Okay, so I finally decided to give the l.a.b putter a try. I’d been hearing about them everywhere – all the hype about how they’re supposed to eliminate torque and help you make more putts. I was skeptical, to say the least, but my putting has been… well, let’s just say it could use some serious help.
Getting Fitted
First thing I did was research a local fitter, it seems like the fitting is key to these weird looking things. Found a spot not too far from me that had good reviews, and booked an appointment.
The fitting process itself was pretty interesting. The fitter guy had me make some putts with my old putter first, to get a baseline, I guess. Then he started measuring everything – my stance, grip, how the putter was lying on the ground, the whole nine yards. He was using some high-tech motion capture stuff, which was pretty cool, though honestly, I didn’t understand half of it.
He then told me about my problems with the putting, which are caused by this and that, and those problems won’t exist if I have a l.a.b putter. We go through the catalog, choose the head, lie angle, and all the good stuff. He let me try a few different l.a.b models, and we eventually narrowed it down to one that felt… surprisingly good. It was definitely different – the balance felt unlike any putter I’d ever held, and the look is also bold, to say the least.
The Practice Rounds
After receiving the putter, I’ve been anxious to try it out in real games. So, after a couple of weeks, with the new putter in my bag, I hit the course.
First few holes, I’ll admit, it was a bit of a struggle. The feel was so different, I was leaving putts short, pushing them right… it was a mess. I started to think, “Oh great, I just wasted a bunch of money on this thing.”
But I stuck with it. Started focusing on just letting the putter do the work, like the fitter had said. I made a conscious effort to loosen my grip, relax my shoulders, and just… let it swing. And slowly, things started to click.
The biggest difference I noticed was on those short, nervy putts – the three-to-five footers that I used to dread. With the l.a.b, the ball just seemed to roll truer. There was less wobble, less of that feeling like the putter head was twisting in my hands. I was actually starting to feel confident over those knee-knockers.
The Results (So Far)
I’ve played a few rounds now with the l.a.b, and while I’m not claiming it’s a miracle cure, I’ve definitely seen improvement. My stats are better, but more importantly, I feel better over the ball. I’m not fighting the putter anymore, which is a huge relief.
Is it worth the price? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? For me, right now, I’d say yes. It’s helped my confidence, and my putting stats are trending in the right direction. If you’re struggling on the greens, and you’re willing to spend the money and put in the time to get properly fitted, it’s definitely worth checking out. At the very least, go hit a few putts with one and see what you think. It might just surprise you.
I am still using it till this day, and will keep you guys updated on my putting journey.
