Discussion
Hobo said:
Is anyone using a LAB DF3 putter ? Contemplating buying one but are they actually as good as the reviews say ?
Putting is questionably the worst part of my game and flick between my scotty Cameron and my spiderx, so potential to save a few shots would certainly help.
I have been considering getting one. They do a custom fit thing where you video yourself and they work out the spec from the video. All reviews look good, but it's annoying that you can't try before you buy. Putting is questionably the worst part of my game and flick between my scotty Cameron and my spiderx, so potential to save a few shots would certainly help.
I think what's putting me off is
- a) the cost,
- b) the fact that a new club probably won't actually improve things permanently, and
- c) whenever I have this thought, I putt well the very next round with my current putter (A Yes Callie with a Superstroke fat grip which I actually really love).........
This made a huge difference to my early form last year and I was putting really well at the start of the year.
Obviously, having learnt this valuable lesson, I then drifted back into the old habit of no more than half-a-dozen putts before a round being the only putting practice I do.............
Determined to finally get involved in here after spending the last year just lurking!
Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
fat80b said:
Hobo said:
Is anyone using a LAB DF3 putter ? Contemplating buying one but are they actually as good as the reviews say ?
Putting is questionably the worst part of my game and flick between my scotty Cameron and my spiderx, so potential to save a few shots would certainly help.
I have been considering getting one. They do a custom fit thing where you video yourself and they work out the spec from the video. All reviews look good, but it's annoying that you can't try before you buy. Putting is questionably the worst part of my game and flick between my scotty Cameron and my spiderx, so potential to save a few shots would certainly help.
I think what's putting me off is
- a) the cost,
- b) the fact that a new club probably won't actually improve things permanently, and
- c) whenever I have this thought, I putt well the very next round with my current putter (A Yes Callie with a Superstroke fat grip which I actually really love).........
This made a huge difference to my early form last year and I was putting really well at the start of the year.
Obviously, having learnt this valuable lesson, I then drifted back into the old habit of no more than half-a-dozen putts before a round being the only putting practice I do.............
I had a putting lesson as I was getting frustrated with it. Turns out statistically putting was the best part of my game according to strokes gained.
I was completely under estimating how close I was to the hole. So I would get annoyed missing a 15 footer thinking I should be holing most of them.
During the lesson we measured out 8ft. And made some putts from there. Of course I holed them all. But once you realise that PGA tour players are 50:50 from 8ft it allows you to be a bit more lenient with yourself.
I was all over with my alignment and ball position, so my start lines weren’t great. I now work on that on my putting mat at home and only work on pace for 20 foot and 40 foot putts on the practice greens.
48Valves said:
Have you collected any stats to see how many strokes putting is actually costing you?
Have I got stats...........I have all my scores (going back 399 rounds) 
I still record every round in golfshot as I can't bare to stop... I track GIR, Fairways hit, and number of putts here.. My lifetime putting average is 1.99 putts per hole and 2.14 putts per GIR - both of which are pants imho....I now use Arccos for strokes gained and have stats for everything for the last 18 months or so.
I can see that over the last 40 rounds, my putting has reduced by 1.4 strokes gained (from +2.3 to +0.9 ) which confirms that my putting was better in the summer than the autumn. (in my last round though I gained +5.6 putting which was nice - a couple of good long putts and I holed 2 that I normally wouldn't for birdie)
Stats wise, my problem is length (that's what she said) off the tee. I lose 4.5 shots off the tee mostly due to my average driving distance and some 3-off-the-tee shots, but make them all back with approach, short, and putting to get my handicap to a fairly reliable 17.9.
The stats say I should get better at hitting driver as a priority, but I'm somewhat trapped because I know that my best round scores have all come from sticking to my 3 hybrid off the tee (190 ish) and keeping it in play - Conversely, my worst rounds come from persisting with driver (with the very occasional OK round).....
AndyB_7 said:
Determined to finally get involved in here after spending the last year just lurking!
Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
Welcome! That's a very sharp improvement down to 15, clearly have some natural talent Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
. fat80b said:
Have I got stats...........I have all my scores (going back 399 rounds) I still record every round in golfshot as I can't bare to stop... I track GIR, Fairways hit, and number of putts here.. My lifetime putting average is 1.99 putts per hole and 2.14 putts per GIR - both of which are pants imho....
I now use Arccos for strokes gained and have stats for everything for the last 18 months or so.
