Video summary
The video centers on a controversial review of a counterfeit Lab putter purchased from the online marketplace Temu for £79. The presenter acknowledges the ethical dilemma of showcasing such products, noting that while they are clearly attempting to mimic the popular genuine Lab Golf VZN 1, doing so feels uncomfortable given the industry's reliance on intellectual property theft. Despite these reservations, the reviewer decides to test the putter because many average golfers cannot afford the £500 price tag of a legitimate version and may be considering this cheaper alternative. The primary goal is to determine if this fake product offers genuine value or if it is merely a waste of money that viewers should avoid.
Visually, the counterfeit putter is remarkably convincing, featuring accurate details such as the forward press grip, specific markings, and a high-quality head cover that suggests a premium finish. The reviewer was particularly surprised by the extensive variety of alignment aids and shaft options available, which mirrored the customization found in genuine Lab putters. From a performance standpoint, the club performs well on the greens; it successfully executes the zero torque concept, maintains consistent ball speed across different distances, and helps golfers keep the ball on line. However, there are notable flaws, specifically regarding the feel and sound of the face, which produces a tinny, inconsistent noise compared to the original, as well as concerns about the precise alignment of the grip when addressing the ball.
Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that while the putter looks authentic and functions adequately for those on a budget, there are significant reasons to hesitate. The main issues stem from the inconsistency inherent in mass-produced fakes, where one unit might differ significantly from another, leading to unpredictable performance if the manufacturing quality varies. Furthermore, the presenter expresses a strong personal discomfort with promoting counterfeit goods, feeling that supporting this industry is wrong regardless of the financial savings involved. Consequently, while the product exists and appeals to budget-conscious golfers who like its aesthetic, the reviewer chooses not to provide a direct link to purchase it, urging viewers to exercise caution and share their own experiences in the comments before making a decision.
Read the full video transcript
I still can't get over the looks of
these things and how they get away with
doing it is pretty It's It's bad really,
isn't it? Let's be honest. But, as I
say, it's out there. It exists. So,
we've got to talk about it. And I'd like
Now, I'll be quite honest with you. I'm
not even sure we should be making
today's video because today we're
looking at something that is a little
bit controversial. You see, I found this
putter on Temu for £79.
And it's clearly trying to be something
it isn't. Or is it? Because this is a
copy of a Lab putter.
And in today's video, we've obviously
got a lot of questions need answering.
Is it any good? Is it worth £79?
Is it complete waste of money?
Or should this really be on your
shopping list? And is it too good for me
to ignore on this channel? You see,
buying golf equipment off Temu feels
like a bit of a gamble. In fact, buying
anything off Temu feels like a bit of a
gamble. And it's definitely something
that wrestles with my conscience. Should
we be showcasing a product that is
clearly ripping off a one of the most
popular brands in the putter market
right now? Or should I just be binning
this thing and not paying any attention
at all? And I'm not sure we're ever
doing the right thing. So, this is a
copy of Lab Golf VZN 1 I. Vision 1, is
it? It had multiple different options in
terms of the sightlines, the setup just
in the same way as you would choose a
Lab. It was £79. It's got an Accra shaft
in it. From a monetary perspective,
because I represent an average golfer,
then for me, I've got to take a look at
this because I know lots of you are
going to Temu and buying these type of
products. What I want to know is should
you keep your £79 in your pocket and aim
for that £500 putter? Or is this really
worthy of 80 quid? So, from a visual
perspective, this is and could ought to
all intents and purposes be
a Lab putter. If I passed it to average
Joe and tell them to have a look at
that, They think they had a lab putter
in their hand. They've copied the grip,
it's got the forward press. Every little
detail that you see
in terms of markings that you would see
on a lab putter, then you see on this
Teemu effort. So, visually
can't knock this thing at all. If you
like the look of a lab, then you like
this. Now, the first thing that
surprised me was the the amount of
options I had in terms of alignment
aids. And again, much in the same way as
I would have gotten from
lab. I went for a simple T-bar option,
nice and clean. But, I think there
probably 12 or 15 different options that
I would have had in this putter. There
was also different shaft types that I
could have had. So, the options are
endless, which did surprise me a little.
Next thing that surprised me was the
head cover. Again, it suggests premium.
I'm not too sure what comes as standard
on a lab putter genuine, but this is
again, it's made really well. I doubt
it's made of leather. It's really well
lined. It's a premium finish. The putter
also adopts the forward press. Don't go
in again. Oh my god, that was close. And
also seems to be balanced in exactly the
same way. The zero torque concept works
from lab. So, on the face of it, very
much a positive start. We've got a
product that very much looks real. It's
got some quality components. That head
cover looks good. We've got a suggested
Accra shaft, which I can never test as
to whether or not uh how close that is
to the original.
But, there are some issues in this
putter that you should be aware of. But,
before we get onto those potential
negatives, and there are a few, the one
big one for me is my tone in this um
review is very much different than the
first time we looked at a fake Teemu
putter. Because many people made me
aware that we shouldn't be supporting
this kind of industry. And I've got to
agree with them. I don't feel
comfortable with it. And I am torn
between two mindsets, one in which that
yes, we shouldn't be we shouldn't be
showcasing this kind of product on the
channel. And the other part of me that I
represent the average golfers and lots
of average golfers have not got 500 quid
to invest in a genuine lab putter.
They might stretch to 80 quid for a
putter off Temu and they want to know
from me
is it a complete rip-off or is it
worthwhile? So, please understand I'm
torn between the two. I'm not sure which
is right or wrong, but I am going to
give you my honest assessment as ever.
