Before getting into the review, if you can't read a green, pick a line or judge pace, then a new putter will not solve your problems. Invest some time to learn these skills before going for a fitting and you will get much greater benefit. I know that sounds rich coming from me, especially given how many putters I've gone through over the years, but it's true! My lessons with Mike Rae at Drumoig and Mike Lander at the Academy have produced big improvements in my green reading and aim. Most (if not all) of my putting issues are mental/confidence-driven! Putting is a beguiling combination of art and science. I believe I've got a decent grasp on the art part, so let's see if the science of putter design is the missing link. Maybe even the L.A.B. Link.1 putter!!
Who and what are L.A.B Putters?
If you've not heard of L.A.B. Putters then where have you been? I know a couple of people who were early adopters of the DF2.1 and after Adam Scott started using the broomstick model, I started noticing them more on tour. Their profile exploded when Lucas Glover had his storming end to the 2023 season using the Mezz Max broomstick. If you listen to interviews with the CEO, he says orders went mad after that. Now it seems I can't open YouTube without seeing someone reviewing the new DF3 or experimenting with the other models (especially the broomstick). Watching the recent Cognizant Classic from Florida, I noticed several players using L.A.B. putters. Even Phil Mickelson had one in the bag over on LIV and that's a massive change for him. My understanding is that L.A.B. doesn't pay anyone to use their putters, so these are professional golfers making their own choices.
L.A.B. stands for Lie Angle Balanced. These putters are designed to eliminate torque during the putting stroke and bring the head back square at impact. All other putters on the market will twist to some degree during the swing, which can lead some players to try and manipulate the club to bring it back square. Therefore, in theory, you should be able to make a smoother, more repeatable stroke with a L.A.B. putter. For more detailed information I would direct you here https://labgolf.com/low-torque-putter-revolution/ The L.A.B. 101 section of their website is an excellent resource and explains everything much better than I can.
The fitting experience with Adam at Auchterlonies
I've been interested in L.A.B. putters since my friend Graeme Clark started using the DF2.1 a few years ago. Despite his eulogising, I just couldn't get comfortable with the looks. When they launched the Link.1 and the Mezz, my interest increased and I would always pick them up for a "waggle" in Auchterlonies. I've continued to meet more players using them (mostly Mezz) and I always ask how they find them. Most are evangelical, with comments like "it's my cheat stick" or "it's my magic wand" being common. Some have bought them speculatively in standard specs and others have gone through the L.A.B. online fitting service (more below). Given how much these putters cost, I've not been prepared to use either of those methods. When Adam Legg at Auchterlonies said he had the fitting kit and the new DF3 was about to be released, I thought it was the perfect chance to try them properly and booked an appointment.
Adam knows my history with putters and also my likes and dislikes. While familiarising myself with the L.A.B. range in the fitting bay, we had a wide-ranging conversation about eye dominance, posture, the impact of my glasses, my miss tendency and what frustrates me most about putting. Addressing the point I made at the start of the blog, we also chatted about how I read greens and assess pace. Because we still had my SAM data from the last session we already know I can make a good, repeatable stroke in the studio. Therefore we decided not to repeat SAM analysis this time and go straight into the L.A.B. fitting itself.
Can you fit a putter correctly online?
L.A.B think you can, but I've got some serious doubts! Static measurements are taken for preferred length and lie using an adjustable version of the DF2.1. You stand in the posure you feel most comfortable with and where you you best see the line of the putt. The club is then tightened and the measurements are recorded. My fitting came out at 33 inch long with a 73 degree lie angle. When I did the online fitting https://labgolf.com/remote-fitting/, it recommended 32.5 inch long with a 68 degree lie angle. That's a considerable difference between the two methods and justifies my scepticism towards the online method. For the online fitting, you use your current putter. If you have manipulated your posture to fit that club then I would suggest you are going to get the wrong results using this method. If anyone from L.A.B. happens to read this review, I'd be interested to hear their thoughts about this. When I did a similar exercise with Bruce Rearick he has you stand in putting posture WITHOUT a putter. This will more accurately reflect your natural tendencies and more closely resembles the in-person method above. Adam thought I might have manipulated the handle a bit so we split the difference between the fittings and adjusted the DF2.1 to 71 degrees and 33 inches long, then hit some putts. My goodness, it performed well!
