Unofficial Review: L.A.B. Golf Directed Force 2.1 Putter

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

7 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

Think they raised the price. $549 without any shaft upgrades.

Ya unless you buy stock which they don’t have my stock fitting (35”, 70*)

[dlow206]

1 minute ago, rbsiedsc said:

Ya unless you buy stock which they don’t have my stock fitting (35”, 70*)

Yep. And there is no bending/adjusting lie angle on these putters. They drill the hole in the head based on lie angle. 

[yungkory]

Wow, glad I got one before the price hike!

 

[edingc]

1 hour ago, dlow206 said:

Think they raised the price. $549 without any shaft upgrades.

Interesting. My setup would be over $800 now. About a $120 increase since I placed my order in October. And the price increase is all in the head, as the add-on components are still the same price I paid.

EDIT: Neglected to read the additional comments. This is a head scratcher for me. The stock prices are lower than the previous lowest base price, if I remember correctly. Seems odd to drastically raise the price of the head for a custom build but lower the price of the base model.

I get that as far as machining goes, the cost is in setup. But, as someone who has worked in a machine shop around CNC machines, I can't imagine there is a lot of setup to drill a single hole.

[PMookie]

$800? Holy cow. That’s twice as much as Edel completely fitted. Wow!!!!

[yungkory]

They have to pay for all of that aggressive IG marketing they've been doing lately. Noticed a LOT of ads from them in the last month.

[dlow206]

Just now, yungkory said:

They have to pay for all of that aggressive IG marketing they've been doing lately. Noticed a LOT of ads from them in the last month.

Yeah, pretty aggressive on the Social Media ads. I get them on FB too. 

[TBT]

Very interesting read, I like the concept of the putter but it’s pretty cost prohibitive
New putter or new set of irons?


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[Tom D.]

On 3/24/2021 at 2:10 PM, rbsiedsc said:

Ya unless you buy stock which they don’t have my stock fitting (35”, 70*)

When I did my remote fitting, they said I set up at 69* but came through the stroke at 68.5*. 

Since the stock putters come in two lie angles (either 69* or 71*) closest to your spec, send them a remote fitting video and ask for their recommendation on which way to go.  You may only be off by half a degree, and you'd have to have pretty darn astute hands to be able to feel a half degree.  That way you can get in the game for $399.

[Tom D.]

19 hours ago, TBT said:

Very interesting read, I like the concept of the putter but it’s pretty cost prohibitive
New putter or new set of irons?


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

If your spec is anywhere near their stock options, you can get one for $399, and since putting is ~40% of your scoring that has the chance to be the most impactful change you can make to your bag.

Stock options are 33", 34", or 35", with a lie angle of 67*, 69* or 71*.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

1 hour ago, Tom D. said:

When I did my remote fitting, they said I set up at 69* but came through the stroke at 68.5*. 

Since the stock putters come in two lie angles (either 69* or 71*) closest to your spec, send them a remote fitting video and ask for their recommendation on which way to go.  You may only be off by half a degree, and you'd have to have pretty darn astute hands to be able to feel a half degree.  That way you can get in the game for $399.

Is there a significant difference with the shafts though vs the more stable up charge ones?

[dlow206]

12 minutes ago, rbsiedsc said:

Is there a significant difference with the shafts though vs the more stable up charge ones?

For you specifically, if you are going to buy one, get the shaft that you want. Or else you are going to have some doubt in the back of your mind that one of the upcharge shafts would have been better.

You and I both suffer from this problem lol.

[Tom D.]

2 hours ago, rbsiedsc said:

Is there a significant difference with the shafts though vs the more stable up charge ones?

L.A.B. tips the standard KBS shafts more than most manufacturers, so they are VERY stable.  Since I play mine at 33"  I personally didn't go for an upgraded shaft, as I thought there would be very minimal return on the additional investment. YMMV since you're on the longer end of the length spectrum.  All comes down to what your golf budget is, and if you don't want to leave any possible improvement on the table.  Will you say, "WHAT IF?"

What I do know is this is the absolute best putter I've ever had, based on getting more balls to rattle in the bottom of the cup in the fewest strokes possible.  My other thought in this arena, is since the putter accounts for about 40% of your score, it has EVERY RIGHT to be the most expensive club in your bag.

As far as score reduction per $ spent, if your current driver is less than 10 years old the computation won't even be close.

[Tpoole22]

Been really wanting to try one of these for a while and I may have missed it somewhere in this thread, but do these work well for a slight arc putting stroke?

[edingc]

8 hours ago, Tpoole22 said:

Been really wanting to try one of these for a while and I may have missed it somewhere in this thread, but do these work well for a slight arc putting stroke?

Others can chime in, but the L.A.B. should work with a variety of stroke types. The balance is along your arc, whatever that may be. 

I personally consider myself a slight arc putter (and EXPUTT confirms that) and, as my review says, get along well with the putter.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

A haiku to LAB

 

A ugly putter
Much money needed to buy
Have less three putt days

[analyticandrew]

Hey all loving the thread here. I picked up a “factory seconds” from them late last summer. Best decision I’ve ever made. I’m ~8 handicap. 
 

Other putter: 33.1 putts per round 

L.A.B. putter: 30.2 putts per round

 

1 putts per round other (with GIR): 0.6

1 putts per round L.A.B (with GIR): 1.9

 

3 putt % other putter: 3.1

3 putt % L.A.B putter: 1.7

[Tom D.]

