Current Lab wait times

[ovodeano]

Has anyone who recently received a custom lab putter recently attest to the accuracy of the 7-8 week wait time? That’s the only thing holding me back from ordering one. 

[Eren]

I ordered mine 12/31 through my country club and it arrived today. Oz1.i w/ Accra. I know of a couple other posters who ordered within a few days of mine and have their shipping notice. 7-8 weeks is pretty spot on.

[AverageGopher]

Can folks explain why it should take 2 months to get a putter.  

Do folks also think if a custom putter company like this existed 20-25 years ago, it would also take 2 months, or is this a 2025/generational thing?

[iteachgolf]

25 minutes ago, AverageGopher said:

Can folks explain why it should take 2 months to get a putter.  

Do folks also think if a custom putter company like this existed 20-25 years ago, it would also take 2 months, or is this a 2025/generational thing?

They have to be machined to order to match the desired lie angle. Then have to be sent out to have a finish applied. Then need to be built.  20-25 years ago it would’ve taken a year or more with their volume.  You can buy non custom models with zero wait time.  How long does it take to get a custom tailored suit made vs buying one off the rack?

[Ben B]

11 hours ago, AverageGopher said:

Can folks explain why it should take 2 months to get a putter.  

Do folks also think if a custom putter company like this existed 20-25 years ago, it would also take 2 months, or is this a 2025/generational thing?

I don't know if it "should" take 2 months; however, L.A.B. putters are not just stock components grabbed off the shelf, slapped together, and then sent out the door. Nor is L.A.B. Golf a giant manufacturing facility. They have their limitations in the quantity of putters they can send out and retain the quality they and we expect. 

 

The current 7-8 week lead time is due to the current demand which has increased their lead time, especially since the release of the OZ. It doesn't actually take 7-8 weeks to make your putter, there is just a lot of orders in the que when you place an order. Who knows, but 20-25 years ago I'd imagine it taking longer to build each putter start to finish due to technological advancements in manufacturing, milling, laser engraving, ect...

 

Check out this video if you haven't already to get and inside look at their facility and process. 

 

 

[AverageGopher]

I get they're not "slapping" things together, but even a full set of Miura's directly from the company takes a month or so according to my playing partner who just got a gorgeous set from their website - that's 8 clubs.

 

Consider this an old man yelling at cloud:

I worked in an analogous device production industry twenty years ago.  If we were so successful that we had this many orders leading to such long turnaround times, we'd have the capital to expand/train more folks and turn things around more quickly, making more $, improving customer satisfaction and leading to everyone winning.  The business approach today of, well, we need to work only x hours and just let our customers wait longer is sad.  

 

The video was presumably taken during a typical workday and you don't see anybody else working, lol.  A video like this is an opportunity to show some of your workforce doing some of the building, honoring them with some face time, etc.  Though maybe everyone was "on break."  As an older businessman/old man yelling at cloud, if I was giving an interview as CEO of the company, I probably would look a little different.  I get it's now cool to not comb your hair, roll out of bed, put on a sweater and baseball cap and give off that kinda vibe.  If that sells - go for it!  Dying breeds like me aren't into that, but we're all different.  

 

At the end of the day, hearing a putter has a 2 month turnaround time in itself is a reason I would not purchase the putter, especially when multiple other companies have similar technology.  Many can buy a fancy balanced odyssey putter for half the price, a quarter the turnaround time and shoot the same score.

Edited March 1 by AverageGopher

[bluedot]

14 hours ago, AverageGopher said:

Can folks explain why it should take 2 months to get a putter.  

Do folks also think if a custom putter company like this existed 20-25 years ago, it would also take 2 months, or is this a 2025/generational thing?

To be clear, it doesn’t take 2 months to get a LAB putter.  You can go to a retail outlet like the PGA Superstore that stocks LABs and buy one TODAY, and play golf with tomorrow.  You can order a stock putter from LAB, or order from the LAB outlet, pay extra for faster shipping, and have it in hand as quickly as most other putters that you order online.

 

The two month wait is only for fitted custom orders; by definition, there is zero inventory for orders like that, and LAB takes, processes, and builds those orders as they come in.  LAB is a small company that isn’t really trying to mass market their putters, so comparing them to big OEM golf companies isn’t a good comparison.

