LAB-US Open

[Rbsiedsc]

2 minutes ago, snagy2000 said:

The steel shaft is garbage IMO...The Accra and TPT are pretty good, not sure about Gears...

Steel isn’t bad. It’s in my df2.1 and does the trick just fine. YMMV 

[Socrates]

Let's not get carried away.  It was one win. 

How many people bought the MacGregor Response ZT after Jack won the 86 Masters and by July it was all over? 

By August it will be yesterday's news and 'dime a dozen' on BST.

 

I get the allure of them and they likely are really good on stupid fast greens.  Just not my cup of tea.

[RavishingRhett]

46 minutes ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Yep, you are correct.  They can't use his name or likeness   But they can say The Winner of the 2025 US Open used a DF3 to outlast the field, etc.   As mentioned, Titleist often mentions the winner of such and such when a non contract player wins with the ball or club. 

 

 

Scotty Cameron does this too, I specifically remember when Scottie Scheffler was still using a Scotty and they would say something to the effect of “The winner of the (Insert Tournament name) used this circle T to win.” And show the putter but not him

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Yep, think it's pretty common for most companies.   Would be cool if LAB could sign him. I know they don't' particularly pay players.  Maybe Sam could offer him a "commission" on sales between now and the end of the year instead of an upfront payment 🙂 

 

[Nixhex524]

25 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Steel isn’t bad. It’s in my df2.1 and does the trick just fine. YMMV 

 

I'd agree.  Tried the Mezz Max with the steel shaft for a minute then picked one up with the Accra.  I preferred the feel with the steel shaft.  Regardless, both of them are gone now anyway.  

 

Great win for JJ, it was all him and not the putter, but I get LAB taking advantage of this as any other company would.  Shouldn't miss the opportunity although they are not really in need of more orders at this point!

[StoutKing]

23 minutes ago, RavishingRhett said:

Scotty Cameron does this too, I specifically remember when Scottie Scheffler was still using a Scotty and they would say something to the effect of “The winner of the (Insert Tournament name) used this circle T to win.” And show the putter but not him

I can barely remember the last time a Scotty putter won a major.  Has to be 2-3 years ago.

[StoutKing]

34 minutes ago, snagy2000 said:

The steel shaft is garbage IMO...The Accra and TPT are pretty good, not sure about Gears...

DF3 with TPT is miles better than stock steel

[TheMoneyShot]

22 minutes ago, murdoc613 said:

Are they allowed to use his name? I've gotten emails from LAB about "So and so (yes they use the name) placed whatever with a lab. They have even done it before with JJ Spaun

Unless he is under contract with Lab, I don’t think they are allowed to use his name/image.  They can say that the 2025 U.S. Open winner used one of our putters etc and market it that way. 

[King_Slender]

4 hours ago, TheMoneyShot said:

I just checked LABs site and they have nothing about one of their putters winning the U.S. Open as of yet. 

 

I did see they have a post on Instagram

[discover-it]

Burning question...

Will Hideki use a LAB next tourney? 🤣

[bluedot]

2 hours ago, Socrates said:

Let's not get carried away.  It was one win. 

How many people bought the MacGregor Response ZT after Jack won the 86 Masters and by July it was all over? 

By August it will be yesterday's news and 'dime a dozen' on BST.

 

I get the allure of them and they likely are really good on stupid fast greens.  Just not my cup of tea.

With all due respect, the Response/LAB analogy isn’t a good one.

 

In 1986, nobody had ever even seen the Response putter before the Masters, and it was being used by JACK EFFING NICKLAUS!  That the demand for the Response cratered pretty quickly isn’t surprising; most people found that using a gigantic, deep faced putter just wasn’t for them.  It’s also important that the Response was being produced by Nicklaus's own company, at least in part, so he had a financial stake in using that putter.

 

Whether you like their putters or not, LAB (originally called Directed Force) has been around for a decade now.  Pros that use LAB putters are doing so because they think it’s valid technology that might help them make money, not because they have a stake in the company like Nicklaus did in MacGregor.  
 

The popularity of the putters among amateurs is growing, too, which is another difference.  In fact, I played with a guy in a tournament who had what I thought was a DF3; when I skied him how long he’d been using a LAB putter, he told me that it was from TEMU!  Take TEMU, along with mainstream equipment companies that are now producing their own versions of zero torque, and I think it becomes a bit of a stretch to think that LAB isn’t here to stay.
 

