L.A.B. DF3 Putters - 2024 Forum Review

[GolfSpy MPR]

Just now, TSauer said:

Yosemite Sam

This made me laugh. Not exactly the demeanor I'm trying to cultivate on the greens, but would absolutely make for a sweet headcover

[MattWillGolf]

11 hours ago, TSauer said:

That is fantastic!

[GolfSpy SAM]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I was also thinking about giving my putter a name. Given the color I've chosen, I'm kicking around names of famous redheads, either historical or fictional. (Just for my part, I'm going to exclude actresses, etc.)

I'm also open to groan-inducing puns.

Early leaders: van Gogh or Weasley. Not a huge Harry Potter fanboy myself, but Weasley just seems like a fun putter name.

Please don't forget the greatest comedic redheads of all time - any of these would be an option, as far as I'm concerned:

Carol:

Lucy:

And of course, Conan:

[MattWillGolf]

2 hours ago, jbern said:

I don’t get it… what’s the difference?

I Love the idea of everyone naming their putter! Great start!

 Great write-up on your process so far @MattWillGolf!

Clearly mine will be named Nemo. It’s been ordained.

[GolfSpy MPR]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

And of course, Conan:

The advantage of the name Conan is that I'd have a ready excuse when I gas one way past the hole: "Nuts! Wrong Conan!"

[widget]

2 hours ago, StrokerAce said:

funny thing about this is he says he'd never pay what it costs even though he felt it was a great putter....

LAB putters are awesome but 700+ dollars for a putter??? c'mon. that is insanity.

also stated in the video that if someone was on the fence between spending that $$ on a driver or the DF3 putter the logical choice would be the putter as they would be more likely to shoot lower scores with this putter than the new driver (statistically speaking)…after the ball the putter is the most used piece of equipment

[MattWillGolf]

8 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

Please don't forget the greatest comedic redheads of all time - any of these would be an option, as far as I'm concerned:

Carol:

Lucy:

And of course, Conan:

Showing my age here.

 

[GolfSpy SAM]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

This is absolutely going to have to factor into our reviews.

I have a fairly well-earned reputation around here as a budget golfer. To be sure, I have a lot of gadgets, but they are almost all either from eBay or (more recently) through connections that I've developed in the online golf community that have resulted in some very generous people/companies sending our family gear that we would never plan to purchase ourselves.

With the TPT shaft and counterbalance setup, my DF3 is going to have a website price over $1,000. For me, in my position, I don't know that there is ever a situation in which I would remotely consider spending that kind of money on a putter. When I've bought putters (again, most often on eBay or Callaway Pre-owned), I typically targeting a max price of $125. My Evnroll Midlock was an eBay purchase for $235; I believe that is the most I've ever spent on a putter.

Here's why I think a review like this matters: there are some guys in golf for whom money seems to be no object. If the DF3 is all it seems to be, they're happy to spend $1,000 to save a stroke or three a round. And for some, it doesn't even have to save strokes: some guys just like buying toys.

For my part, I'm generally grateful for those guys: without them, the secondary market wouldn't exist. In three years, they're going to want another toy, and their current putter will be on eBay or Second Swing or Facebook Marketplace.

For my part, then, I want to write this review about my experience with the performance of the DF3 (counting myself incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to get a putter that would otherwise not be accessible to me). If the putter performs well, I hope there are some who read the review and go and buy a L.A.B.

But then, three or four years from now, I'm hoping someone is scouring eBay for a used L.A.B., and is wondering if he should pull the trigger, and maybe he comes across this thread, and it helps him also make an informed decision.

I really love this point of view, as I'm in the exact same position. While I have purchased new clubs (most recently a 3/5 Cobra LTDx Max), they're always either used or several iterations old.  My purchase, after trade-in, of both of those FANTASTIC (and literally new) clubs was $150.  That's very much within my budget.  But $750?  Not so much. 