[AverageGopher]

To be clear, it takes 2 months if you order a lab putter from the company.  You can get a custom bettinardi or a variety of other custom designs from around the world in less/far less time.

 

yes, my points about scaling and running a business are silly - what was I thinking.  Especially when nobody else can copy the technology or come up with new ideas.  

[ilikegolf26]

4 hours ago, AverageGopher said:

To be clear, it takes 2 months if you order a lab putter from the company.  You can get a custom bettinardi or a variety of other custom designs from around the world in less/far less time.

 

yes, my points about scaling and running a business are silly - what was I thinking.  Especially when nobody else can copy the technology or come up with new ideas.  

You’re three posts in and you’re STILL wrong! The 7-8 weeks is for a completely custom order, NOT for a putter ordered direct from them (I’ve also heard in another thread the lead time is closer to 5-6 weeks for recent orders depending on the product). I ordered a Oz.1i direct from LAB off their outlet site and received it in 6 days (4 business days and would have been 3 if FedEx delivered it the day they said they would) and I’m about as far across the US from Oregon as you can get here in Florida. 

Edited March 1 by ilikegolf26

[AverageGopher]

My apologies, I mean a custom order from the company.  I think most on this site order custom (it's implied) - custom loft, lie, shaft (if you've got money to waste).  Needless to say the big companies take a couple weeks at most.  And like I said, for a set of *custom Miura irons, my friend waited a month.  You can order a custom Piretti, Bettinardi, whatever and probably wait a month or so.

 

Yes, I'm not clueless; I know you can go to a store and buy an off the rack club today.  Thanks for the tip.  It makes sense if that's a profound point, that my points about scaling or looking the part for your company would fly way over some folks' heads.  There's a plant tour that ironically shows nobody working.  The CEO gives an interview looking quite.....  At least for me, it takes as much effort to put on a collared shift (maybe with my company logo) as it does a random sweater in the morning.  

 

Folks - these are putters.  As a guy with an arc stroke, I can still use my old bulls eye and shoot the same score.  I fully acknowledge I'm in the minority and do think these low torque putters can help a lot of golfers, but a component is psychological.  

For others in the minority, the day we need to drop some serious cash and wait two months (thinking that's normal) for a magical putter to improve confidence over a putt....well.....that day will probably come I guess.

[bluedot]

1 hour ago, AverageGopher said:

My apologies, I mean a custom order from the company.  I think most on this site order custom (it's implied) - custom loft, lie, shaft (if you've got money to waste).  Needless to say the big companies take a couple weeks at most.  And like I said, for a set of *custom Miura irons, my friend waited a month.  You can order a custom Piretti, Bettinardi, whatever and probably wait a month or so.

 

Yes, I'm not clueless; I know you can go to a store and buy an off the rack club today.  Thanks for the tip.  It makes sense if that's a profound point, that my points about scaling or looking the part for your company would fly way over some folks' heads.  There's a plant tour that ironically shows nobody working.  The CEO gives an interview looking quite.....  At least for me, it takes as much effort to put on a collared shift (maybe with my company logo) as it does a random sweater in the morning.  

 

Folks - these are putters.  As a guy with an arc stroke, I can still use my old bulls eye and shoot the same score.  I fully acknowledge I'm in the minority and do think these low torque putters can help a lot of golfers, but a component is psychological.  

For others in the minority, the day we need to drop some serious cash and wait two months (thinking that's normal) for a magical putter to improve confidence over a putt....well.....that day will probably come I guess.

So you’re saying LAB putters aren’t for you?

[Ben B]

1. The tour of the facility was on the weekend when the employees were off (mentioned at the 10:25 mark) so that's why you don't see anyone. 

 

2. The CEO of the company, Sam Hahn who is giving the tour is dressed the same way he is in virtually every other video he is in. He is who he is, and wearing a collared shirt in a video isn't going to sell the first putter for him. 

 

3. When you order a custom putter, they are not just grabbing components, assembling them, adjusting the lie, loft and length your specs and sending it on its way. They send the order to a machine shop (mentioned in the video) that mills the head. All the holes are drilled. The head is sent off to get anodized. The aligment aids are laser etched. Then it is assembled, checked and then shipped. Probably a few more steps than Bettinardi, Miura, Cameron, ect. take for their custom orders. 