I can see that over the last 40 rounds, my putting has reduced by 1.4 strokes gained (from +2.3 to +0.9 ) which confirms that my putting was better in the summer than the autumn. (in my last round though I gained +5.6 putting which was nice - a couple of good long putts and I holed 2 that I normally wouldn't for birdie)
Stats wise, my problem is length (that's what she said) off the tee. I lose 4.5 shots off the tee mostly due to my average driving distance and some 3-off-the-tee shots, but make them all back with approach, short, and putting to get my handicap to a fairly reliable 17.9.
The stats say I should get better at hitting driver as a priority, but I'm somewhat trapped because I know that my best round scores have all come from sticking to my 3 hybrid off the tee (190 ish) and keeping it in play - Conversely, my worst rounds come from persisting with driver (with the very occasional OK round).....
Sounds similar to me. When I did take Arccos it said I was losing a few shots due to scratch due to driver distance. Luckily I am very accurate with the big stick. I still record every round in golfshot as I can't bare to stop... I track GIR, Fairways hit, and number of putts here.. My lifetime putting average is 1.99 putts per hole and 2.14 putts per GIR - both of which are pants imho....I now use Arccos for strokes gained and have stats for everything for the last 18 months or so.
I can see that over the last 40 rounds, my putting has reduced by 1.4 strokes gained (from +2.3 to +0.9 ) which confirms that my putting was better in the summer than the autumn. (in my last round though I gained +5.6 putting which was nice - a couple of good long putts and I holed 2 that I normally wouldn't for birdie)
Stats wise, my problem is length (that's what she said) off the tee. I lose 4.5 shots off the tee mostly due to my average driving distance and some 3-off-the-tee shots, but make them all back with approach, short, and putting to get my handicap to a fairly reliable 17.9.
The stats say I should get better at hitting driver as a priority, but I'm somewhat trapped because I know that my best round scores have all come from sticking to my 3 hybrid off the tee (190 ish) and keeping it in play - Conversely, my worst rounds come from persisting with driver (with the very occasional OK round).....
Putting was surprisingly good, apart from longer putts. Which as I said is where I now focus my practice on. I do still struggle on slow greens. I much prefer putting on fast greens.
DuncanM said:
AndyB_7 said:
Determined to finally get involved in here after spending the last year just lurking!
Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
Welcome! That's a very sharp improvement down to 15, clearly have some natural talent Picked up golf 18 months or so ago as an 'interim' hobby whilst injured from football, and as a way to get out more with my dad and brother. Obviously became instantly obsessed and decided early last year to get a membership at a local club. Fair to say I got my moneys worth and played the best part of 100 rounds since March!
Started last year playing off around 28 but managed to get that down to 16 by the end of the year (which just dropped down to 15.2 after a good first round of 2025). Current best round is 81 so far, but generally low to mid 90s is where I'm at as there's always a blow up (or 2 or 3 or 4) on the card.
No real goals in terms of HCP for this year - feels like 15 is a nice middle ground where you never know what you're going to get each time you go out! But keen to play some different courses and get involved in a few comps at my club, and of course to be more active on here!
. Playing other courses is a great way to test your game.
Belated HNY to all posters. I thought the other thread had gone quiet... wasn't showing up in my watched threads.
Last year's thread saw 123 unique posters, which is pretty cool! And the top 10 most active were...
DuncanM, 412
bodhi, 349
milesgiles, 317
s94wht, 296
48Valves, 245
RayDonovan, 199
Blackpuddin, 167
Leithen, 156
Wills2, 145
Rosscow, 133
Congratulations to DuncanM, who takes the top spot for the second year running! Let's take a look at what our winner had to say last year...
Looking to get down into single figures this year. Main focuses are...
Last year's thread saw 123 unique posters, which is pretty cool! And the top 10 most active were...
DuncanM, 412
bodhi, 349
milesgiles, 317
s94wht, 296
48Valves, 245
RayDonovan, 199
Blackpuddin, 167
Leithen, 156
Wills2, 145
Rosscow, 133
Congratulations to DuncanM, who takes the top spot for the second year running! Let's take a look at what our winner had to say last year...
DuncanM said:
Oh no! More golf and less posting in 2024 perhaps 
Last year, Duncan made 509 posts... so... goal accomplished? Looking to get down into single figures this year. Main focuses are...
- Make fewer doubles (or worse). They're killers.
