L.A.B. Putters - 2023 Forum Review

[TSauer]

L.A.B. have a few of these limited edition putters for sale in honor of Lefty Day today. I hope someone in here jumps on one of these Links or the other limited models they’re releasing. 
 

 

[Syks7]

On 8/12/2023 at 1:12 AM, Torden Golf said:

How long has it taken for people to get in sync with their new L.A.B putters? I’ve played probably the equivalent of 3 18 hole rounds now and I must say that I don’t (yet) have that feeling of total confidence knocking in a 4 foot put like I’m never going to miss.

I’m consciously trying to be very neutral within my hands to not influence the putters natural inclination to flow towards the target. Guess like all other equipment it might not be for everyone. But interested in what other owners/users might have experienced as an adjustment period.

Can't remember.  Did you buy a Link?

It took me a bit longer.   It worked great but I had fits and starts for about a month until I figured out how to sole it properly and get my hands out of the equation.  It was a fair bit of trial and error using a putter mirror.  Like you I struggled from shorter range because I have a penchant for trying to guide those putts to the hole with my hands.   I'd highly recommend some Sam's no thumbs drill.  To help.

 

I find that I barely have any thumb pressure on the grip anymore.   There's a couple more videos they have (one hand lags) that are also great.

The moment I got comfortable and stopped thinking about the stroke I started knocking them down.  Don't get me wrong I still occasionally miss a short nervy one, but that's mostly because I misread or don't commit. 

 Pre-putt I do a couple rhythmic swings back and forth to get a smooth feel for the stroke then I lign to my start line, focus on trying to hit a specific part of the cup(  Blade of grass, pin, mark on the back etc) and let it go.  The best way I can describe how I putt with it is that the more I trust the tech to do what it's supposed to the better I putt with it.

 

[Torden Golf]

2 hours ago, Syks7 said:

Can't remember.  Did you buy a Link?

It took me a bit longer.   It worked great but I had fits and starts for about a month until I figured out how to sole it properly and get my hands out of the equation.  It was a fair bit of trial and error using a putter mirror.  Like you I struggled from shorter range because I have a penchant for trying to guide those putts to the hole with my hands.   I'd highly recommend some Sam's no thumbs drill.  To help.

 

I find that I barely have any thumb pressure on the grip anymore.   There's a couple more videos they have (one hand lags) that are also great.

The moment I got comfortable and stopped thinking about the stroke I started knocking them down.  Don't get me wrong I still occasionally miss a short nervy one, but that's mostly because I misread or don't commit. 

 Pre-putt I do a couple rhythmic swings back and forth to get a smooth feel for the stroke then I lign to my start line, focus on trying to hit a specific part of the cup(  Blade of grass, pin, mark on the back etc) and let it go.  The best way I can describe how I putt with it is that the more I trust the tech to do what it's supposed to the better I putt with it.

 

Thanks for the share! I’d not seen that one (yet) and there were a couple things in there which was interesting. Obviously the thumbs off. But also having the ball further forward, and having the hands more under.

All good things to experiment with.

[RoverRick]

On 8/12/2023 at 2:12 AM, Torden Golf said:

How long has it taken for people to get in sync with their new L.A.B putters? I’ve played probably the equivalent of 3 18 hole rounds now and I must say that I don’t (yet) have that feeling of total confidence knocking in a 4 foot put like I’m never going to miss.

I’m consciously trying to be very neutral within my hands to not influence the putters natural inclination to flow towards the target. Guess like all other equipment it might not be for everyone. But interested in what other owners/users might have experienced as an adjustment period.

I would say that the “adjustment period” for me was nailing the set up. Ball position and eye line are different because I always played a blade. This head and the forward press of the shaft/grip way different. 

I do a drill before every round where I use a straight edge, alignment rod or driver to line up 6 balls in a straight line and then set up to where they look straight. This ensures I’m setting up properly to make the short ones. 

[TG8]

Another pga tour lab win! Love to see it!

[TG8]

On 8/13/2023 at 12:20 PM, Syks7 said:

Can't remember.  Did you buy a Link?

It took me a bit longer.   It worked great but I had fits and starts for about a month until I figured out how to sole it properly and get my hands out of the equation.  It was a fair bit of trial and error using a putter mirror.  Like you I struggled from shorter range because I have a penchant for trying to guide those putts to the hole with my hands.   I'd highly recommend some Sam's no thumbs drill.  To help.

