In golf, you use only one club on almost every hole, and that's the putter (except for hole-outs, which don't happen often, even for the pros).
The last few feet of your golf hole can sometimes take as many shots as getting the ball down a 400-yard open grassland of fairway and rough. This is why having the right putter is essential to golf (as is having one of the best golf gloves). The folks behind the viral L.A.B. putter know this, and they've created a club that throws convention out the window in favor of a shape that promises to help you hole more putts.
When I went to Carlsbad (possibly home to the most golf companies in any town) to try some secret golf tech (we'll tell you all about that when the time is right, I promise), I blindly hit the course with my new L.A.B. putter.
I skipped the putting green warm-up and didn't try the putter at all before playing the round because I wanted my impressions to be as untainted as possible (outside of watching videos of the putter and seeing my favorite YouTube golfers switching to it in droves). I strapped on my Apple Watch and my favorite Apple Watch golf apps and hit the course.
What did I learn by playing golf with the DF3 without preparation? Let's get into it.
The L.A.B. DF3 I used
Part of the L.A.B. experience is getting fitted. The company's name stands for lie angle balanced, which means the putters are tailored to your height and putting stance. And that's awesome, but I decided to go with a stock model to get the same experience as someone walking into their local PGA Tour Superstore and buying one off the shelf.
With that in mind, here are the putter specs you get if you head to the company's website or your local retailer:
- L.A.B. Golf DF3 putter
- Right-handed
- 35" length
- 69-degree lie angle
- Matte black premium steel shaft
- Press pistol 2-degree white grip
1. There's a transition period
When you buy a L.A.B. putter, you need to understand that there's a learning curve. You won't magically become a better putter the first time you use it. Depending on how long you've used your current putter, you'll have some habits you need to unlearn before the L.A.B. reaches maximum effectiveness.
I made at least three putts from 12 feet or further that I'm confident I would have missed with my current Scotty Cameron Newport 2.
And as mentioned, I did none of the things you're supposed to do to ease that transition.
But that's where I was most impressed. While I didn't suddenly become Tiger Woods on the green, I didn't feel like I was any worse with the putter. If I can putt as well with this new putter as I'm used to with my Scotty Cameron, how good will I be once I go through the transition period? It's exciting to think about.
But if you don't adapt right away, it could just mean your bad habits are more deeply engrained (I've only been golfing for a little over two years, so my habits aren't as long-term). My point is: stick with it if it feels weird because once you lock in, your confidence over the ball will change and confidence is so important in golf.
2. People will ask questions
This could be a pro or a con, but I can promise you people will want to talk to you about your putter. I was playing with people in the golf industry during this particular round, so they're well aware of what L.A.B. is all about. They still asked me lots of questions about how I felt about the putter, and they watched me putt a little more intently to see how it was going.
When playing with more casual golfers, you'll find that they also ask questions, but they'll be more like, "What is that putter you're using," and "Why does it look so weird." They'll probably still wonder whether you like it, how much it was, what made you switch and so on. If you're not a fan of talking on the golf course, this might be the putter for you because it is a conversation starter.
3. I'm sticking with it
I love Scotty Cameron. I have a bunch of overpriced and collectible Scotty Cameron hats, accessories and apparel. As much as I love the brand and am financially invested in it (anyone looking to buy some hats?), I'm sticking with the L.A.B. DF3 putter for now.
It only took one round, but it was enough for me to know I love it. I made at least three putts from 12 feet or further that I'm confident I would have missed with my current Scotty Cameron Newport 2 (which I've used for more than two years). That's at least two strokes off my score, and depending on how badly I missed those two putts, it could have been more.
Perhaps more important, though, is I don't feel like I missed any putters I would have made with my current putter. Outside of a couple of misreads on my part, which would have happened with any putter, I felt as confident as I've ever felt with a putter in my hands — and that's in the first round of using it without following the recommended adjustment steps.
If you're doubtful about trying a L.A.B. putter, take it from a Scotty Cameron super fan: it's worth it.
