Black Lab BL-2 Putter

These days, it seems every time you turnaround there’s a new boutique custom putter company popping up and making a go of it.  One of my favorites though is Black Lab Golf out of Savannah, Georgia.  Black Lab is the brainchild of Chip Usher of Usher Golf, well known for his years of dealing Miura and his previous putter company C&L.  When Chip first launched Black Lab Golf he made me a prototype version of his Black Lab BL-2 blade putter which has been one of my go-tos ever since.

The Black Lab BL-2 is a high-quality putter with seemingly endless customization options and at one of the best price points in the boutique market.

The Looks

It seems silly to say, but my first impression of the Black Lab BL-2 putter was “this is exactly what I wanted.”  The shape is a perfect “number-2” shape with a slightly thicker topline and perfect angles.  I requested a shaved heel (now referred to as the Bushmaster option) which gave it the perfect look behind the ball.  As a completely custom putter, everything was picked by me from the matte silver finish to the exact stamping and the paint.  Everything about the BL-2 putter I received was perfect and exactly what I wanted from my buddy, Chip Usher.  I couldn’t wait to get it out on the course.

How Does it Feel?

Chip made a slight adjustment to give my Black Lab BL-2 the feel I was looking for.  His stock milling on this batch of putters was a bit deep for me so Chip lightened the face milling.  If you have a certain preference of feel or milling, consult with Chip to see what he can do.  In my case I wanted a little more click in the feedback from the face.  To get the feel just right for me, Chip worked his magic in the shop and got it perfect.  The end result is a precise “tick” with a bit of hotness to it at impact.  Perfect.

How Does it Sound?

If you adjust the face milling then you’re going to have a major impact on the sound as well as the feel.  As such, my Black Lab BL-2’s sound reflects the feel.  A well struck putt has a minor “tick” at impact but still has softer characteristics.  I wanted this putter to have some life in it at impact and the reduced face milling gave me that.  I find that “tick” to have a little springiness to it that gives me the feedback I’m looking for.  Missing the sweet spot results in a loss of tonal quality but isn’t a massive degradation.  The moral of that story is to make sure you have a good putting stroke and hit the sweet spot.  Obviously.

On-Course Performance

So much of a putter’s performance is based on how well it fits the prior categories.  If it looks, feels, and sounds good to you then you’re going to putt better with it.  It’s as simple as that.  I had instant chemistry with the Black Lab BL-2 putter that Chip made for me.  The ball rolls somewhere right between immediate roll and “skid and roll.”  (For those that may not be aware, the putter industry is always up in arms about whether or not the ball should roll immediately or skid a little prior to rolling.  Perhaps another topic for another day…)  Distance control came with ease and it was extremely easy to get in tune with my BL-2.  Like anything in golf, confidence in the club left me with better results.  Feeling good about a flat stick will always help you hole more putts.

Final Thoughts – Black Lab BL-2

There are a few putters in my stable that are permanent fixtures and a certain sort of special “different” from the rest.  This Black Lab BL-2 is one of them.  I could ask Chip to make me literally anything and he would deliver, but it wouldn’t be the same.  There’s just something about this putter and I know I could call on it on any given day, and it would take care of me.  This is exactly the experience Chip wants his customers to have when working with him.  If you’re in the custom putter market, Chip of Black Lab Golf is one of the best and I can’t recommend his work enough.  If his work isn’t enough for you, he’s one of the best people you’ll meet in the golf industry.

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