Best L.A.B. Golf putters: Which one suits your stroke?
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L.A.B. Golf’s unconventional putters are taking golf by storm – but which L.A.B. putter is best for your game?
L.A.B. Golf have only been producing putters since 2018 but over the last two years they’ve become hot property among tour pros. Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott, Charles Howell III, Lucas Glover, and Byeong Hun An have all played and won tournaments using L.A.B. Golf putters, thrusting the company’s ‘Lie Angle Balanced’ technology into the limelight and establishing them among the best putters for golfers who want the benefits of the latest technology.
You may have heard about face-balanced, toe up, and torque-balanced putters, but L.A.B. Golf putters work differently to anything you’ve seen before. The idea came about when Directed Force (the company acquired and relaunched by now L.A.B owner Sam Hahn) built a device called the Revealer, to better understand how putters torque and rotate during the putting stroke. Only by inventing the device, which allows putters to hang freely while being swung, was it possible to firstly spot how putters want to rotate during the stroke, but also to design a putter that didn’t torque or spin at all.
Other zero torque putters are available (like the Axis 1 used by Justin Rose) but L.A.B. models are different as they’re designed to resist twisting to the path of your stroke, not your target. So, where Ping founder Karsten Solheim invented the perimeter-weighted Anser to twist less on off-center hits, L.A.B. putters are designed to not twist to the path of your backswing and downswing. It means the company have to insist golfers get fitted for each model (which can be done online here), as it’s vitally important to match the lie angle of the putter to how you putt in order to ensure maximum effectiveness. The idea also does away with the fitting of putters to stroke type, so don’t expect to hear toe hang mentioned by L.A.B.
L.A.B. say their putter models need no ‘getting used to’ or ‘bedding in’ period. Where every other putter on the market delivers different levels of torque during the stroke – which you need to get accustomed to – all L.A.B. models come with zero torque, so they all feel exactly the same.
As we’ve seen with Odyssey’s toe up models and the Axis 1, putters that go after neutralizing torque need radically different head shapes, weighting, or hosel designs to satisfy their brief. As L.A.B. owner Sam Hahn admits, you should expect some “absurd head designs”. If you buy into the concept, take the time to get fitted properly, and don’t mind an unusual head shape, a L.A.B. Golf putter could deliver great results.
Here’s how to decide which L.A.B. Golf putter best suits you.
If you don't mind the looks, you get huge amounts of forgiveness and stability.
This model was specifically designed to allow golfers to deliver a square putter face to the back of the ball on every single putt. The branding iron shape naturally wants to stay square to your path and thanks to the wide and hollow shape it’s also incredibly stable on off-center hits.
L.A.B. Golf say the DF 2.1 works with your stroke, not against it, as torque-free balancing helps golfers consistently repeat the same stroke with less effort.
The head shape is certainly unconventional, and L.A.B. openly admit that unless you’re searching for ultimate forgiveness their less weird and slightly smaller DF 3 might be a better option.
Pros
- Extremely forgiving
- Super stable
- Easy to square the face
Cons
- The look takes some getting used to
The best L.A.B. model if you don't want an overly large putter head.
The Mezz is CNC Milled from lightweight 6061 aluminum on the toe and heel with 303 stainless steel in the center.
There are two sizes available, with the Max being 20% larger than its smaller Mezz 1 sibling.
L.A.B. refer to the Mezz as their spaceship on a stick thanks to its radically different shape and design.
The company see the model rivaling popular modern fang-shaped mallets like the Scotty Cameron Phantom 7 and Odyssey AI-One #7.
Pros
- Two size options
- Great feel
- Packed with tech in a smaller head than the DF 3 and DF 2.1
Cons
- Angular design won't appeal to everyone
Perfect for golfers who love blade putters but want performance help.
To ensure their Lie Angle Balancing technology is available to all, L.A.B. make a toe and heel-weighted blade too, in the shape of the Link.1 putter.
The Link’s head is 100% CNC Milled from 303 stainless steel, and it looks a little more conventional than the brand's other models.
Pros
- Less chunky than other L.A.B. putters
- Lots of performance help for a blade
Cons
- Still quite garish to look at
L.A.B. Golf putters: Buying Guide & FAQs
What does L.A.B. putter stand for?
L.A.B. stands for “lie angle balanced”. It’s the main principle behind L.A.B. Golf, and refers to their unique design which resists twisting during your stroke and makes it easier to deliver a square face at impact.
What putter does Will Zalatoris use?
Will Zalatoris uses the L.A.B Golf Mezz.1 Max putter. You can see all the clubs Zalatoris uses here.
What putter is Adam Scott using?
Adam Scott uses the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 putter with a broomhandle grip.
Scott was one of the first tour pros to use a L.A.B. Golf putter, adopting the original Directed Force model.
“I think they’ve refined their design with this new head,” Scott said of the Mezz.1. “The original head, that Directed Force, maybe was hard for a lot of people to adjust to the size of the head. This new one is smaller but has the same benefits. I thought the technology in the original was good, but now with the new head design, it feels, looks, does all the things better than the original head for me.”
Check out Adam Scott’s WITB here.
About the author
Simon Daddow
Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor
Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor for Today’s Golfer. Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.
He’s a specialist in all things metal having spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years. Starting out as trainee professional at Downes Crediton GC where he learned the art of golf club making, he went onto work for Clubhaus Plc and Tony Charles Ltd as a golf club maker, and running Product Development at Benross Golf.
Simon also spent time working as a Sales Executive in Harrods’ golf department, even helping supply Sir Nick Faldo with personalized shirts in a last-minute emergency ahead of a flight to a tournament.
He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside our test pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.
Despite his youthful looks, Simon has played golf for more than 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.
He enjoys excellent relationships with the biggest names in the golf equipment industry, including PXG boss Bob Parsons and TaylorMade’s Tomo Bystedt and Adrian Rietveld.
Away from the course, Simon is a season-ticket holder at Peterborough United Football Club, attending games with his young son. He’s also a keen cyclist and enjoys working (and relaxing) at his allotment.
His favorite ever piece of golf equipment is the Callaway Warbird fairway wood and he considers the biggest technological advancement in the game to have been titanium driver heads.
Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybrid, PXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.
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Best L.A.B. Golf Putters
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Adam Scott uses a L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf Link 1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf DF 2.1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf DF 2.1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf Link 1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 putter
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L.A.B. Golf Mezz putter
