LAB Directed Force 3 Putter Review
I’ve been using and enjoying my old L.A.B. putter for years now, so I decided to try the new Directed Force 3 model. Just like the old one, I believe it’s the easiest putter to build confidence and consistency with and get the ball in the cup, but it has some nice updates.
Why Would You Buy a $450+ Putter?
The key to the L.A.B. series of putters is the technology behind them. These are perfectly weighted, so you don’t have to turn your hands to keep the face straight through impact (L.A.B. = Lie Angle Balanced). You might not notice you’re doing this with your current putter, but it’ll ultimately lead to more misses.
They also have forward-press grips to maintain a good face position and prevent hand flipping. Really, all you need to do is line up the putt and get as simple and smooth a shoulder-rocking motion as you can.
With the technology built into them, these putters can be a little more like drivers. The nice thing is that after investing, you can easily use it for years to come.
I recommend finding a reseller and testing some of these out. Here are a couple tips to get the most out of the experience:
- Due to the Press Grip, try putting the putter shaft about in the middle to slightly forward of the center of your stance (you can play with exactly where)
- Try putting it without your thumbs on the grip (or even your pointer fingers) to reduce the tendency to try and steer the putter (this is something you’ll need to unlearn, and then you can put them back on).
What I Love About This Putter
Looking at this putter, you can see that L.A.B. has added some nice details to make this a premium product (beyond just the amazing technology). Some of these include:
- A nice magnetic closure, soft-lined putter cover with logo pattern
- A great-looking grip with logo details
- Various alignment marking options if custom-built
- A hole cut in the back of the putter that lets you pick up the ball without bending over
The putter’s feel and sound are both excellent and very forgiving.
Putter Options
If you go to the store, you’ll probably see this putter in several stock options:
- Standard, Arm-Lock, or Broomstick
- 69-degree lie angle (a common option that suites most golfers)
- 34″ or 35″ shaft length
- White pistol grip
- Black, blue, and/or red color
But if you custom-order, you can change:
- Counterbalanced
- Head weight
- Custom shafts, length, and lie angle
- Additional colors and alignment marks
- A variety of different grip options
Getting Fitted
If you’re going to spend this much on a putter, I’d recommend getting fitted to ensure you’ve got the right lie angle and length for your setup. You can find fitting locations on a map or do an online fitting by submitting a video.
Most people will be close to the stock settings, but if you’re not, setting up to fit the putter could make you feel unnatural or leave the toe or heel of the putter up in the air, resulting in a consistent left or right miss.
The main reason I switched putters is that I’ve changed my putting stroke, which resulted in needing a different lie angle to prevent this from happening. So, I figured I might as well check out this new model to see if I liked it.
Directed Force 3 vs Directed Force 2.1
When comparing the DF 3 to the DF 2.1, the main difference you’ll notice is the size of the head. If this bothered you about the old model, you’d see this as a big improvement. It never bothered me that much other than it was a bit of a pain to fit into the bag.
Here are some other thoughts between the two models:
- Some of the new design touches mentioned above make this putter feel more premium (the putter cover for me in particular)
- People tend to like the sound of this putter over the other one though I don’t have a strong opinion on this
- The large head of the 2.1 can feel slightly awkward on very close putts
- The ball retriever is a nice touch
- Initially, I left most of my putts short as the smaller head didn’t have quite the impact of the other one, but after some practice making sure I try to hit it just past/through the hole, I’ve adapted to it
- DF 2.1 is a bit more stable and forgiving feeling overall, so if none of these other items stand out, it’s possible it edges the other out purely from a statistics standpoint
Conclusion
Pros
- Removes torque to make consistent putting easier
- Feels great and rolls the ball smoothly
- Smooth fitting process and the company cares deeply about its product and customers
- The updated look will appeal to more golfers
Cons
- Requires some minor setup and stroke changes
- This is an expensive putter
LAB Directed Force 3 – 5/5
The Directed Force 3 is an excellent putter that feels great and will likely help most amateur golfers improve their game. Just adapt your stroke to move the ball forward and keep things simple, and you’ll drop more putts.