 

4. As pointed out, it doesn't actually take 2 months to build the putter. When you order a custom putter through LAB, majority of the time is just the wait time (due to the current high demand) before your order goes into production. Production is only 10 days, then it ships. Remember, that's the only facility. They are fullfilling all of the orders worldwide, including for all of the tours I'd imagine. 

 

5. Yes, it would be nice to just scale up production, but that takes time. If you heard him in the video, only the veteran builders work on custom orders. You go from learning how to shaft and grip to working on stock putter assembly, then to custom putters. Takes time to trainer and promote. Also, being that other companies (the mill shop and anodizer) are involved, they would also have to scale up. Or they would need to have other companies handle the additional work. It's not as easy as one would think. Plus, have you hired lately? Find quality employees is not so easy. 

 

6. You do realize you are on golfwrx, right? We drop $400 every month on a new shaft for our driver because it WILL make a difference! Oh, yessir it will! So $600 for a new putter and 2 months of waiting....no problem.  

 

In all honesty, 2 months for a custom putter is nothing. I build guitars and mandolins (though not really for customers), but I know of luthiers that are years out. Yes, you get on a wait list for a year, two, maybe more for a guitar or mandolin. Then once it's your turn, most build times are 4 plus months (at least for mandolins). 

 

[AverageGopher]

I respect your points and should say that I think the putter itself obviously has merit given its popularity.  Points about golfwrx and luxury with clubs are well taken.

 

Where you and I disagree (and the original op does too) is the wait time.  To say the workforce is lousy and it's simply impossible to scale up is a bit of a cop out in my opinion.  There are competitors and people with competitive spirits that will make it happen - whether it's working on a weekend, taking time to figure out how to strategically scale up a company, or also deciding to present yourself professionally.  Folks that are giving some slack to this company won't mind if a company speeds up turnaround or presents itself better while folks that do mind will appreciate it....capitalism.

[subcrazy12]

2 minutes ago, AverageGopher said:

I respect your points and should say that I think the putter itself obviously has merit given its popularity.  Points about golfwrx and luxury with clubs are well taken.

 

Where you and I disagree (and the original op does too) is the wait time.  To say the workforce is lousy and it's simply impossible to scale up is a bit of a cop out in my opinion.  There are competitors and people with competitive spirits that will make it happen - whether it's working on a weekend, taking time to figure out how to strategically scale up a company, or also deciding to present yourself professionally.  Folks that are giving some slack to this company won't mind if a company speeds up turnaround or presents itself better while folks that do mind will appreciate it....capitalism.

I don't think he's saying it's impossible to scale just that it takes time to scale since you can't just throw someone into the production pipeline it takes time. 

 

There are similar issues in the needlepoint world where it can take 8 months to get a piece finished due to lack of the skilled labor.

[widow-maker]

Maybe they don't want to be any bigger.  You may just lose what makes you unique.

[Ben B]

15 minutes ago, AverageGopher said:

I respect your points and should say that I think the putter itself obviously has merit given its popularity.  Points about golfwrx and luxury with clubs are well taken.

 

Where you and I disagree (and the original op does too) is the wait time.  To say the workforce is lousy and it's simply impossible to scale up is a bit of a cop out in my opinion.  There are competitors and people with competitive spirits that will make it happen - whether it's working on a weekend, taking time to figure out how to strategically scale up a company, or also deciding to present yourself professionally.  Folks that are giving some slack to this company won't mind if a company speeds up turnaround or presents itself better while folks that do mind will appreciate it....capitalism.

I certainly did not say that it was impossible to scale up production, but rather it takes time. It wasn't to long ago (like less than a year) when custom orders were going out in half the time I believe....I could be wrong. But with the introduction of the OZ line and gaining momentum on all tours, demand has really shot up. They are very passionate about what they do at LAB. They are not just going to hire a bunch of people. They want like minded people who are passionate about the same things they are and have the desire to learn a skilled trade. Who take pride in what they do. Otherwise, quality goes down. Production time goes down. And bad tastes are left in customers mouths becuase of it. My point about the labor force is 100% true. The skilled workforce is incredibly lacking. I see it everyday. I have worked in the construction industry for nearly 25 years. It's really sad to see so many people just not care about their job. 

