Syks7

That's the hope. . My DF3 fund just became a 0317 fund.

@GolfSpy SAM had a fitting a couple weeks ago that I was nearby for and the fitter was nice enough to look at my 7 iron and put a 0317 ST in my hand to try out. A muscle back type blade should not be in my wheelhouse and yet I hit it very well. I haven't been able to get it out of my head since, so I decided to schedule a fitting with the same fitter. I mostly wanted to see whether or not I was just having an above average striking day when I first hit them or if I might actually be able to play them. I also wanted to hit more of the irons in the line. We worked through the 0317 line and played around with the 0311 P through a variety of shafts but in the end it came down to 0317 ST and 0317T wearing the Modus 105. For whatever reason that shaft and those iron heads just worked for me -- particularly on the turf interaction front. The shape of the leading edge just works with my attack angle and even on heavier contact just knifes through the turf. Both were shockingly forgiving to me in terms of making solid contact. Solid dispersion on both as well. In the end I opted for the 0317T as it produced the most consistent results for the kind of golfer who uses more of the face (yours truly). The most interesting part of this fitting was that I would not (and have not) put myself in something that compact. I just don't think of myself as that kind of a ball striker. Something that seemed to have been proven with in my experiments with 639 CBs and MP60s. Loved the turf interaction, couldn't hit them consistently enough to play them well. Conversely, I've not been a fan of the turf interaction with my Z585s, but have hit them well enough to get to a low index of 10.8. The 0317T seems to be a sweet spot in between. I only know that because I did the fitting on grass. If I was in a studio I might have thought the 0311P worked best (best distance & best efficiency) even though on grass it had by far the worst turf interaction for me. Same thing for the 0317 CB, I just didn't get through the grass with it like I did the others. Go figure. We were relatively early in completing the irons so we played around with Driver (including handily enough my own PXG 0811XT). After a couple not so bad swings with my gamer on a Tensei AV raw blue he put me in two shafts I never would have thought fit my swing. Tensei CK White & Ventus black. (Good thing they're cheap ) At least versions of the white is out there used for reasonable prices. Stiffer profile in the mid and tip for both and instantly more stable to me. Ventus was better, but I know I can scrounge up some version of the Tensei white somewhere. Both were also better on the gen 6 Tour driver, but fortunately they were still more than serviceable on my gen 4 0811XT. I never would have tried them if I hadn't gone today. It made me realize that as much as I've learned about equipment and fitting over the last couple years I still know nothing. Now.... all I have to do is figure out how to pull together enough cash to get the irons. I'll scrounge up a Tensei white somewere. BTW, today only reinforced my desire to spend my eventual retirement as a fitter and builder. The nerd in me wants to know everything I can about equipment.

It's actually pretty comparable in length to the DF2.1. Was fiddling with both on the mat the other night and was surprised at how close they were. I'll say this, however beefy they look, they pale in comparison to the LA golf putters I saw the other day. Those are cartoonish big.

Another good 9. I'm itching to get out for 18, but have been a bit unlucky and have had to cancel several. 38 for 9 holes. +2. The good run continues, I think in part to a change in my course management. I had an epiphany a couple weeks back while playing in heavy wind that when I'm hitting into the green I'm hitting into it for a result -- not to hit a particular yardage. It doesn't really matter what club I hit or how long I hit my 7 iron so long as I get the end result I'm looking for. I've been clubbing up to make sure I cover and focusing more on flight and it's made a huge difference. That combined with the DF2.1, which continues to be a birdie/up and down machine (to me), and a much more enjoyment focused attitude seems to be yielding the results I was stressing myself out chasing. Go figure. Over the 99 holes I've played this year I'm averaging 1.27 birdies a round, 10 pars, 5.8 bogeys, and .72 Bogey + per 18 holes. Its vastly different than last year. I'm going to try entrench myself in this mental spot I seem to have found myself in and never leave.

You may as well enjoy mockups and wait I don't think any orders will be arriving anytime soon. The facebook group/ Lab Rats went nuts buying. Orders are probably months out.

For any of you that are non-Lab Rats, DF3.0 is live on the Lab website. https://labgolf.com/df-3-putter/

Is this the way to do it?

God help me. I met @GolfSpy SAM at Rustic Canyon today. He had a PXG fitting and I was just hitting balls. The fitter had a look at my clubs and put a 0317 ST in my hand with Modus 105 shaft.... It was outstanding from the first swing, great turf interaction, highly accurate, and shockingly forgiving for a blade type iron. The feedback off the club was also amazing. I was hitting the ball as far with the 0317 ST at 33 º as my Z585 7 iron at 31º. With a nice flight. I also tried the 0317T & 0317 CB. They're supposed to be more forgiving, but I just didn't get along with them like the ST. Go figure. I've got something else to covet now.

