf. 

 

Because both of the armlock putters are more upright and also about 2 inches longer, that was obviously a little more comfortable just because I am so used to the setup. With armlock, I know exactly where the putter rests against my arm. I also know that the face of the putter will be exactly center of my stance. 

 

For the DF3 I wanted to make sure my setup wasn’t causing weirdness on the stroke, so I was pretty particular about the setup routine. I lineup the ball, place the putter behind aligned properly and soled flat. Then I would step in and setup around the putter being soled properly. I didn’t want to lean the shaft too far forward because online armlock putters which have the built in shaft lean, the DF3 with a wristlock grip does not. That means I want the shaft to be more vertical on setup. 

 

As soon as I realized where the wristlock putter was going to rest on my arm…the setup became super simple. In a couple more sessions it won’t require any extra caution and can adjust to the setup with no problems. 

 

I was rolling the rock so well with all three putters. I think that based on my initial feel I could game any of the 3 putters without hesitation. This testing could really come down to feel between the putters because I was hitting my line and seeing true end-over-end roll on almost every putt across all three putters. 

 

Tomorrow, if I don’t to the course, I am going to get all three putters on the simulator so I can see the launch angle, launch angle, and spin rate. That will give me real data I can compare between all three putters. In addition, I will use HackMotion to see if there are any variations in my stroke pattern with the three putters. 

 

Edited March 16 by Drrussell

[snipzky9]

Thank you to @labgolf and @GolfWRX_Official for the opportunity to test the DF3!

 

I will be doing the remote fitting on Friday and use this spot on the thread to update my experience. Stay tuned!

[rooski]

Update: Had a nightmare last night that the putter showed up and when I unboxed it, it had the wrong grip. Woke up in cold sweats; I think this putter is a little too deep in my psyche at the moment

[Carolina Golfer 2]

1 hour ago, rooski said:

Update: Had a nightmare last night that the putter showed up and when I unboxed it, it had the wrong grip. Woke up in cold sweats; I think this putter is a little too deep in my psyche at the moment

Golf Nightmares are the worst!   Glad it was just a bad dream!  

[Rearviewmirror]

Congrats to the testers - sad I didn't make the cut but I love my Mezz.1 so it's ok! For folks who are net new to LAB, I wrote up some tips/lag drills that helped me untorque myself!

 

 

[Hunteruu]

Well, like the others, I want to state that I am extremely grateful to @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for this amazing opportunity.

 

So a bit of my backstory. I'm a 7 handicap who grew up playing golf, so I started with a solid foundation. However, between the military and having a young family, I quickly became a weekend warrior. Lack of practice time definitely shows in my short game, and especially putting. 

 

I have been able to get out more often in the past year or so though, and even went down a rabbit hole going through a gamut of putters to find what worked best for me (roughly 15-20 various brands and models including some torque"less" examples). I made a thread on the journey and results on here for anyone that's interested, but I ultimately ended with a Sik Flo C as my gamer. 

 

At the very "end" of things, I did pick up a DF2.1, but it wasn't the correct spec for me. However, the instant I started my first take away with it, I nearly laughed out loud on how completely effortless it felt. Immediately I was intrigued, and knew there might be something to this Lie Angle Balance thing. 

 

I nearly purchased another DF2.1 in my correct specs if it wasn't for the elephant in the room, which also seemed to be the size of an elephant... Like many others, my vanity and eyes ultimately persuaded me out of pulling the trigger on it. 

 

Seeing the DF3 when it finally dropped, I knew it had the potential to be a crowd approving game-changer. All the technology, benefits, and claims rolled into a new condensed package. 

 

All that being said, I just had my fitting with Calvin, and the whole process was a showcase of knowledge and efficiency. He did an amazing job walking me through each option and it's benefits/differences as it relates to my suggested specs from the video fitting. 

 

We ended up with the following:

- 33.5"

- 70° Lie Angle

- Heavier Head 

- TPT Shaft

- Press II 3° Grip

- Cappuccino Color

- "R" Sightline

 

 

I'd be lying if I wasn't on the fence about the color, but I tend to like more muted colors and didn't want to just get black. Although, I think I'll be having nightmares like @rooski but over wondering if I picked the right color! (Did I pick the right color!?)

 

Obviously, more to follow, but I'm very excited about what the DF3 could offer as it comes in. 

 

 

Edited February 28 by Hunteruu

[molecularman]

15 hours ago, Hunteruu said:

Well, like the others, I want to state that I am extremely grateful to @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for this amazing opportunity.

 

So a bit of my backstory. I'm a 7 handicap who grew up playing golf, so I started with a solid foundation. However, between the military and having a young family, I quickly became a weekend warrior. Lack of practice time definitely shows in my short game, and especially putting. 

 

I have been able to get out more often in the past year or so though, and even went down a rabbit hole going through a gamut of putters to find what worked best for me (roughly 15-20 various brands and models including some torque"less" examples). I made a thread on the journey and results on here for anyone that's interested, but I ultimately ended with a Sik Flo C as my gamer. 

 

At the very "end" of things, I did pick up a DF2.1, but it wasn't the correct spec for me. However, the instant I started my first take away with it, I nearly laughed out loud on how completely effortless it felt. Immediately I was intrigued, and knew there might be something to this Lie Angle Balance thing. 

 

I nearly purchased another DF2.1 in my correct specs if it wasn't for the elephant in the room, which also seemed to be the size of an elephant... Like many others, my vanity and eyes ultimately persuaded me out of pulling the trigger on it. 

 

Seeing the DF3 when it finally dropped, I knew it had the potential to be a crowd approving game-changer. All the technology, benefits, and claims rolled into a new condensed package. 

 

All that being said, I just had my fitting with Calvin, and the whole process was a showcase of knowledge and efficiency. He did an amazing job walking me through each option and it's benefits/differences as it relates to my suggested specs from the video fitting. 

 

We ended up with the following:

- 33.5"

- 70° Lie Angle

- Heavier Head 

- TPT Shaft

- Press II 3° Grip

- Cappuccino Color

- "R" Sightline

 

 

I'd be lying if I wasn't on the fence about the color, but I tend to like more muted colors and didn't want to just get black. Although, I think I'll be having nightmares like @rooski but over wondering if I picked the right color! (Did I pick the right color!?)

 

Obviously, more to follow, but I'm very excited about what the DF3 could offer as it comes in. 

 

 

I was really considering that color and mark.  Good choice(s)!

[taylor2325]

Out of curiosity, were any of the testers able to get the DF3 in a broom option? I know that they aren't available yet to the public, but am keen to know if they had that option available to the testers and if anyone went that direction?

Edited February 28 by taylor2325

[coreyhr]

8 minutes ago, taylor2325 said:

Out of curiosity, were any of the testers able to get the DF3 in a broom option? I know that they aren't available yet to the public, but am keen to know if they had that option available to the testers and if anyone went that direction?

Broomstick wasn’t an option yet.  Counterbalance was the only “non-standard” type setup available.