 

Your comments make it sound like you know that they don't care about wait times and have no plans to scale up production. But I doubt you have talked to them about it. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. It's their company. They don't have to scale up production. They don't have to work weekends. I'm sure there are plenty of golfer, just like yourself,  that said no way to the price. No way to the timeline. And that's OK. That's the beauty of being free to do as you please. 

 

Not trying to argue, it just seems silly to basically bash a company for a long wait time for a custom product and a CEO that doesn't dress up for a golf YouTube video. 

[Par4Nate]

I don’t think it’s exactly comparable at all.  Specially fit clubs are not custom order.  When I order a custom fit set of clubs from Ping, they have all the components already on the shelf.  They just have to process the order, get the appropriate parts (shafts/heads/grips) assembled, and ship them to me.  They aren’t custom machining anything just for me. And they’re selling thousands of sets, so they typically have inventory of all the options all the time.  When Ping has any inventory issues their lead times get pushed out to 2-3 months as well.

[txbadger]

On 2/27/2025 at 9:39 PM, ovodeano said:

Has anyone who recently received a custom lab putter recently attest to the accuracy of the 7-8 week wait time? That’s the only thing holding me back from ordering one. 

back to the original question... I'm currently at exactly 8 weeks for a OZ.1i.   It has been in production for a little over a week so at least in my case its over the stated time.   It might vary between things like model or shaft choices.   I've heard that the TPT and Gears shafts have experienced some delays (I ordered Gears, so there may be some truth to that). 

[BenM]

I ordered the OZ1i 8 weeks ago. During this period I’ve received 2 notifications advising me of delays. The delivery is now expected before the 18 March. 

[PRonan]

I ordered a custom DF3 thru CC on January 5 and still have not received the putter.  Talked to CC today and was told they are seeing wait times of 12-15 weeks

 

I hope its worth it at this point

[Matt614]

I ordered OZ.1i direct from lab on 3/5 and it went into production on 4/2. Hoping it ships before 4/14. 

[cocolamb22]

Ordered Oz.i 1 on 3/6. In production 4/5. Waiting on shipping. 
 

went cappuccino CB with black Accra shaft. 

[blown93302]

 

On 4/7/2025 at 3:38 PM, PRonan said:

I ordered a custom DF3 thru CC on January 5 and still have not received the putter.  Talked to CC today and was told they are seeing wait times of 12-15 weeks

 

I hope its worth it at this point

 

if thats the case i am going to cancel mine that i ordered on 3/27....  If I was fit for a 64° 34", would I be OK with a 65° 35"? 

 

Also, has anyone had the "platinum" color? And how was it in terms of reflection compared to the black head. Thanks. 

Edited April 8 by blown93302

[shaolingolfer]

On 4/7/2025 at 2:38 PM, PRonan said:

I ordered a custom DF3 thru CC on January 5 and still have not received the putter.  Talked to CC today and was told they are seeing wait times of 12-15 weeks

 

I hope its worth it at this point

I ordered a DF3 thru cool club on Feb 28th, so may be by summer....

 

I keep going to PGA superstore and putt with in stock DF3 and they are so good.  I keep asking myself why i have to go the custom route?

[CaryS]

Ordered Oz.1 Sweeper on 3/12.  Got production notice 4/8.

[blown93302]

Just grabbed a 65 degree lie w Accra shaft on the outlet and canceled my 64 degree steel shaft through lab directly.... Came out to $10 cheaper for the outlet putter w the upgraded shaft! So keep an eye on the outlet - the one I ordered was just added last night so they are obviously updating pretty regularly 

 

Edit - was shipped 3hr after Placing the order so 💯 recommend if u can find ur specs 

Edited April 9 by blown93302

[Badshaft]

Mine took about 5 weeks and worth the wait!

[shaolingolfer]

At superstore and they have a bunch of new inventory, only DF 2.1 and OZ, so I grabbed DF 2.1 and start making everything, it is super stable but a bit bigger.

...

Keep thinking, buy this for $399 and still save a lot of money after $25 cancellation fee

[RockyMtnGolfer]

Ordered 2/1725, have yet to get an in production email, so hopefully May I might receive mine 😄 

[ninedoors]

I purchased mine through Golftown on Feb 18 and havent got a production email yet. My Golftown rep says LAB isn't returning any emails.