Equipment
Q&A: Dirty Larry Golf, makers of the Navigator
As golfers, we’re always looking for the next best training aid or piece of equipment that’s going to take our games to the next level. And a new training aid that’s promising quick results is the Navigator by Dirty Larry Golf, a putting aid made to improve putter face aim.
After testing the putting aid in our review, the company may be onto something. The Navigator helped reviewer Ross Durren drastically improve his putting and aim within just five minutes.
Related: GolfWRX’s full review of the Navigator
Recently, Durren had the opportunity to speak with co-founder and co-creator of the Navigator, Dave Nastalski, to hear more about the company and its product.
The Interview
Ross Durren (RD): Tell me about the origin of the company’s name?
Dave (Nastalski) (DN): Larry, my business partner, got his nickname at the local track by hustling myself and other college kids out on the golf course. He was 65 when I met him. I was a 19-year-old freshman at NC State, and I played to a +1. I lost $55 to him the first time we played. He didn’t hit it a long ways off the tee, but he made everything with the flat stick. Eventually, someone hung a sign in the pro shop with his picture attached that said, “Don’t play with this guy. He’s dirty, and he’ll take all your money.” When the company was formed in 2013, we felt it fitting to name it in his honor since the idea was born from his putting prowess.
RD: When and how did you get the idea for the Navigator?
DN: Dirty Larry doesn’t have the prettiest putting stroke in the world. In fact, he cuts across it like Billy Mayfair. But like Billy, he knows what’s important when it comes to getting the ball in the hole. That starts with face angle. Larry wanted to give golfers an easy way to tap into what he knew about putting. And the Navigator was born. It shows you where you’re aimed and trains your eyes to start the ball on line, regardless of what your stroke looks like.
RD: Why a putting aid?
DN: Because it’s the fastest way for any golfer to improve his or her score. We know it’s not as glamorous as hitting the long ball, but if more golfers would spend some time on the putting green, the national handicap average would plummet. We’re trying to spread the word and get that message out there. We built a simple and fun device to help golfers make more putts, and ultimately enjoy this game more.
RD: How long did it take to develop the first prototype? The final product?
DN: We started about three years ago with initial prototyping that included sandwich bag clips and pipe cleaners. From there, it took nine full scale revisions on 3D printers before we had the features and design exactly how we wanted it. We built an instrument that is high functioning and very detailed. We’re not talking about some cheap piece of plastic.
RD: How is the Navigator different from the other putting aids on the market?
DN: Simplicity is key. A lot of other putting aids on the market require a doctorate just to get it on our putter or get the station set up. Either that, or they use lasers that have expensive batteries and a lot of times don’t train the correct motor memory process. We’ve found that with the Navigator’s alignment rods, you focus more on starting the ball on line and not where a laser might be pointing down at the hole. Thus, the skill retention is better. We built a device that makes your training easy, portable, and instantly effective. “No Laser, No Batteries, No Hassle.”
RD: In as few words as possible tell me why golfers need the Navigator.
DN: Most golfers have no idea where they are actually aimed. Spend five minutes with the Navigator, and you’ll know immediately why you’re missing putts you should be making.
RD: Where can our readers go to buy the Navigator?
DN: We sell direct from our website. To learn more about the product, please visit our product page.
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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Jay
Feb 17, 2016 at 10:10 am
Have three of them on the way for me and some friends. Will let you all know what we think. Just beware their shipping cost – had a coupon for free shipping, but any type of expedited shipping was ridiculous. Wanted $150 to overnight it from NC to TN – thats more than we paid for the product
Jay
Feb 21, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Well – this thing is incredible – best putting aid I’ve ever used – easy on/off and immediate results.
James Smith
Feb 10, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Yo, you need to get this thing. It’s improved my putting so much, of course I was terrible and had no idea where I was actually was aiming the putter. In addition, there was a problem with my alignment rods, and I emailed them and they shipped me new rods to the Netherlands the next day. I got a personal hand written note from Dave. This is first class service in my opinion and highly appreciated by me. Who else would do this? Get this thing already.