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.