L.A.B. MEZZ.1 Putter – Official MGS Forum Review by Bulldog
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First Impressions ()
Usually, getting a new golf club gives me an “ooh, ahh” moment. When I opened the box, my first impression was, “OK, this is weird.” Conventional is not a word you’d think of when you see it. The fit and finish of the putter is exceptional. It oozes quality and craftsmanship. The magnetic latching head cover is almost too nice to use. Maybe the head cover needs a head cover. Even the packaging was impressive.
Aesthetics ()
It took me some time to get used to the look of the MEZZ. If Lockheed Aircraft designed a barbecue fork, it would look like the MEZZ. Think industrial origami. I’ve grown comfortable with the looks, but I wouldn't call it attractive.
The bad boy, black monochrome look works well and there are no distracting sun refections. The shaft logo was installed label down by default which I appreciate.
Putts on the center of the face are muted. After my first few, I though the face might be some kind of plastic. There is no metallic sound at all (sorry Ping). Off-center putts are a bit louder, with a “clunk.” Hitting it far on the toe or heel will cost you accuracy.
The alignment line is short. It gives you an impact point target. I may experiment with adding some pinstripe tape on the forks (maybe flames).
I was surprised by the feel. Compared to other putters I’ve used, it’s very, very soft. I was startled by the feel the first time I putted with it.
It's much lighter than the KS1 (my Kirkland KS1 has the optional weight kit). Again, a new feeling but not bad.
Since I started using the MEZZ I've switched back to left-hand low grip that I used years ago. It just feels better.
The Numbers ()
I examined the putting data from Arccos for seven rounds with the MEZZ and seven previous rounds with the Kirkland KS1. The MEZZ showed 2.4 strokes gained improvement in putting.
Here are the stroked gained numbers from best to worst, per round based on my handicap:
MEZZ +1.7 +1.6 +1.2 +1.0 -0.3 -1.5 -3.1
KS1 +2.1 +0.9 -1.9 -3.2 -2.5 -5.7 -5.8
Overall, the number of one and two putts are trending the same, but three putts have decreased by an average of one per round (yippee!)
On the practice green, the MEZZ beat the KS1 putter on 5 and 10 foot putts. Not by a ton, but consistently.
On-Course ()
This thing has accuracy nailed. The ball goes where the putter is pointed. I’ve used it for seven rounds, plus plenty of time on the practice green. My confidence in my putting accuracy is at the highest it’s every been. Distance control is good.
At first, I was leaving putts short. I think it was due to the soft feel and quietness. Fairly quickly, I adjusted my swing and saw improvement.
The Press II 1.5° grip is interesting. It's another L.A.B. out of the box idea where the grip gives you an automatic forward press. I’ve always had a tendency to press the grip forward when putting. This grip does that for me.
The MEZZ works well from the fringe, but the sharp leading edge makes it difficult to use from the rough. Not a problem for me. Putting from the rough has never worked for me.
The Good, the bad, the in between ()
- The Good - Accuracy, Accuracy, Accuracy
- The Bad - Price. Some of my golf buddies have been speechless when told the price.
- The In Between - Looks. The MEZZ.1 design is function over form, physics over aesthetics.
Play it or Trade it? (5 out of 5 stars)
It stays in the bag. Period.
Conclusion
I’m not sure i’d call it a nonconformist putter, maybe just settle on unconventional. I wish there were more of that kind of thinking in golf equipment. I was skeptical that the lie angle balance could make a difference in my score. Overall, my misses are closer, the circle of dispersion is smaller and my putting scores are better. Golf is a bit more fun.
Final Score - 25 out of 30 Stars
My favorite thing about golf is that you score on every play.
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