It's one of the reasons I felt so extremely (and honestly, eternally) grateful for being selected to test two years ago - it was something that I just genuinely would never have had the chance to try, let alone put in the bag.  I would wager there's a way larger percentage of people on our side of the fence than on the side of "I don't care what it costs, I'm going to find a way to do it."  And there's room for both of us at the party, which is awesome.

If the DF3 works out for me, I honestly don't see myself parting ways with my beloved 2.1 - especially now that the wife and kids got me the Alien Headcover for my birthday last week.  But who knows, in 2-3 more years, I could be ready to pass it on to someone looking for a way into the L.A.B. ecosystem at a fraction of the cost.   And even just the thought of that makes me really happy, of being able to spread that joy and excitement that I've had with the putter to someone else.

Anyway, just mostly wanted to jump on the bandwagon of this thought-process, as I super appreciated the reviewer saying that he couldn't see spending that much money - it's a very honest take.  That being said, I've saved WAY more strokes with my 2.1 than with any new Driver, 3 wood, 5 wood or iron set I've ever had. So...the argument is there that it IS worth it.  

That's me, talking in circles once again

 

Also, as for names, right now I'm leaning towards the obvious "Green Arrow" references - Oliver Queen is a bit wordy (and a little too inside-baseball). 

I could go straight up Green Arrow. 

I could go Robin Hood.  

What am I missing? 

 

[GolfSpy SAM]

7 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

The advantage of the name Conan is that I'd have a ready excuse when I gas one way past the hole: "Nuts! Wrong Conan!"

or...RIGHT Conan. 

[GolfSpy MPR]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

or...RIGHT Conan. 

I'm assuming as opposed to the other, which is Left Conan? I'm laughing. And then I'm stopping, before I have to ban myself for talking politics.

[widget]

9 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

I really love this point of view, as I'm in the exact same position. While I have purchased new clubs (most recently a 3/5 Cobra LTDx Max), they're always either used or several iterations old.  My purchase, after trade-in, of both of those FANTASTIC (and literally new) clubs was $150.  That's very much within my budget.  But $750?  Not so much. 

It's one of the reasons I felt so extremely (and honestly, eternally) grateful for being selected to test two years ago - it was something that I just genuinely would never have had the chance to try, let alone put in the bag.  I would wager there's a way larger percentage of people on our side of the fence than on the side of "I don't care what it costs, I'm going to find a way to do it."  And there's room for both of us at the party, which is awesome.

If the DF3 works out for me, I honestly don't see myself parting ways with my beloved 2.1 - especially now that the wife and kids got me the Alien Headcover for my birthday last week.  But who knows, in 2-3 more years, I could be ready to pass it on to someone looking for a way into the L.A.B. ecosystem at a fraction of the cost.   And even just the thought of that makes me really happy, of being able to spread that joy and excitement that I've had with the putter to someone else.

Anyway, just mostly wanted to jump on the bandwagon of this thought-process, as I super appreciated the reviewer saying that he couldn't see spending that much money - it's a very honest take.  That being said, I've saved WAY more strokes with my 2.1 than with any new Driver, 3 wood, 5 wood or iron set I've ever had. So...the argument is there that it IS worth it.  

That's me, talking in circles once again

 

Also, as for names, right now I'm leaning towards the obvious "Green Arrow" references - Oliver Queen is a bit wordy (and a little too inside-baseball). 

I could go straight up Green Arrow. 

I could go Robin Hood.  

What am I missing? 

 

GOBBLIN …(kind of wish i had a green one now instead of black )

Edited April 24 by widget

[GolfSpy SAM]

12 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I'm assuming as opposed to the other, which is Left Conan? I'm laughing. And then I'm stopping, before I have to ban myself for talking politics.

That's why I capitalized the "right", as it made me laugh twice.  Both in "correct" and "republican" - while I can't tell you O'Brien is for sure on the left, I would guess.  

By the way, if you haven't had a chance to check out "Conan Must Go"'s first episode in Norway, it's shockingly funny, especially if you're a Conan fan (not RIGHT Conan, mind you).  