[RavishingRhett]

2 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I can barely remember the last time a Scotty putter won a major.  Has to be 2-3 years ago.

Well I just meant like any tournament. You’re right though, I think it was Brooks last. Rose came close at the masters though

[MidwestHacker]

12 minutes ago, RavishingRhett said:

Well I just meant like any tournament. You’re right though, I think it was Brooks last. Rose came close at the masters though

Cam Smith with a 009 at The Open 2022. Hideki at the Masters before that. 

[Socrates]

57 minutes ago, bluedot said:

With all due respect, the Response/LAB analogy isn’t a good one.

 

In 1986, nobody had ever even seen the Response putter before the Masters, and it was being used by JACK EFFING NICKLAUS!  That the demand for the Response cratered pretty quickly isn’t surprising; most people found that using a gigantic, deep faced putter just wasn’t for them.  It’s also important that the Response was being produced by Nicklaus's own company, at least in part, so he had a financial stake in using that putter.

 

Whether you like their putters or not, LAB (originally called Directed Force) has been around for a decade now.  Pros that use LAB putters are doing so because they think it’s valid technology that might help them make money, not because they have a stake in the company like Nicklaus did in MacGregor.  
 

The popularity of the putters among amateurs is growing, too, which is another difference.  In fact, I played with a guy in a tournament who had what I thought was a DF3; when I skied him how long he’d been using a LAB putter, he told me that it was from TEMU!  Take TEMU, along with mainstream equipment companies that are now producing their own versions of zero torque, and I think it becomes a bit of a stretch to think that LAB isn’t here to stay.
 

The analogy is apt.  There will be a ton of people that will want to purchase one and will be disappointed it isn't the greatest thing ever.  Around here the LAB putters are bought and back on the sales floor just as quick.  There will be a wave of demand and then there will be a glut of them.  For LAB's sake, I hope they don't go and ramp up production and then find out they can't sustain it.

 

As far as the Pro's using it, I think those that were going to use them, are already using them.  There might be a few more in the bag in the short term.  

 

[SwingBlade]

As soon as JJ Spaun sank the winning putt, I turned to my wife and asked her how long it would be before the L.A.B. detractors on here would start disparaging this L.A.B. milestone.  
 

She guessed less than 24 hours.  She was dead on.  
 

This 2025 U.S. Open Major Tournament arguably had one of the most challenging  setups ever and very tough greens and also had over 10,000 players trying to qualify, yet the winning negative response in only 18 hours was:    "It's only one tournament.  By August it'll be yesterday's news and they'll (LABs?) be dime-a-dozen  on BST."   The same  folks also always ignore the two 2024 Senior Majors won using LABs.  

Well, one  only has to look at the number of shorter 2-5 foot missed putts on Tours this year to understand why ZT will increasingly be a very attractive alternative to traditional putters.  

 

So, I'll kinda go out on a limb and say that both L.A.B. and the other high end zero torque putter makers have only just begun and also point out that LAB has the significant advantage of offering custom fitting on the largest number of distinctly differing zero torque putters.  
 

Why do I comfortably make this rather positive prediction in response to the naysayers? Because, if there is one thing most L.A.B. users have learned, L.A.B.s are relaxingly reliable inside 5 feet and absolute money inside 3 feet.   It is this literal "money" factor that will continue to yield an expanding ZT market segment for quality ZT OEMs that serve both pro and amateur players.  

Edited June 17 by SwingBlade

[RavishingRhett]

10 minutes ago, SwingBlade said:

As soon as JJ Spaun sank the winning putt, I turned to my wife and asked her how long it would be before the L.A.B. detractors on here would start disparaging this L.A.B. milestone.  
 

She guessed less than 24 hours.  She was dead on.  
 

This 2025 U.S. Open Major Tournament arguably had one of the most challenging  setups ever and very tough greens and also had over 10,000 players trying to qualify, yet the winning negative response in only 18 hours was:    "It's only one tournament.  By August it'll be yesterday's news and they'll (LABs?) be dime-a-dozen  on BST."   The same  folks also always ignore the two 2024 Senior Majors won using LABs.  