- Improve low point control for more consistent ball striking
- Learn to hit my woods off the deck
- Sort out the top end of my bag
- Spend more time working on partial wedge shots. I have a handful of yardages I can kind of work to in the 30-50 yard range, but between 50 and 100 I often find myself coming up short
Edited by s94wht on Tuesday 7th January 12:09
Gah! Duncan you beat me again! Getting closer tho
Will admit I hadn't really thought about goals for this year, but then I am a subscriber to a theory I read in a Scott Adams book (of all places) in going for systems rather than goals. Problem being you can achieve a goal and then it isn't entirely clear where to go next, whereas if you have a system you just carry that on.
Also means if you don't have goals you can't be disappointed when you miss them
Anyway, "systems" for this year:
- Continue work on the swing. It's come on a long way since I started lessons again and I'm seeing huge benefits in terms of consistency, so going to carry that on and try to finally banish the "flick" through impact.
- Sort my Driver out. Already seen benefits since my lesson on it and want ot use it more than last season, as when it's working it can be a proper weapon, rather than a complete liability.
- Start shot tracking again. I had a ShotScope v2 which was great but the hardware was a bit....old....being huge and taking ages to recharge. I like the look of the small version they've done you attach to your belt or golf bag (think it's the H4) as it will save me being that guy wearing two watches
- Try not to s
t the bed as Vice Captain and inadvertently offend the entire golf club in a speech.....
Just been offered a free game at the Brabazon on Saturday, so 2025's first game should be interesting as long as the snow stays away.
Getting closer tho Will admit I hadn't really thought about goals for this year, but then I am a subscriber to a theory I read in a Scott Adams book (of all places) in going for systems rather than goals. Problem being you can achieve a goal and then it isn't entirely clear where to go next, whereas if you have a system you just carry that on.
Also means if you don't have goals you can't be disappointed when you miss them
Anyway, "systems" for this year:
- Continue work on the swing. It's come on a long way since I started lessons again and I'm seeing huge benefits in terms of consistency, so going to carry that on and try to finally banish the "flick" through impact.
- Sort my Driver out. Already seen benefits since my lesson on it and want ot use it more than last season, as when it's working it can be a proper weapon, rather than a complete liability.
- Start shot tracking again. I had a ShotScope v2 which was great but the hardware was a bit....old....being huge and taking ages to recharge. I like the look of the small version they've done you attach to your belt or golf bag (think it's the H4) as it will save me being that guy wearing two watches
- Try not to s
t the bed as Vice Captain and inadvertently offend the entire golf club in a speech.....Just been offered a free game at the Brabazon on Saturday, so 2025's first game should be interesting as long as the snow stays away.
s94wht said:
Last year, Duncan made 509 posts... so... goal accomplished?
Looking to get down into single figures this year. Main focuses are...
May as well go for the hat trick Looking to get down into single figures this year. Main focuses are...
- Make fewer doubles (or worse). They're killers.
- Improve low point control for more consistent ball striking
- Learn to hit my woods off the deck
- Sort out the top end of my bag
- Spend more time working on partial wedge shots. I have a handful of yardages I can kind of work to in the 30-50 yard range, but between 50 and 100 I often find myself coming up short
Edited by s94wht on Tuesday 7th January 12:09
Predictably, I want to play more, I can now walk 18 with much less pain than before, so that's promising.
I am swinging the club, the best I ever have in my life right now, and believe that my scores should drop into the high 70s. Unfortunately, Golf doesn't tend to work like that, but I shall give it my best shot
Would also definitely like to get out with some of you chaps this year!
DuncanM said:
May as well go for the hat trick
Predictably, I want to play more, I can now walk 18 with much less pain than before, so that's promising.
I am swinging the club, the best I ever have in my life right now, and believe that my scores should drop into the high 70s. Unfortunately, Golf doesn't tend to work like that, but I shall give it my best shot
Would also definitely like to get out with some of you chaps this year!
You have more posts in the last 2 years in the Golf threads than I do in my life on PH lol Predictably, I want to play more, I can now walk 18 with much less pain than before, so that's promising.
I am swinging the club, the best I ever have in my life right now, and believe that my scores should drop into the high 70s. Unfortunately, Golf doesn't tend to work like that, but I shall give it my best shot
Would also definitely like to get out with some of you chaps this year!
That all sounds super promising!! Golf as you say, has a habit of not following logic
I for one, would be very up for some PH Golf days
DuncanM said:
Welcome! That's a very sharp improvement down to 15, clearly have some natural talent .
. 48Valves said:
Yes welcome. And yes, that is seriously good improvement in such a short space of time.
Playing other courses is a great way to test your game.
Thanks guys. Not so sure about natural talent, probably more down to pure obsession and playing 2,3,4 times a week! Playing other courses is a great way to test your game.
