[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

35 minutes ago, Grand Stranded said:

So, as crazy as it sounds, I’d never thought to compare the lie angles on my Odyssey Double wide and the DF2.1.
I just looked up the specs and my old putter is 70*, my DF2.1 is 64*.  Both are 34”.

Soooo, did u send in ur fitting video using ur Odyssey? That difference is huge. If u look at my pic of my clubs side by side, that slight difference is 2° up ... they gave you 6° flatter than what u had. I think ur the perfect candidate to write about how LAB responds to a poor fitting. Call the owner. He told me to feel free to call hime with any questions. Reenact ur fitting video with the DF, and ask him if u can send it to him. 

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

2 hours ago, Grand Stranded said:

 

I decided I’m just going to take my normal setup and not worry about whether it looks like it’s soled  flat on the ground to my eye. I like to feel like my elbows are connected to my rib side at address, but with the DF2.1 I’ve been extending them forward in order to make it look like it’s sitting properly.

It was only a 15 minute or so session, and after the fiasco I went through yesterday anything would be an improvement, but my results were a lot better as far as line, and consistency of stroke. The problem with that consistency of stroke thing though is I was now blowing putts past the hole. This putter, as big as it is feels very light to me, and I’ve got to somehow get a feel for how that’s affecting my distance control. It might be the oversized grip causing that, I don’t know… as you can tell I’m befuddled by this putter.

I’ve never put this much effort into trying to make a putter “work for me” before. I even scheduled a just for fun round for tomorrow with my neighbors just to put this in play again, as there is no way I’m gaming it on Tuesday in league play. I’ll fill you guys in on that adventure tomorrow evening after we’re done playing.

 

So how much different is the DF from your current putter. Did they give you the lie angle they saw in the fitting video you sent? I have always played my ball forward so I had no issues swapping in the LAB. I will say that I was disappointed that my LAB was not as upright as I thought I was getting. The word "fitting" bothers me because it's not quite accurate. We weren't fit as clubs are today. We were "measured" ... which should have given you a similar putter to your favorite unless you wanted a drastic change. I'm including a pic. My fitter said I was too far from the ball and increasing the lie angle would get me closer. I wish I had access to a loft and lie machine so I could see what they sent, but we don't have any club repair shops anywhere near here.

This is before and after ... doesn't look like it worked to me work. Maybe it's my muscle memory causing me to revert to what's comfortable. I swear I'm over the ball but obviously I'm not. So I accept it because the alternative is similar to yours ... learning to putt all over again. Seems to be working for tho. I'm anxious to hear more about ur issue.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

“Set It and Forget It” is a trademarked phrase by marketing genius Ron Popeil that took on pop culture status in the 80s & 90s. Using the DF-2.1, his catch phrase has become my putting mantra. I set the club on line and I never think about it again.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

During this test process, I've had 35’ putts with both putters that I missed by inches. In our 9 hole golf league, I had 5-1 putt rounds with both putters and I had a 15 putt round with both putters, as well. Plus I had sub-30 putt rounds in skin games with both putters too. So the only stats of substance I feel are worthy of sharing are from my Arccos data. I lost my original Arccos putter sensor and they replaced it for free … many thanks Arccos. I also purchased a second putter sensor so that I could track both putter’s stats.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

Aesthetics and Reactions from other golfers

It’s Big - Response of 80% of People Who I Showed it to

I knew people had read about this putter whenever they echoed the words, “looks like a branding iron.” Looks like an old bottle opener to me. But yes it is big. Although, I was around when PING irons first came on the scene. When everything else was a blade, they seemed massive. “You could dig up a row of potatoes with those.”

Then we went from persimmon to larger metal heads, and then Big Bertha appeared. “It’s huge.” Not by today’s standards though. So while the DF-2.1 is indeed larger, it means to me exactly what PING and Bertha meant back then … better performance and better margin of error.

It Sounds Different - A Youtube Reviewer Mentioned this too

I couldn’t wait to try this club, so I grabbed 3 random balls and went to the practice green. First ball I hit, the club let out a distinctive ping. I’m old enough to remember the original PING putter and it was named that because of the ping sound it emitted. Turns out the first ball I tried was a Topflight. The other 2 balls were Titleist & Callaway which did not ping as loudly. So the harder the ball the louder the ping. It’s a non-issue because I don’t even hear it anymore.

