L.A.B. Putters ?

[Oops!]

Whenever I browse through the (eBay) classifieds, I come across an L.A.B. putter almost every day. It really makes me wonder: are these clubs really that bad, or do buyers simply not know how to use them? Are they as ‘high-tech’ as a state-of-the-art racing yacht, which only delivers its optimal performance when handled by a professional crew within a very narrow window?

Given the price and the fact that these putters are practically made to measure, I’m certainly more than surprised at how often they’re put up for sale.

And before anyone asks: No, I won’t be buying one! I just find L.A.B. putters too ugly – and I’d have to look at them too often and for too long if I played with one.

I’m not going to put myself through that…!

 

[Bagger Vance]

LAB putters have been copied to death by the Chinese, probably most of the ones on eBay are fakes. Buy one for £100, get the grip slightly grubby then pass it off as genuine for 3 times what you paid for it.

 

[Oops!]

Yep, didn‘t think of that … !

 

[Oddsocks]

If they buyer can’t provide a receipt (as generally all custom fitted) steer clear!

I’ve tried the Mez and Ozi and really like them both, defo feel like I putt better with one however this is the same with every putter I try until I buy it.

I have got my eye on one in my spec and they buyer has the receipt so I am very very tempted.

 

[Oops!]

So why does he sell it ?

 

[Burnsey]

A thread knocking something by someone who has no clue about the subject.

Trolling at its best.

 

[Neilds]

A thread knocking something by someone who has no clue about the subject.

Trolling at its best.

I totally disagree, he is simply asking why so many are for sale when they are meant to be so amazing. No need to get all defensive just because you love them.

 

[Burnsey]

I totally disagree, he is simply asking why so many are for sale when they are meant to be so amazing. No need to get all defensive just because you love them.

You know me? No.

I don't love them. Can you actually love a putter, or are you trolling too?

What are the stats - bought versus sold - compared to other manufacturers?

Just an utter waste of bandwidth.

 

[clubchamp98]

I have a Mez bought of GCFC.
My specs are bog standard 69* did the online fitting on website.
It’s very good although I don’t really like the offset grip.

But and it’s a big but.
I still miss putts.
It’s not a magic wand you still have to be able to putt well.

My lag putting is very good with it.
But I noticed that when I miss it’s always left.
This has happened with every putter I have owned.

So yes there good.
Worth £600 + fitting cost NO.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

You know me? No.

I don't love them. Can you actually love a putter, or are you trolling too?

What are the stats - bought versus sold - compared to other manufacturers?

Just an utter waste of bandwidth.

You are aware if you think something is a waste of bandwidth you don’t have to comment right !

God forbid someone with a genuine wonder about something golf related asks a question on a golf forum

As for LAB putters why are so many for sale probably because:
A) shed loads are fakes
B) people have realised £500+ for a putter is a waste of time and doesn’t magically improve their game
C) IMO Zero torque is a farce and just the next amazing marketing gimmick, especially since LAB themselves have come out since and said there is no such thing as ZT

 

[nickjdavis]

Some of the earlier models are quite light and, being milled from Aluminium, my experience was that they never delivered a solid feel at impact...quite a hollow and "ringy" sort of sensation. Many also featured the shaft/grip with a built in forward press, again something that is totally alien to most other traditional putters. The early models were also predominantly center shafted...again something that many dont like....and that's even before we come to the head shape...you look at things like Scotty Camerons, Bettinardis etc etc and they look almost like finely crafted pieces of art...the LAB putters are more... industrial, for want of a better word.

Many folks will have bought them to try out the "latest thing" (and you didnt necessarily have to have one custom fitted....there were plenty of opportunities to buy where you just told the seller what length and lie angle you wanted) and found they couldn't get on with them. There are also no doubt many "Temu versions" out there that can be passed off as the real thing. As previously noted, they are not an instant cure for a persons putting ills.

I hated my original DF2.1 (which I bought maybe a year after they were first released...so quite a long time ago in terms of how long LAB have been around).....primarily for the ringy impact sensation and the lack of solidity. My recently purchased Oz1i is much better, primarily due to the stainless insert and the fact that i went for a heavier head when fitted....I'm still not convinced by the fat grip though (non forward press)....I might change it for a more traditional pistol style grip which sits in my hands much better.

So, altogether, in my opinion, LAB, both visually and technologically are quite a polarising brand...many folk will buy them and many will then find they are not the fairy dust they were looking for....hence there is a healthy trade on reselling sites - if you can pick the good ones out from the fakes.

 

[Bagger Vance]

You know me? No.

I don't love them. Can you actually love a putter, or are you trolling too?

What are the stats - bought versus sold - compared to other manufacturers?

Just an utter waste of bandwidth.