It's definitely helped becoming so familiar with my home course, as I generally don't score as well at new courses. Particularly highlighted on a trip to Malaga last year, when I was in good form and expecting to play well, only to have a bit of a stinker at all 3 courses we played.. averaging 43 putts across the 3 rounds probably didn't help though
AndyB_7 said:
Thanks guys. Not so sure about natural talent, probably more down to pure obsession and playing 2,3,4 times a week!
It's definitely helped becoming so familiar with my home course, as I generally don't score as well at new courses. Particularly highlighted on a trip to Malaga last year, when I was in good form and expecting to play well, only to have a bit of a stinker at all 3 courses we played.. averaging 43 putts across the 3 rounds probably didn't help though
I definitely feel that. I don't hit the ball badly but my game doesn't travel particularly well. That's something I'd like to improve on this year. Means playing more courses, I guess!It's definitely helped becoming so familiar with my home course, as I generally don't score as well at new courses. Particularly highlighted on a trip to Malaga last year, when I was in good form and expecting to play well, only to have a bit of a stinker at all 3 courses we played.. averaging 43 putts across the 3 rounds probably didn't help though
Girton is on my list for this year. So stupid that it's only just down the road and I've never played it. St Ives and Brampton as well.
AndyB_7 said:
DuncanM said:
Welcome! That's a very sharp improvement down to 15, clearly have some natural talent .
. 48Valves said:
Yes welcome. And yes, that is seriously good improvement in such a short space of time.
Playing other courses is a great way to test your game.
Thanks guys. Not so sure about natural talent, probably more down to pure obsession and playing 2,3,4 times a week! Playing other courses is a great way to test your game.
It's definitely helped becoming so familiar with my home course, as I generally don't score as well at new courses. Particularly highlighted on a trip to Malaga last year, when I was in good form and expecting to play well, only to have a bit of a stinker at all 3 courses we played.. averaging 43 putts across the 3 rounds probably didn't help though
43putts definitely won’t help
bodhi said:
- Start shot tracking again. I had a ShotScope v2 which was great but the hardware was a bit....old....being huge and taking ages to recharge. I like the look of the small version they've done you attach to your belt or golf bag (think it's the H4) as it will save me being that guy wearing two watches
I had the V3 previously, but as wear a watch on my right wrist it never linked to the tags. Just picked up a secondhand H4 from Ebay for 45quid so going to add it into my pre-shot routine. Need to properly track my stats this year. Yesterday was Pearl Valley near Franchoek and finally managed to get a round going! A 76 +4 (-1 back
9!) with two balls in the water and two 3-putts (1 and 17)! Just the one course left for the SA trip now, Gary Player (Nedbank venue) in a week or so. Gratuitous photos below.
Really liking the SA golfing way too, free range/warm up, buggy's to manage the heat, beers (2 bottle front, 2 back) and the meal at the halfway house. All that plus fairly busy courses has meant a ~5hr round though... we're normally through 18 in 3-3.5hrs when playing back home!
9!) with two balls in the water and two 3-putts (1 and 17)! Just the one course left for the SA trip now, Gary Player (Nedbank venue) in a week or so. Gratuitous photos below.
Really liking the SA golfing way too, free range/warm up, buggy's to manage the heat, beers (2 bottle front, 2 back) and the meal at the halfway house. All that plus fairly busy courses has meant a ~5hr round though... we're normally through 18 in 3-3.5hrs when playing back home!
kiethton said:
Yesterday was Pearl Valley near Franchoek and finally managed to get a round going! A 76 +4 (-1 back
9!) with two balls in the water and two 3-putts (1 and 17)! Just the one course left for the SA trip now, Gary Player (Nedbank venue) in a week or so. Gratuitous photos below.
Really liking the SA golfing way too, free range/warm up, buggy's to manage the heat, beers (2 bottle front, 2 back) and the meal at the halfway house. All that plus fairly busy courses has meant a ~5hr round though... we're normally through 18 in 3-3.5hrs when playing back home!
Good golf. 9!) with two balls in the water and two 3-putts (1 and 17)! Just the one course left for the SA trip now, Gary Player (Nedbank venue) in a week or so. Gratuitous photos below.
Really liking the SA golfing way too, free range/warm up, buggy's to manage the heat, beers (2 bottle front, 2 back) and the meal at the halfway house. All that plus fairly busy courses has meant a ~5hr round though... we're normally through 18 in 3-3.5hrs when playing back home!
That place looks awesome. I certainly wouldn’t mind a long round there in the warm sunshine with a few beers.
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