Moving swiftly on, I tried the Link.1, Mezz and DF3, before I settled on DF3 as my preferred shape. The Link failed the confidence test on short putts and I wasn't keen on the shape of the Mezz or the Press 1.5 grip. Unfortunately, Adam's demo DF3 was a standard 35 inches long and 69 degree lie, so I had to grip down and manipulate the lie slightly when trying it out. As I will come on to later regarding cost, I was keen to see if I could fit into a standard spec putter. Gripping down a couple of inches was fine but we could both see that I was manipulating the lie angle somewhat. Despite achieving decent results (detailed below), the custom specs would be the best option.
Testing, testing, testing
The studio only has three different lengths of putt and you soon get used to them, so Adam suggested I take the club away for a couple of days to try on the academy practice green and on course if possible. He also suggested I take a Mezz with the optional Accra shaft upgrade. Obviously, I jumped at the chance and headed to the practice green. Given the cost of this putter, I didn't want to make a purchase decision based only on how it performed in the studio. I would strongly urge anyone doing a putter fitting to find a facility where you can try the putter on a real green using a wide variety of different putts. Like sports teams, putters can look great on paper but perform poorly on grass! Testing inside isn't a true reflection. As Adam didn't have another L.A.B. fitting booked for a couple of days, I was fortunate to get an even longer trial.
Living in St Andrews, I am extremely fortunate to have such fantastic practice facilities close by. The last picture with the cored green is at The Duke's with the rest all being at the Academy. I set up several challenges including round-the-clock from 3ft, 6ft and 9ft, a ladder drill and a gate drill to check my start line. Without hitting the same putt twice, I took random putts with different lengths and breaks to check distance control. Then I finished with a par 2 trip around the green using one ball. You only get one attempt on the course, so practice should be as close to that as possible. I used games to get some pressure into the practice sessions, especially for short putts. Day 1, had two practice sessions on two different greens. On day two I put the DF3 head-to-head with my Toulon Atlanta and also spent some time using my PuttOut mat and Devil Ball in the garage. On day 3, I played 9 holes on the Eden course and spent more time on the Academy practice green doing further head to head testing.
The indoor testing had some interesting results. If you've not heard of the Devil Ball you can find more information here https://puttout.golf/products/devil-ball. It's an easy-to-use practice aid for assessing impact angle. It proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Maranello is NOT the putter for me. I could hardly keep the ball on the mat, it was coming off the face at such wild angles. The comparison between the DF3 and the Toulon Atlanta was much closer. If I had to call it, I'd say I was initially more consistent with the Atlanta than the DF3 but the DF3 improved as I got used to it. The grip on the DF3 is too large to use my Blast Motion sensor, so I can't see what was happening in my swing, but I had a slight tendency to start the Devil Ball right. Moving the ball position around made improved the contact. Moving to real balls saw the DF3 pull ahead of the Atlanta. My pace control was better and I "holed" the ball in the Perfect Putt more often. Both putters outperformed the other options and I would call this test a draw. The Atlanta is a good example of a putter that has performed well indoors but less well on grass, particularly with shorter putts. I wouldn't be trying the DF3 otherwise!
Looks
In my opinion, the DF3 is the most attractive option in the current L.A.B. line-up, although its unconventional looks will still not appeal to everyone. The photo here doesn't do the putter justice and its size is more appealing when you get it in hand. It is considerably smaller than the DF2.1 and not much larger than how I remember the original Taylormade Spiders. It certainly can't be any bigger than the one that Brian Harman uses! Owning more compact mallets, I was initially concerned about the size, but quickly got used to it. In fact, after about 10 minutes I stopped noticing the head altogether as my attention was drawn almost exclusively to the T alignment lines. The rest of the head almost melted away, which was an odd sensation. The Atlanta wins for looks, but neither putters can match the beautiful Maranello.
Winner: Toulon Atlanta
Grips
The new pistol grip is excellent and I far preferred it to the other L.A.B. grips I tried. It is very disappointing that it only comes in white though, as black would be much more practical. A quick look at Adam's Mezz, with the same grip, proves how quickly it will discolour. I don't think any white grips, from any brands, age particularly well.
My Atlanta is fitted with my all-time favourite putter grip, the Lamkin Deep Etched. But being totally honest, I slightly preferred the shape and feel of the new L.A.B. grip. Please offer a black one!
