Quick Look
L.A.B. Golfs unique design technology has the potential to improve any golfers putting stroke. It is worth a try if you need help with starting putts on-line.
What is it?
L.A.B. Golf has stated to make some waves on tour with Adam Scott, Lucas Glover, Camilo Villegas all sporting a L.A.B. putter in 2023. I decided to take a look at the L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1. This is L.A.B. Golfs most technology packed putter intended to be the model that provides the most benefit to golfers.
Who is it for?
L.A.B. golf believes their product is for every golfer, from tour pros to the weekend golfer. Their Technology and design philosophy is better putter to help all to start your putt online and keep it there.
How?
L.A.B. Golf and the DF2.1, in particular, has 3 distinct areas that set itself apart to help each golfer improve. The first is the one feature which will be part of every L.A.B. product since it is their name, Lie Angle Balance. The principle behind L.A.B. is that putter head is balanced inline with the putter shaft (Lie). This is intended to eliminate any bias the clubhead is placing on the golfer. Think of how holding a club parallel to the ground by the grip and feeling the weight of the head compared to holding the balance point on the shaft. The intended sensation is to feel the club moving without the club resisting.
The comparison of L.A.B. to other clubs is that a “Face balance putter” will cause the club head to open when putting and a Toe-Hang putter will cause it to close the face. L.A.B. believes their putters will stay square to target when in the putting position.
The Second feature that stands apart, is the Forward Press Grip this is standard for the DF2.1 but optional for L.A.B.’s other models. The unique grip forces a forward press which will keep the ball rolling smoother off the face. This also drives an off-centered shaft angle and a center-mounted shaft. This counteracts the rearward shaft lean needed for the club head.
The third stand out feature is the head shape… Can’t tell me you didn’t see that coming. The DF2.1 like most other L.A.B. models has a “distinct” shaping, this is intended to give more stability and MOI to the head to resist movement and stay square. DF2.1 is polarizing to say the least, being large and nontraditionally shaped definitely puts people off.
Where did it succeed?
To test out this putter I bought it on course and spent several hours across multiple weeks getting used to and comparing this to my existing putter
How could it improve?
With the good there is usually some not so good that goes along with it. For the DF2.1 I think the design being so polarizing will turn off may golfer and they wont even give it a chance. The other significant pill to swallow is the cost. With a stock DF2.1 coming in at $399 and going up significantly from there if you want upgraded shaft, Armlock/Broomstick, or unique alignment. For Reference the model I was testing was $684 with an upgraded Accra Shaft and #19 alignment option. With all of that I think the potentially most concerning for some will be the learning curve that may be necessary to adapt to this club. It took me a little over a month to really start seeing make percentage improvement compared to my gamer. This was solely for distance control and plus or minus a few feet can easily turn a modest 2 putt into risky 3 putt territory.
Score
I will have to give the DF2.1Par rating due to high cost and learning curve. This has the opportunity to greatly improve golfer’s putting stats. I have heard stories from other who have seen tremendous fairly immediate success.
Conclusion
I would highly encourage anyone who needs to improve their putting especially those who have poor alignment/ starting line issues to give a L.A.B. putter a try. If you can stomach the asking price or have a local PGA superstore that carries it you may truly give yourself a change to make more putts.
