L.A.B. Golf’s Peculiar Putters

L.A.B. Golf putters weren’t the story of 2024, of course, but for anyone who had read about them and seen Adam Scott, Will Zalatoris, Lucas Glover, Camilo Villegas, Charles Howell, Charl Schwartzel, or Greyson Murray (RIP) use one without ever actually trying one themselves, it just seemed that way as sightings and reviews of L.A.B.’s peculiar-looking clubs reached certain levels.

These putters have been around for six years or more since Bill Presse began experimenting with torque to develop something that, unlike everything else on the market, didn’t twist open and closed during the stroke – something that necessitates some manipulation on your part to bring the putter face back to square at the moment of impact.

To cut a long story short, the technology Presse used in his early Directed Force club is what distinguishes L.A.B. (‘Lie, Angle, Balance’) Golf putters from the competition, and we recommend you watch the ‘Revealer’ video on the company’s website to understand the fundamental difference between L.A.B. and everything else. These putters are not face-balanced or toe-hang clubs but are designed so that the face always remains square to the arc of your stroke. That, says Sam Hahn, the Bob Dylan/Andy Samberg/Jermain Clement lookalike who heads L.A.B., makes putting “as easy as picking the right line, the right speed, and making your natural stroke.”

You’d be forgiven for thinking it might take time for the typical golfer who has owned a face-balanced or toe-hang putter for their entire golfing lives (i.e. everyone) to adapt to not having to manipulate the face no matter how conscious or unaware of it they were. But, in the admittedly short time we’ve had to test the DF3, that hasn’t been the case.

The look, the pre-set forward-leaning shaft (and the odd position from which the shaft emerges from the grip), and the fact the putter head is center-shafted, did take a little getting used to, but it didn’t take long to sense the elevated feel L.A.B. Golf claims and start rolling the ball effectively. Its extensive fitting program is available online or in-person at one of the 25 stores/pro shops that partner with L.A.B. Golf in and around Denver.
There are currently seven models available – OZ.1i, OZ.1, DF3, MEZZ.1, MEZZ.1 MAX, LINK.1. DF 2.1

Prices range from $379 (DF 2.1 Stock) to $599 (Custom order for the OZ.1i – the OZ.1i features a stainless steel insert that creates a firmer feel and faster ball speeds). Custom orders for all models, besides the OZ.1i, are $559.
Stock lengths – 33” – 35”
Right and left-hand
labgolf.com