Well, one  only has to look at the number of shorter 2-5 foot missed putts on Tours this year to understand why ZT will increasingly be a very attractive alternative to traditional putters.  

 

So, I'll kinda go out on a limb and say that both L.A.B. and the other high end zero torque putter makers have only just begun and also point out that LAB has the significant advantage of offering custom fitting on the largest number of distinctly differing zero torque putters.  
 

Why do I comfortably make this rather positive prediction in response to the naysayers? Because, if there is one thing most L.A.B. users have learned, L.A.B.s are relaxingly reliable inside 5 feet and absolute money inside 3 feet.   It is this literal "money" factor that will continue to yield an ever expanding ZT market segment for both pro and amateur players.  

I’m not a LAB hater, I’m also not one of their apostles like so many on here are, but it is a huge accomplishment for their club to be used to win any major, let alone a US Open, which is always an impressive feat even when it isn’t at Oakmont. 
 

what I think is fascinating about this whole situation is whenever someone says something negative about the company there is such an emotional response from the “True Believers”. It’s like you’re not attacking this company that they purchased something from, you’re attacking them. 

[bluedot]

12 minutes ago, Socrates said:

The analogy is apt.  There will be a ton of people that will want to purchase one and will be disappointed it isn't the greatest thing ever.  Around here the LAB putters are bought and back on the sales floor just as quick.  There will be a wave of demand and then there will be a glut of them.  For LAB's sake, I hope they don't go and ramp up production and then find out they can't sustain it.

 

As far as the Pro's using it, I think those that were going to use them, are already using them.  There might be a few more in the bag in the short term.  

 

There IS a good analogy to LAB, but it’s NOT the MacGregor Response, unless you somehow consider size to equal technology.  
 

A far better analogy would be the Ping Anser, which was considered to be an ugly offering from a “niche” company that wasn’t paying players to use it.  
 

But there was solid technology behind the Anser, and it has become by far the most copied putter in golf history.  LAB won’t be Ping, if only because LAB doesn’t make a full line of equipment. But they’ve pioneered a new technology that is now being copied/replicated by many other more “mainstream” manufacturers, along with a heavy emphasis on custom fitting. (Sound familiar?)

[Sean289]

2 hours ago, discover-it said:

Burning question...

Will Hideki use a LAB next tourney? 🤣

Expect 27 different setups of the Link.1 the next time he’s playing! 

[ilikegolf26]

1 hour ago, Socrates said:

The analogy is apt.  There will be a ton of people that will want to purchase one and will be disappointed it isn't the greatest thing ever.  Around here the LAB putters are bought and back on the sales floor just as quick.  There will be a wave of demand and then there will be a glut of them.  For LAB's sake, I hope they don't go and ramp up production and then find out they can't sustain it.

 

As far as the Pro's using it, I think those that were going to use them, are already using them.  There might be a few more in the bag in the short term.  

 

They needed to ramp up production prior to this. The demand was certainly there to sustain greater production. Lead times for custom putters are in the 6-8+ week range prior to the US Open this past week!

[Mike_C]

19 hours ago, ThinkingPlus said:

How long before the RBs decide that zero torque putters should be banned? 3...2...1...

LOL!

Not only zero torque putters, but all center shafted putters.  There is precedent from the R&A.   L.A.B. putters are the new Schenectadys!!!!  Aye, must protect the integrity of the game of gouf!!  And forget the "ball rollback" bring back the feathery!!!

[Red4282]

3 hours ago, SwingBlade said:

As soon as JJ Spaun sank the winning putt, I turned to my wife and asked her how long it would be before the L.A.B. detractors on here would start disparaging this L.A.B. milestone.  
 

She guessed less than 24 hours.  She was dead on.  
 

This 2025 U.S. Open Major Tournament arguably had one of the most challenging  setups ever and very tough greens and also had over 10,000 players trying to qualify, yet the winning negative response in only 18 hours was:    "It's only one tournament.  By August it'll be yesterday's news and they'll (LABs?) be dime-a-dozen  on BST."   The same  folks also always ignore the two 2024 Senior Majors won using LABs.  

Well, one  only has to look at the number of shorter 2-5 foot missed putts on Tours this year to understand why ZT will increasingly be a very attractive alternative to traditional putters.  