Winner: DF3, but only just
Feel
Just like looks, sound/feel are also very personal. The DF3 makes a reassuring "clunk" that was a nice, solid sound. The Mezz had more of a high-pitched "ting" that I really didn't like. Another golfer close by was using a Mezz with the standard steel shaft, so I asked if he would mind swapping to see if we felt any differences. Interestingly, the Mezz with the steel shaft had a similar sound to the DF3. Neither of us liked the sound with the Accra upgrade or noticed any significant difference in how putts performed. That's an easy "no" to the Accra shaft upgrade.
I've always liked the feel of my Atlanta. Toulon make lovely milled heads with a feel that's just the right balance of firmness off the face. It's also make a similar "clunk" sound to the L.A.B. I've retrofitted a KBS One-Step and far prefer it to the original StokeLab.
Winner: Draw
Performance: alignment
Even though the DF3 wasn't in my specification, it continued to impress. Putting practice has never filled me with enthusiasm, but I enjoyed using this putter so much that I've had four long sessions with it. I particularly like the T alignment aid on top of the head and found it easy to aim, most especially on shorter putts. I like the similar arrangement on my Maranello too. I wasn't keen on the small single line on the Mezz and the back flange line used on the Link.1. I've never liked the large flange line on the Atlanta and wish I'd found one with a top line instead.
Winner: DF3, especially with short putts
Performance: lag putting and pace control
Moving to pace control, I found the DF3 much better than the Mezz, which I felt had a hotter face and was difficult to control. Was this due to the Accra shaft? I've seen some reviews talk about needing to grip these putters more lightly than conventional putters, but I didn't feel the need to make any changes. If you're gripping your current putter too tightly then that's probably the first thing you should work on. The big positive with lag putting was that I wasn't worried about second putts, as I was already more confident from shorter distances.
The Atlanta acquitted itself well in these tests too but has the big benefit of familiarity from use over two seasons. The main difference was that I was less confident on the second putts with it. My testing highlights that I can indeed putt well with the Atlanta, but the L.A.B. just inspired more confidence.
Winner: DF3
Performance on the course
For an extended test, I managed to play 9 holes on the Eden course. Main greens have been aerated and sanded recently but the Eden greens seem to be further into their recovery and were rolling nicely. There was nothing worse than a two putt during the round and the DF3 acquitted itself very nicely. Play was slow so I had a chance to take some extra practice putts and compare with the Atlanta while I was waiting for the tee boxes to clear. The Atlanta benefits again from immediate familiarity, but the more I used the DF3, the more confident I got with it. It was easier to swing the Atlanta hard for very long putts, but I'm sure I would get used to that with the DF3 with more practice. If there was a dominant miss, it was to the right, whereas the Atlanta was to the left. This was similar to the Devil Ball experiment.
Winner: DF3, but it was close
Conclusion
L.A.B. advertising uses the phrase, "Less to think about" and that really sums up this putter. Especially when it came to my nemisis of short putts. I've been very fortunate to benefit from an extended test with it and would like to thank Adam Legg and Auchterlonies again for that opportunity. I've needed the time though as this is an expensive club, and not one to buy on a whim or after a short session on mat. I've been very fortunate to subject it to comprehensive testing.
If you are lucky and fit the standard specification, the DF3 costs around £459, but if, like me me you need a custom spec then it will set you back an eye-watering £549. That's a significant difference to alter the length and lie. Playing about with custom shafts and different alignment patterns, I even got the price up to a staggering £944!
However, with L.A.B. putters you're getting something truly innovative. You're paying for years of research and development into the technology and the fact that all putters currently have to be balanced by hand, which is labour-intensive. L.A.B. CEO Sam Hahn claims his margins are lower than other manufacturers and when I watch videos of the factory and build process, I can believe him. Modern drivers now regularly cost over £500, yet seem to change every six months and players seem happy to pay that for the promise of longer, more consistent drives. We use our putter more often, will (hopefully) keep it longer and it could contribute more to lowering your scores. After all, greater confidence putting undoubtedly has a beneficial impact on the rest of your game too.
So I'm left asking myself, "How much is confidence worth?" Because confidence was the primary thing this putter gave me over my Atlanta. If I've aimed it correctly, it's going in. There were no horrible, wobbly backswings or twitchy, wristy, steery stabs at the ball either. Having trialled the DF3 for an extended period, including on the course, it simply made me feel positive about putting again. I believe that confidence has been my missing link to better putting and that's what the DF3 gives me. Therefore, it's worth the investment for me and I've placed an order.
Now, does anyone want to buy my old putters? I need to raise some money!!
UPDATE
I've had this putter for a few weeks now and it hasn't worked out as hoped. You can read about how I've gotten on with it by following this link.
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