Equipment
Spotted: L.A.B. DF3 prototype putter
L.A.B. Golf has been one of the biggest innovators and proponents of lie angle balanced putters for a while now. Lie angle balance technology designs a putter head that keeps the putter face square to the arc throughout the stroke. This design makes it much easier for golfers to keep the putter face square to the target and get the ball on the correct starting line.
We have seen more and more L.A.B. putters on tour over the past couple of years, and the company even has a couple of wins on their resume to validate the technology. We spotted a new model out at the 2024 Sony Open, the DF3, that looks like it could be the replacement for the DF2.1 that is in the current lineup.
We caught up with L.A.B. Golf CEO Sam Hahn at the Sony to ask about the new putter. Here’s what he said about what’s new:
“I would say, refined technology. They feel better, sound better, almost all of the forgiveness of the DF 2.1 but in a much smaller package, slightly higher ball speeds, That hole in back picks up the ball. Full range of custom options available. Nobody on tour is putting it in play just yet but I think you’ll see quite a few testing in the desert. This is the first they’ve seen it.”
The new DF3 does look a little more compact and thicker from sole to the top of the putter. The current DF2.1 has a much more rounded look, whereas the new DF3 has sharper angles and defined edges. The eight sole weights have also been spread out across the sole, half near the face and the other half sightly rearward, where the DF2.1 had six weights focused in the center of the head. These weights are not meant for you to change and are perfectly selected during your build to ensure specs are dialed in.
On the putting green there were a few different alignment markings to choose from, and L.A.B. has always offered a lot of options. The face looks to be similar to L.A.B.’s popular Mezz.1 putter with horizontal lines milled into it. This face has offered a little softer feel and sound, along with good forward roll.
Hahn also said this new putter was a design the company built from listening to golfer feedback.
“This putter is the product of just simply listening to our customers. At the factory, we are always tinkering and screwing around with our different models. There isn’t much consistency as to who uses what. When the D3 was available to us internally, virtually every one of us switched immediately. It’s so good.”
We’ll keep you informed if we hear the DF3 is headed to retail.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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Mark Johnson
Jan 11, 2024 at 9:09 am
Very curious about head material, and the impact on “sound.” I love my Mezz.1 but could not get along with the DF2.1 because of the sound. I tried but could not get used to it/like it.
mike
Feb 5, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Interesting! In the store, the 2.1 felt so good with very good feedback off the face, while the Mezz line felt muted to me, but it remained very solid and square feeling throughout the stroke.
I did not putt for long enough to really give a good fair review. The whole diagonal fwd press grip threw me off a bit in the beginning, but it grew on me quickly. The only thing id change would be the size of the 2.1, so the df3 might be exactly what im looking for! TBD
All I know is though, the 2.1 felt great and basically stroked itself