On 3/28/2021 at 7:35 PM, analyticandrew said:

Best decision I’ve ever made.

That certainly seems to be backed up by the data: Dropping 3 putts per round, tripling your one putts, and almost cutting your 3 putts in half. NICE !

[analyticandrew]

8 hours ago, Tom D. said:

That certainly seems to be backed up by the data: Dropping 3 putts per round, tripling your one putts, and almost cutting your 3 putts in half. NICE !

We shall see how much of that carries over into this season. Lol

[Tin Cup2]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences.

This putter will be in my bag as soon as this years club membership is paid for. Plans for new irons are now on hold.

[yungkory]

On 3/27/2021 at 1:20 PM, rbsiedsc said:

Is there a significant difference with the shafts though vs the more stable up charge ones?

Late to the party on the reply but I bought one because I already had one in my ER5. I can't really describe to you how the shaft feels, but to me it feels very different from the KBS and other steel putter shafts I've gamed, both in stroke and at impact. I like the feel of it so I just stuck with it

[BMart519]

Kevin Stadler has one in the bag at Valero this week. Let's GO!

Maybe they'll bump the price another $100 if he gets a T10 

Edited April 1, 2021 by BMart519

[yungkory]

2 hours ago, BMart519 said:

Kevin Stadler has one in the bag at Valero this week. Let's GO!

Maybe they'll bump the price another $100 if he gets a T10 

Probably double the price let's be honest

[BMart519]

2 hours ago, yungkory said:

Probably double the price let's be honest

Double only happens when DJ puts it in play during the Masters 

[ijaz429]

How is it possible this putter was not included in the most wanted mallet test last week? Are we really going to have to wait another year to see how it stacks up?

[dlow206]

6 minutes ago, ijaz429 said:

How is it possible this putter was not included in the most wanted mallet test last week? Are we really going to have to wait another year to see how it stacks up?

One of the premises of the LAB putter is being fit to your specific putter length and lie angle requirements. The MGS tests are on OTR putters. MGS most wanted only tests OTR, and I believe a single version, for example a 34" XYZ putter. @cnosil - correct me if i am wrong on the testing.

So if you give everyone a 34" 70 degree LAB putter, it may work very poorly for ppl who that putter does not fit, if you believe in the lie angle balance concept. 

[analyticandrew]

2 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

One of the premises of the LAB putter is being fit to your specific putter length and lie angle requirements. The MGS tests are on OTR putters. MGS most wanted only tests OTR, and I believe a single version, for example a 34" XYZ putter. @cnosil - correct me if i am wrong on the testing.

So if you give everyone a 34" 70 degree LAB putter, it may work very poorly for ppl who that putter does not fit, if you believe in the lie angle balance concept. 

This is my recollection as well. I believe this was discussed last year possibly even as well?

[cnosil]

41 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

The MGS tests are on OTR putters. MGS most wanted only tests OTR, and I believe a single version, for example a 34" XYZ putter. @cnosil - correct me if i am wrong on the testing.

 

That is correct; except for the single version.  Companies can submit multiple versions for fitting or for separate testing.   MGS will occasionally limit a single brand if they submit too many.   Also submitting equipment that isn't available without special order or a stock option will get the club removed from testing.  

 

56 minutes ago, ijaz429 said:

How is it possible this putter was not included in the most wanted mallet test last week? Are we really going to have to wait another year to see how it stacks up?

OEM have to be willing to submit clubs, follow the rules of submission, and meet eligibility requirements.  

[edingc]

Since we've had such a pleasant spring weather-wise, I've gotten out to practice and play with the L.A.B. more than expected this early in the season and will try to finish up a final, overall review in the next month or so. 

I shot a personal best 75 at my home course Saturday morning. The L.A.B. played a big part of it as I notched 30 putts and, most importantly, no three-putts. The greens had been freshly rolled and were firm and pretty quick by my course's standards. In the past, this would have given me fits but my speed/distance control is vastly improved since switching to the DF 2.1.

I rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 5 and had several other really great putts that bailed me out of a few bad situations. I don't believe I had a second putt longer than about three feet all day. 

Admittedly, this is my third year being a member at this course, and I've now played more than 100 rounds there. I'm learning the greens as a result, but the L.A.B. has done so well at other courses also that I'm not willing to write off my progress with it.

[myherobobhope]

15 minutes ago, edingc said:

Since we've had such a pleasant spring weather-wise, I've gotten out to practice and play with the L.A.B. more than expected this early in the season and will try to finish up a final, overall review in the next month or so. 

I shot a personal best 75 at my home course Saturday morning. The L.A.B. played a big part of it as I notched 30 putts and, most importantly, no three-putts. The greens had been freshly rolled and were firm and pretty quick by my course's standards. In the past, this would have given me fits but my speed/distance control is vastly improved since switching to the DF 2.1.

I rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 5 and had several other really great putts that bailed me out of a few bad situations. I don't believe I had a second putt longer than about three feet all day. 

Admittedly, this is my third year being a member at this course, and I've now played more than 100 rounds there. I'm learning the greens as a result, but the L.A.B. has done so well at other courses also that I'm not willing to write off my progress with it.

Awesome! Congrats on the low round... 

It's interesting to see LAB start to move into more people's bags... one of my buddies just picked one up and loves his. 

I demoed some LABs at a local vendor and liked them, but went a different direction. I think they are neat tech and I'm glad to see people picking them up.

Hope you continue to roll the ball well with it.