 

So, I'll kinda go out on a limb and say that both L.A.B. and the other high end zero torque putter makers have only just begun and also point out that LAB has the significant advantage of offering custom fitting on the largest number of distinctly differing zero torque putters.  
 

Why do I comfortably make this rather positive prediction in response to the naysayers? Because, if there is one thing most L.A.B. users have learned, L.A.B.s are relaxingly reliable inside 5 feet and absolute money inside 3 feet.   It is this literal "money" factor that will continue to yield an ever expanding ZT market segment for both pro and amateur players.  

It also doesnt hurt that the only one seemingly making putts on the back nine was using a LAB. JJ hit other amazing putts like the one 12 I believe.

Edited June 16 by Red4282

[King_Slender]

If you haven't gamed the DF3, you have no frame of reference for how money it is.  If you're generally a good green reader, you literally only have to focus on speed - it is THAT on line every time.  As mentioned above, it's STUPID AUTOMATIC from 3-5 feet.

 

A wild analogy, but here goes - LAB putters are like Bitcoin.  You either understand the technology behind it and GET IT, and you'll never be persuaded other wise, or you DON'T and will just snipe from the cheap seats out of ignorance. 

[dmbolp]

JJ Spaun was four shots back at the turn on Sunday, battling some of the worst breaks we’ve seen in the final round of a major championship.

A lie in the left rough on No. 1 so bad he thought it was plugged.

 

A ricochet off the flagstick on No. 2 that sent him 49 yards back — turning a birdie look into a bogey.

A bounce off a rake on No. 4 that kicked his ball into a near-impossible lie.

 

With bogeys on five of his first six holes, it didn’t seem meant to be. But while the rest of the field cracked, Spaun kept climbing.

 

Over the final seven holes, he made more than 136 feet of putts, including a curling 64-footer on the 72nd hole to seal his first major.

 

When the final putt dropped, he was the only player to finish the U.S. Open under par.

 

His DF3 stayed square — through nerves, bad breaks, and brutal conditions.

 

After the win, he said he didn’t know what his ceiling was. The truth is, most golfers don’t.

 

But when you stop fighting nerves and embrace them (and stop fighting your putter, of course) the ceiling starts to look like the Sistine Chapel!

JJ looked at every part of his game to find out just how high his ceiling could be. He found it.

 

We think of the L.A.B. Rats as a gritty community. This week, JJ was King L.A.B. Rat.

 

JJ Spaun’s DF3 Specs

• Length: 34 inches
• Lie Angle: 70 degrees
• Shaft: L.A.B. Golf x TPT Golf
• Shaft Lean: 2 Degrees
• Alignment Marking: G
• Color: Charcoal
• Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Pistolini Plus

 

[hwwong]

I like that they’re not afraid to put that he had a Cameron grip on there. I can’t stand when equipment companies take clubs out or make players put in different clubs for their fake “witb” posts. 

[golferdude54]

I wonder if the amount of justification posts is equal to the amount of dollars they paid for it. Would there really be that much back and forth on this forum if the putter was less than $200?

[dmbolp]

Sam on X: 

 

 

[Carson33]

I was at a local Golf Galaxy today during lunch and the sales manager said they had already sold 5 LAB putters this morning.

[ANimz]

JJ's career had rocketed since switching to LAB, and he isn't the first player to find the succuss.  I'm not here to bash on LAB.  I think they make a great product and believe in the technology of their putters.  They can definitely serve as a fix for many players.  But you guys are acting like they are goated because JJ won the tournament.  Scott was using LAB too.  Best putter of the week was using a c-grooved Bettinardi.  Top putter on tour is using odyssey right?

Edited June 17 by ANimz
grammer

[snagy2000]

32 minutes ago, ANimz said:

JJ's career had rocketed since switching to LAB, and he isn't the first player to find the succuss.  I'm not here to bash on LAB.  I think they make a great product and believe in the technology of their putters.  They can definitely serve as a fix for many players.  But you guys are acting like they are goated because JJ won the tournament.  Scott was using LAB too.  Best putter of the week was using a c-grooved Bettinardi.  Top putter on tour is using odyssey right?

JJ was 1st SG:Putting at the U.S. Open

[Red4282]

41 minutes ago, dmbolp said:

Sam on X: 

 

 

Translation: CHA CHING!!!