[downlowkey]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I'm also open to groan-inducing puns.

Early leaders: van Gogh or Weasley. Not a huge Harry Potter fanboy myself, but Weasley just seems like a fun putter name.

Prepare to groan… Vincent van Go-In

Because you’ll soon be regarded as formerly misunderstood putting genius and “go in” is what you’ll be exclaiming with every infallible brush stroke that sends your ball dead in the center. Just promise not to cut off an ear and send it to L.A.B. HQ.

 

[GolfSpy MPR]

2 minutes ago, downlowkey said:

Prepare to groan… Vincent van Go-In

Because you’ll soon be regarded as formerly misunderstood putting genius and “go in” is what you’ll be exclaiming with every infallible brush stroke that sends your ball dead in the center. Just promise not to cut off an ear and send it to L.A.B. HQ.

Oh, I like it.

How about this as a headcover:

[downlowkey]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

Oh, I like it.

How about this as a headcover:

If you find a custom cover maker who can make that mulberry blossom, please order two and let me know what I owe ya.

[GolfSpy SAM]

I don't know if Munch had red hair, but this made me laugh out loud.  I call it The Scr3am.

[downlowkey]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

I don't know if Munch had red hair, but this made me laugh out loud.  I call it The Scr3am.

Get outta here with your spell breaking nightmares. Show a little reverence for that magical period between order and delivery of a new putter, when @GolfSpy MPR is free to believe anything (including infinite 1-putts) is possible?

[GolfSpy SAM]

3 minutes ago, downlowkey said:

Get outta here with your spell breaking nightmares. Show a little reverence for that magical period between order and delivery of a new putter, when @GolfSpy MPR is free to believe anything (including infinite 1-putts) is possible?

He's Scr3aming about all the one-putts, that's all

[downlowkey]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

He's Scr3aming about all the one-putts, that's all

I’ll admit that it gave me an idea for a Halloween mask this year. Should make it easy to find the other golfers at parties. #golfersgottasticktogether

Edited April 24 by downlowkey

[GolfSpy MPR]

OK, so my current name finalist list (with the red [putter] head theme):

• Winston
• Weasley
• Conan
• Vincent van Gogh-in

With two more suggested by my daughter:

• Garrett (from Dude Perfect; of the guys in the group, he's my favorite: he's pro-coffee and seems to realize that it's absurd that he's approaching middle age while filming trick shots for a living)
• Red Skull (which I thought was an exceedingly cool name until I read the Wikipedia entry and found he's apparently a Nazi, which ends that name idea)

[Just_the_Chip]

My goldfish arrived. I love it. I was really worried about the LIE angle because I’ve been going through a putter swing change, but it seems to do both my swings just fine. 

[TSauer]

16 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

OK, so my current name finalist list (with the red [putter] head theme):

• Winston
• Weasley
• Conan
• Vincent van Gogh-in

With two more suggested by my daughter:

• Garrett (from Dude Perfect; of the guys in the group, he's my favorite: he's pro-coffee and seems to realize that it's absurd that he's approaching middle age while filming trick shots for a living)
• Red Skull (which I thought was an exceedingly cool name until I read the Wikipedia entry and found he's apparently a Nazi, which ends that name idea)

+1 for Winston and Weasley.

[GolfSpy MPR]

6 minutes ago, Just_the_Chip said:

This picture of the sole is amazing, because it shows a lot more sparkle (in the best sense) and texture than is suggested by a lot of other pictures. Looks awesome!

[Northern Monkey]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I was also thinking about giving my putter a name. Given the color I've chosen, I'm kicking around names of famous redheads, either historical or fictional. (Just for my part, I'm going to exclude actresses, etc.)

I'm also open to groan-inducing puns.

Early leaders: van Gogh or Weasley. Not a huge Harry Potter fanboy myself, but Weasley just seems like a fun putter name.