Like I said, there are loads on ebay because people buy fake ones, use them for a bit so they have a slightly used look then sell them on ebay as 'tried it but not for me' You can buy them on Temu for £100, I've seen and tried them (guy at my club has one) and they are pretty much identical to a genuine £5/600 one. If anything this thread is worthwhile just to highlight the scam that is going on.

 

[Orikoru]

I would hazard a guess that people bought them thinking they were the holy grail to finally make them hole putts - and when that didn't prove to be the case, well, it's too expensive to have it sitting around in a cupboard so up on ebay it goes. Also I believe they do an 'online fitting' where you send them a video of yourself and your measurements and they fit it to you. Crucially though this means people are taking a punt on buying them without ever hitting one.

I'm going to 'The British Golf Show' this Friday where supposedly LAB will be there with a stand, so I might finally get to hit one of these things and see what they're like. Hopefully they're crap since I can't afford one. Might be buying one those fakes from ebay.

 

[timd77]

I wouldn’t mind having a go with one, but I’m wondering how much can they actually improve my putting? I’m very sceptical but like I say, I’d give it a go. Unfortunately they’re way too expensive to take a punt.

The other thing is, you don’t see many pros using them. Those boys are pretty much like robots when it comes to putting, you can be fairly sure that they put the same stroke on every time. So why aren’t they using them?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I wouldn’t mind having a go with one, but I’m wondering how much can they actually improve my putting? I’m very sceptical but like I say, I’d give it a go. Unfortunately they’re way too expensive to take a punt.

The other thing is, you don’t see many pros using them. Those boys are pretty much like robots when it comes to putting, you can be fairly sure that they put the same stroke on every time. So why aren’t they using them?

That’s last line ! Because nobody is paying them to!

Most Pro’s are contracted to their brands and use what the best offering fits the contract gives them. Pretty much why you see every TM player using a Spider, Titleist player using a Scotty, Ping players using their putter’s, Callaway players use Odyssey, even Fitzpatrick has had Bettinardi make him an exact copy of his old Yes putter as they contract him but he wants was comfortable.

 

[Oddsocks]

So why does he sell it ?

Maybe he also bought it on the hype and preferred his old one.

The sceptic in me also believes some are purchased with non legit payments, this defo seems a trend across the south with Scottie’s.

A lot using the excuse “ won in a comp but sticking with my original , still in wrapper “ etc etc.

 

[Pants]

That’s last line ! Because nobody is paying them to!

Most Pro’s are contracted to their brands and use what the best offering fits the contract gives them. Pretty much why you see every TM player using a Spider, Titleist player using a Scotty, Ping players using their putter’s, Callaway players use Odyssey, even Fitzpatrick has had Bettinardi make him an exact copy of his old Yes putter as they contract him but he wants was comfortable.

I've always believed that if you can putt then you can putt with almost anything. If you can't putt then no amount of money spent on a putter will help and some of the money would possibly be more value being spent on a putting lesson or two. (imho of course)

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I've always believed that if you can putt then you can putt with almost anything. If you can't putt then no amount of money spent on a putter will help and some of the money would possibly be more value being spent on a putting lesson or two. (imho of course)

Sums it up pretty well for me that

I’d say I’m a natural putter, don’t think about mechanics to much, prefer an old fashioned blade and every thing is about feel for distance and line. If you saw my stoke it’s more like a Crenshaw/Faxon Open stance and quite lazy. Soon as I go to anything technical based it falls apart.

I think people over complicate putting and that’s where all the YIPs and brain issues get in the way causing tension and jabbing at it. I think a lesson or 2 with a good pro who can make the putting stroke the simplest part of the game would be worth hundreds more than a LAB or any other expensive putter.

 

[Springveldt]

LAB putters have been copied to death by the Chinese, probably most of the ones on eBay are fakes. Buy one for £100, get the grip slightly grubby then pass it off as genuine for 3 times what you paid for it.

Totally agree, I'd be very, very wary of buying a second hand one on eBay unless the buyer could show me the receipt. Far too many knockoffs on Temu, AliExpress etc that look almost identical to the originals. I've actually come across 3 different people now that have knockoffs when playing with them. All 3 have openly told me it's a knockoff when I mentioned the putter during the round.

 

[Burnsey]

Like I said, there are loads on ebay because people buy fake ones, use them for a bit so they have a slightly used look then sell them on ebay as 'tried it but not for me' You can buy them on Temu for £100, I've seen and tried them (guy at my club has one) and they are pretty much identical to a genuine £5/600 one. If anything this thread is worthwhile just to highlight the scam that is going on.

It also highlights how many people buy fakes because they are 'identical' and they save money.

It's a really sad world we live in.