My secret evil plan to 'save' myself money by purchasing a used DF2.1 appears to be working for the moment. I'd call it more of a rearguard action because the red DF3 is fire.

If anyone is on the fence there are deals to be had on the LAB facebook group. Lot's of people tripping over themselves trying to sell older L.A.B. putters to fund a DF3.0.

I'll let you know. Though @bens197 has given me a really good idea of how to give the Link new life -- stroke practice on the birdie ball mat. If I can keep my hands quiet practicing with the Link the DF2.1 is going to feel like it's on rails.

@JCgolfer What course?

Yeah... I'm probably not going back to the Link. In the last 31 holes (played 27 + 4 bonus holes) I've made a 17.5' eagle putt, 4 birdie putts over 12', 1 birdie putt from 4 feet, and gotten up and down from 5-10 feet 6 times. Also, since getting the DF2.1, I've played 18 regulation size holes with it at +6 (two 9 hole rounds) and 22 Par 3 holes at +3. A total of 40 holes played at +9 with five birdies and one eagle. While it isn't responsible for everything the collective savings of 13 strokes over those 40 holes counts for a hell of a lot.

Had a cancellation this morning so I ran over to my little par 3. Play 22 holes and finished even par for the first time ever. 5 Birdies, 5 Bogeys, and 12 pars. (even through 18 then played 4 more and had to stop to go to the next meeting).

I did one of the forum tests for the Link this year and it's excellent in the right hands. It's in a good sweet spot where it feels and acts a bit more traditional while while also adding benefits via the tech -- plus it just looks superb. That said, after buying into Lie Angle Balance, the DF2.1 didn't look as odd to me. I picked one up and as of a couple weeks ago that's what I've started gaming. I don't foresee me going back to the Link except for fun. Good to see Murray win with the Link in hand though -- he's had it since it came out I think and won twice with it on the KFT last year.

It was a great exercise in course management. -- e.g. do I need to hit driver here when I could hit a 4 hybrid to 120 yards and have a full swing number for one of my scoring clubs. Definitely something I'll be doing more of.

Got out for a dawn patrol back 9 this morning. Continuing my goal of having more fun we played from the forward tees. It wasn't that different from the blues since I played a lot of different clubs off the tee to practice course management, but I was rewarded on the 270 yard driveable par 4 with a 17.5 ft eagle putt -- which I converted for my second eagle ever. It was also a nice learning experience to see not stressing about hitting a bomb off the tee to get to an manageable yardage made it way easier to hit bombs. Who knew the mental side was so important. . Finished at +3 with one silly double (I tried to hit a bomb off the tee) and zero stress.

A godfather-esque ending to 3 storied coaching careers was definitely not on my bingo card for the year. Kind of saw Belichick coming, but the other two. Not so much.

Congratulations on also being the last team to ever beat Nick Saban.

Spent about an hour with the new to me DF on the practice green. Same feeling the first time I pulled the Link out -- the feeling of potential. It'll take some adjusting to (press grip & size), but I had a very early time lining it up, zero trouble with speed, and found it to be a much easier to hit version of the Link -- or, a better way to put it, might be that it's much harder to mishit the DF than it is the Link. This seemed particularly true on short putts, though I'm going to really have to make sure I line up the shorter ones properly. The not lined up less than 3' handsy short putt stroke ain't gonna fly with the DF.

This is worth sharing. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2024/01/09/will-zalatoris-broomstick-putter-online-a-convert-sony-open/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A Trending Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3nqDQbuaNIW7fBwDlktwuAfS5gXbrsANYGbYZ_MLMpJsZR-ojNT-p9iV4

It has arrived. Bone stock. Excited to put it through it's paces.

I think my Link knows I have a DF incoming. Had a 30 putt day yesterday with a pair of 20 footers, no misses inside 5', and lot of short tap in cleanup. The head to head should be interesting.

My only goal for the year is to have fun. I feel like I've been too number focused and it hasn't been good for my enjoyment of the game. With that in mind I went out for my first round and played the white tees with a couple older fellas. 43/41 84 with zero stress. Lots to like about the day, a few things to work on, and a much more enjoyable day.

Already had the specs from the Link fitting, but it's a good idea for you to do the virtual. I'm kind of lucky in that I fall right into the stock lengths and lies.