How about Crookshanks? As well as being ginger there is the golf connection, although hopefully you won’t be shanking the putter

[GolfSpy MPR]

3 minutes ago, Northern Monkey said:

How about Crookshanks? As well as being ginger there is the golf connection, although hopefully you won’t be shanking the putter

I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious, and having anything named "shanks" sitting in my golf bag, hanging out with my wedges and irons, seems like a bad idea to me

[IndyBonzo]

Ok @GolfSpy MPR - what about Jessica?

[Big Deal Walsh]

On 4/23/2024 at 2:27 PM, MattWillGolf said:

My Fitting Experience

To get fit for my putter I used the Remote Fitting option provided on L.A.B. Golf's website. We were instructed to shoot a short video of our putting stroke while wearing golf shoes. The video needs to be shot with the putter head in line with a vertical object such as a wall edge or door jam in the background. The video should be shot at about a 2 foot height and your whole body needs to be visible. You must also provide the length of the putter used in the video as measured from the center of the putter face to end of the putter grip. In my case my putter was 34". In the past you would then email your video to L.A.B. Golf and they would review the video and provide a fitting recommendation. In my case my fitter recommended a putter length of 34.5" with a lie angle of 68° which is 1° flatter than their standard lie.

My Movie-1080p30.mov 7.22 MB · 6 downloads  

Following those recommendations, I had some follow up questions for my fitter. I currently use an Evnroll ER11v which has a head weight of 365 grams. I am comfortable with that head weight. My fitter indicated that their putters are on the lighter side and if I was comfortable with that weight then I should select the Heavier head weight option which for my build adds 15 grams of weight to the head. When it came to shaft selection, I did some research on the L.A.B. Golf website and it was clear to me that there was greater stability offered by a graphite shaft. So now to determine which graphite shaft seemed right for me. I asked my fitter about how L.A.B. Golf ranked the shafts in terms of feel. He listed the shafts in terms of feel (soft to firm) it goes Accra, Steel, BGT, TPT. I wanted something in the middle so I selected the BGT Stabilty ONE shaft. I went with the "double line" alignment mark. That seemed to suit my eye best and it is similar to the alignment mark on my Evnroll ER11v which I really like. 

My Build

DF3 Custom

Hand: RIGHT

Putting style: STANDARD

Head weight: HEAVIER

Shaft: BGT Stability ONE

Shaft length: 34.5″

Lie angle: 68

Putter color: DF3 - Orange

Alignment mark: I

Grip Selection: Press Pistol 2 Degree - Right

Headcover selection: DF3 Headcover - Black

The order for the putter has been submitted. 

 

I love the choice for the alignment marker! For some reason those 2 lines just make sense to me. Hope you enjoy it! 

[Cfhandyman]

9 hours ago, jbern said:

I Love the idea of everyone naming their putter! Great start!

6 hours ago, MattWillGolf said:

Clearly mine will be named Nemo. It’s been ordained.

5 hours ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

I don't know if Munch had red hair, but this made me laugh out loud.  I call it The Scr3am.

 

23 hours ago, CFreddie said:

And good news, I’ve already got a name for it!

I’m loving the idea of naming our putters. So far we have orange, red, black, blue and green. I have this blue beauty

 So I need help and input on what we should name this bad boy. So far, I’ve come up with the following: Blue Devil, big blue, blue thunder, Excalibur and gimme the blues. What do people think or what would you suggest?  I’m open to suggestion. 

[CFreddie]

Wow - seems like I missed out on a TON today (serves me right for playing golf)   

@GolfSpy MPR - I'm liking Wesley.

@GolfSpy SAM - I'd go Robin Hood.

@Cfhandyman - how about the Beast?

I'm a little worried what I'm end up with now, given my color choice 

Unfortunately, Calvin had to punt this evening on our call, so we pushed to Friday.  Stay tuned!

Edited April 24 by CFreddie

[Just_the_Chip]

23 hours ago, TJ Hall said:

This is amazing…need to figure out some way to get that on a headcover!

I’ve been looking for a custom headcover person to make me a giant Pepperidge farm goldfish headcover

Edited April 25 by Just_the_Chip