It’s too Light - Immediate Response from a Golfer

I had not realized how light this DF-2.1 configuration was until I picked up my Spider. There was a noticeable difference. I bought that Spider cuz I wanted a heavier putter head than my old PING Anser. Maybe it was lucky that I never compared the putters until after I had been using the DF-2.1 for a week. By then I didn’t care that my old favorite felt heavier. I definitely couldn’t see a difference in performance. I actually think it’s easier to hit the DF-2.1 on a 45 foot putt. I thought I wanted that weight for those long putts … I was wrong.

Is that a L.A.B. Putter - Response from a Several Golfers

While I was on the putting green a guy yelled over from the first tee, “Is that a L.A.B. putter?” Another person caught me on the chipping green without the putter, asking if I was the guy with the L.A.B. And I heard a couple times from guys who said that they had a friend who used one.

That’s a Lot of Lines - Response from a Several Golfers

As I stated before, alignment is paramount in my putter choice. I love it. I set it down, align it to my target line, and feel fully confidant that I’m right.

FEEL

How Can You Putt off the Toe if it’s Not Dead

Because I touted the benefits of the face feeling soft and that toe hits barely lost momentum, a young college golfer said that he needs to have a dead hit on the toe so he can putt a fast downhill slopping green.

I like that I can’t feel off center hits as much as I could with my old putter. I set this putter up on the line I want, thinking of nothing else except pacing. I don’t try to hit the sweet spot. I don’t care if I miss the sweet spot. Because I know if there is a small deviation in my stroke, the ball will stay on line and not lose as much distance as toe & heel hits on my old putter. And that is a confidence builder, too.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

First Impressions - Directed Force 2.1

My putter arrived the day after we left for a 2 week vacation. I was bummed. All I could think about was getting my hands on that putter. The day my neighbor picked it up, he texted me that the box looked like it had been opened. My heart sank … the thought of going thru another build process and getting pushed further down the review timeline made me sick. I asked him to take it out and send pics. So my neighbor, a non-golfer, was the first person to hold my new baby. Luckily, the putter was unscathed.

The DF 2.1 ... It was indeed huge! I knew it was going to be big ... but I wasn't prepared for how small it made my favorite putter look. I also went all out with alignment lines. I read a reviewer online who said they could align this pattern better, so I chose it as well. I get comments: "wow, that's a lot of lines." But I like them.

 Looks like an old-fashioned bottle opener to me.

The BGT - Stability Tour Fire shaft ... It's a very good looking shaft. I love the color and the taper makes it stand out as well. I chose the shaft because it was listed as having a "soft" feel while the LA Golf shaft was supposedly a "very soft" feel. I know the Accra X by L.A.B. was purposely designed to go with their line of putters, but I'm one of those people who equates price with performance, which MGS has disproven over the years. I went with my gut ... the shaft says "Tour", it's red, and it's more expensive, so it must be better??? Aside from the putter head being designed to be non-torquing, this shaft is, as well. 

Press No. II 3° grip ... It looks big and kind of funky because of the angle it sits on. Its soft and slightly tacky, and fits my hand quite comfortably. I like a grip you can take a firm hold of. I think if this had a pistol grip you wouldn't feel in control of this large head. When I hold this club, I feel in control.

Very Minor Impression: As an old club maker, I was a bit miffed that the grip was slid on with tiny kinks. I does not affect performance, it is not visible at address ... it is simply a personality flaw I have. It really can't be seen unless you sight down the grip. I have never put a grip like this on and I don't know how difficult it might be. It is not an issue, but it was an impression.

Final Minor Impression: When I first set the club down the face looked closed to me. The angle of the shaft causes an optical illusion I guess. But as soon as I began using it on the putting green, I had no trouble keeping it square.

I was one of the last in the group to receive my putter, because of issues in my fitting process.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

My initial opinion was that individual putter testing for a mass audience is pointless. To me, a putter is extremely personal. You fall in love with a putter and that’s what breeds confidence. I play golf occasionally with an 80+ year old gentleman who has always used a 1960s era Bullseye, and he one-putts the hell out of everything. He putts better with his originally priced $15 Bullseye, than I do with my $400 custom Spyder. 

I love my current putter, but I don’t see how I can evaluate a DF without a heavy comparison to it. Why would anyone go out and buy a putter if they don’t compare it to what they are currently using? That’s how you decide if it’s worth buying.