If you like the idea of that putter from
Temu saving you a few quid, then you
might want to get involved with the
sponsor of today's video, The Refund
Club, because if you had car finance
between 2000 and 2021,
then you really need to consider putting
in a claim with some very basic
information. 60 seconds it took me to
enter my name, my date of birth.
I can't remember any more than that to
be quite honest with you and very
quickly it came up and told me I've
potentially got a claim worth 800 odd
quid.
Now, for me that's nothing to be sniffed
at.
The important thing to note is that The
Refund Club don't take any commissions
from your claim until it has been
settled in full. So, it's very much a
nothing to lose situation. So, just to
put you in the picture, the FCA have
recently confirmed that millions of car
finance agreements between 2007 and 2021
were missold due to hidden commission
deals. And an estimated 8.2 billion is
owed back to around 14 million UK
drivers and The Refund Club are helping
people to check if they're one of them.
It's also worth noting that The Refund
Club work with all major lenders. So,
rather than be messing around trying to
find all these agreements, previous
documents that you might have had in
hand, just deal with them. It makes life
a whole lot simpler and straightforward.
I certainly would give it a go for 60
seconds and there'll be a link in that
video description. Right, let's carry on
back to the Teemu putter I. Okay, so
let's get with the first negative and
probably maybe starting off with the
thing that I'm concerned about the most
is the alignment of the grip and this
forward press.
Every time I picked up a genuine lab,
that's never been an issue for me. It
adopts a very nice position and it feels
aligned. This doesn't. I'm looking at
this now and it looks all a bit on a
wonk. Now,
there is an optical illusion with these
kind of forward press grips. So, it is
hard to be accurate and be sure, but
every time I get above the ball,
I don't feel like I'm aligned properly
and that is a major issue for me. And
when I look at the grip as I'm looking
at it now, it just doesn't seem to sit
right. So, one of the first issues for
me is that grip looks very much like
what you'd see on an original, but I
think it is a far lesser effort and I
would be concerned about the consistency
of it being put on properly. The second
issue and again, quite a big deal for
me, is the sound and feel from the face
going
>> [laughter]
>> It is a little bit more of a ting and a
tinny feel than the original fake that I
purchased from Teemu. It's very, very
different in the sound from a legit lab
as well. So, again, it's that
inconsistencies. If I compared this to
the original Teemu putter we bought, I
was very much a positive about the sound
and feel that came out of the face.
Whereas this, it's not my cup of tea,
but as you can see, it doesn't impact in
getting the ball in the hole.
Break. Break. Break.
I mean, what has been really good
getting back to the positives is that
I've just suggested I don't like the
sound and feel, which I don't. Again, I
don't know whether you pick it up. It's
very much a ting out that club face.
But am I able to get the ball aligned on
my line? Am I getting consistent pace
out of the putter face? Yes, I am. We've
putted from a number of different
distances and at no point have I
thinking this thing is firing off
inconsistently. So from a performance
perspective and being totally honest,
it's performed really well. I'm just
getting back onto the other negative and
perhaps the main one for me, it's the
whole Temu thing and having the
confidence in it. I must confess two
products that I've bought have been
delivered fairly quickly. This one took
a little bit longer, but I am worried
about the consistency of the makeup of
each product that I get and how much it
differs and that's why I'm reluctant and
not prepared to give any sort of link to
where I've bought in case you get
something that is completely different.
So there are concerns for me about what
I'm getting,
if I get it and if it's always as
consistent as the one I've bought
before. I still can't get over the looks
of these thing and how they get away
with doing it is pretty It's It's bad
really, isn't it? Let's be honest, but
as I say, it's out there. It exists, so
we're going to talk about it and I'd
like to talk to you about it and get
your feedback. Have you bought a whether
it's a lab putter or any golf products
from Temu and what is your experiences?
Because I think the more people can hear
from you and not me, maybe they'll have
a little bit more confidence to to go
into this kind of marketplace. The last
review we did, there was a huge amount
of positivity to others that had bought
this type of product. So let me know of
your own experiences because like I
said, they're probably more important
than mine.
We're nearly finished with a grandstand
finish cuz I'm going to leave it there
and quite possibly the last time a fake
Temu product is going to appear on my
channel cuz I got to say throughout the
whole review, I am a little bit
uncomfortable sort of promoting this
kind of thing, but I don't want to
repeat that message.
I want to showcase it for everybody
that's considering buying one. And I
think the positives would be this.
It looks like a LAB putter. I mean, if
you put them side by side, you're going
to need a good eye to recognize the
difference between the two and most
wouldn't.
The whole shape in the profiling really
good. I like this style of putter
irrelevant to whether it's a fake or
not. And the zero torque concept adapts
into this putter well. I wouldn't again
recognize it as not being zero torque.
The face for me was thing as is the grip
and the alignment of that grip. I'd be a
little bit concerned of that. But again,
on the greens from different areas, from
aligning the putter, all ticking boxes.
There's no reason why for me,
if your affordability means that you
don't want all you don't want to stretch
to 500 quid for a putter, then look,
it's there. It exists. I understand why
people are buying it.
For my personal thing, I've got a
overriding problem.
When I'm involved in an industry to
promote this is pretty poor on my part,
I feel. So, I'm going to leave it there
and I'll let you decide and give me some
more feedback in the comments. But
again, be careful with it and be
sensible. And I'll leave it at that one.
I will see you all very soon and as
ever, thanks for watching.