Experimental demonstration of focusing with mode control outside the optimal regions of the respective mode sets: (a,b) Absolute value of the expected and experimental fields respectively when focusing using LOMs. (c,d) Absolute value of the expected and experimental fields respectively, when focusing using HOMs. (e) Modal composition of fields in (a) and (b). (f) Modal composition of fields in (c) and (d). Insets display a zoom-in on the focus profile. Experimental efficiencies of full fields, η, and of cropped windows, ηw, are indicated in respective figures and the fidelities are indicated along with their mode coefficient plots.