P.S.: A thought just occurred to me OR maybe what was recently said just now sank in. I kno what my putting weaknesses are … I listed them in the intro. I suppose I could minimize comparing my current putter to the LAB, and instead maximize any personal improvement I might have. I could try to answer the question of whether this putter can make me a better putter. It seems like a lot more work.

Sooo, if we need to “learn” how to putt with it, how much time will we have before the review deadline? 

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

Had another curve ball thrown at me … how long did it take y’all to receive ur putter once u were notified that it shipped? My vacation plans just got moved up a week, so if it doesn’t ship today, I won’t get it in time, and I’m going to be gone for 2 weeks. Thinking abt having it shipped to where I’m going to be. I emailed them, and got this reply.

Thank you for contacting LAB Golf. We are currently experiencing an extremely high volume of both phone calls and emails so please expect a delay in our response. We are responding to both emails and voicemails in the order in which they are received and will respond as quickly as we are able. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will be in touch soon!

 LAB Golf Customer Service Team 

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

Must be my browser, thx

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

I think I have problems solved, but font size is off & I can’t find appropriate change.

[L.A.B. DF2.1 Putter]

Thanks to MGS for the opportunity to review this exciting new concept in putter technology. Like many here I was clicking on MGS’s review offerings, never fully realizing the actual ramifications of being chosen. Now I’ve got to produce a cognitive, semi-literate explanation of why I like or dislike the L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1 putter, to thousands of y'all. The pressure I have placed upon myself is similar to being paired with the +4 handicap golfer (that’s better than scratch), and having to follow him off the tee. When you have to follow a player who smashes their driver 80 yards further than you, all muscle memory disappears ... all mental shot processing gets blurry ... and all I can think is, “don’t be a pussy. KILL it.” And of course thats when I roll it 30 yards.

Being selected has caused me to obsess over my putting ability ... I have been analyzing my misses. The question is: is it the putter or is it operator error? 

4th. ... Miss-reading the speed: a lag putt that rolls 15 feet past the cup. 

3rd. ... Chickening out: afraid my putt is going to end up 15 feet past the cup, and then leaving it 10 feet short. 

2nd. ... Read the break wrong. 

And my #1 miss: ... Hand movement off my putting plane ... which I believe causes a myriad of my misses. This is where I want to see how the DF 2.1 impacts my game. This is where I might be able to see improvement ... and it happens to be the number one selling point of this putter, by the way. It is supposed to be easier to keep square and provide forgiveness on miss hits. I’m genuinely looking forward to using it.

 I spent all winter trying to stop my hands from drifting off line, on my BirdieBall green with tracks I added. And I was happy with those efforts resulting in 28-32 putts per round this Spring.

I am 65 yrs old and I play 54-72 holes per week at Marietta Country Club in Southeastern Ohio. I've only been playing now for about 3 years because I was forced to take a 14 year hiatus from golf due to severe chronic pain. Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar surgeries all traded one pain for a another, more intense pain ... and my knees were bad, too. Eventually, I had one of my knees replaced and suddenly I started wanting to be active again. Pretty soon I pulled out one of my dusty old clubs and started swinging in the backyard. I bought a net, a mat, and that old fire for the game came roaring back. I was an 18 handicapper when I received my test putter.

I wanted to be a PGA Professional when I was 22, back in 1979. I spent a year as an apprentice. Unfortunately, the pay was so bad ($3 hr), I barely survived the season, and then had to find alternate income for the winter months. I started a club repair business, which was making me enough money that I didn’t want to go back to $3 hr. My plan then was to bank a little money for a few years, and then get back into the apprentice program. What I didn’t foresee was falling for a girl and getting married. She was a teacher with summers off, and she did not like the idea of me having an opposite seasonal work schedule. So instead I went back to college and embarked on a career in print design and publishing. I’ve got to add that I had recurring golf nightmares for 10 years after getting out of the industry. They always centered around me sneaking in to play in a golf tournament, being discovered, and then being chased off the golf course by the gallery. 

My game is getting better. My handicap is slowly dropping ... I get it to 16. my back gives me fits, and then it starts creeping up again. My enjoyment for the game is as strong as it ever was. Now I gotta get that other knee done ... and my ankle ... and my trigger fingers. Damn, I'm getting old.