 

I find that I barely have any thumb pressure on the grip anymore.   There's a couple more videos they have (one hand lags) that are also great.

The moment I got comfortable and stopped thinking about the stroke I started knocking them down.  Don't get me wrong I still occasionally miss a short nervy one, but that's mostly because I misread or don't commit. 

 Pre-putt I do a couple rhythmic swings back and forth to get a smooth feel for the stroke then I lign to my start line, focus on trying to hit a specific part of the cup(  Blade of grass, pin, mark on the back etc) and let it go.  The best way I can describe how I putt with it is that the more I trust the tech to do what it's supposed to the better I putt with it.

 

This drill is spot on and really helped me get used to the link.  I actually sometimes find myself leaving my left thumb off the grip.  Just feels natural 

[TSauer]

New grip on the Link. This feels much better than the skinny SuperStroke pistol  

[TG8]

On 8/15/2023 at 2:13 PM, TSauer said:

New grip on the Link. This feels much better than the skinny SuperStroke pistol  

This thing looks sweet.  Will have to try it. 

[yungkory]

On 8/15/2023 at 9:13 AM, TSauer said:

New grip on the Link. This feels much better than the skinny SuperStroke pistol  

Does changing the grip affect the balance at all?

[pozzit]

New grip on the Link. This feels much better than the skinny SuperStroke pistol  

Just causally picking a background?

[TSauer]

20 minutes ago, yungkory said:

Does changing the grip affect the balance at all?

It can affect the balance, but from what Sam said it is so minuscule you won't notice it unless the grip weight difference is pretty extreme. I went from a 69g Pistol to this 67g P2. I made sure to keep it close.

11 minutes ago, pozzit said:

On 8/15/2023 at 2:13 PM, TSauer said:

New grip on the Link. This feels much better than the skinny SuperStroke pistol  

Just causally picking a background?

Figured I'd show all the dust collectors now.

[Middler]

Anyone know if LAB has made improvements to the cover for the MEZZ? That seems to be the only complaint I see repeated, magnets too weak, head cover falls off and you have to go back and look for it. I've never had that problem with even an inexpensive putter...

[I am trying to talk myself into buying a MEZZ]

[GolfSpy_APH]

3 minutes ago, Middler said:

Anyone know if LAB has made improvements to the cover for the MEZZ? That seems to be the only complaint I see repeated, magnets too weak, head cover falls off and you have to go back and look for it. I've never had that problem with even an inexpensive putter...

[I am trying to talk myself into buying a MEZZ]

.... Never had that issue with my Mezz Max. It's a snug fit, but works great.

[TSauer]

3 minutes ago, Middler said:

[I am trying to talk myself into buying a MEZZ]

You've come to the right place...

[funkyjudge]

45 minutes ago, Middler said:

Anyone know if LAB has made improvements to the cover for the MEZZ? That seems to be the only complaint I see repeated, magnets too weak, head cover falls off and you have to go back and look for it. I've never had that problem with even an inexpensive putter...

[I am trying to talk myself into buying a MEZZ]

I have had that kind of problem with every mallet putter cover that is is magnetically secured.

[Middler]

6 minutes ago, funkyjudge said:

I have had that kind of problem with every mallet putter cover that is is magnetically secured.

My ER5 cover has never come off, so I don’t know what to make of the several reports I’ve seen about LAB MEZZ covers coming off? I’d be disappointed to put it mildly for a $500+ putter.

[bens197]

Someone has to explain the issues with the putter covers to me.  My nylon cover with magnets is ideal and I’ve had zero problems.  

[TSauer]

If anyone wants to pick up a LAB putter for cheap, this one is on eBay for only $99...

[RoverRick]

On 8/21/2023 at 9:08 AM, TSauer said:

If anyone wants to pick up a LAB putter for cheap, this one is on eBay for only $99...

I saw this picture first and Lab was not what I was thinking. Nuff said. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

This is going to be part 1 of my overall review with the LAB MEZZ.1 MAX. I have a lot to say about this putter and LAB, but havent gotten all the direct data I need. So in this part it will be more subjective feedback, on course perception and some greater thoughts. 

First the fitting and virtual fit. This is a part of where LAB shines. The fact you can get a trusted online virtual fit in the matter of hours of sending in a video is exceptional. Toss in the accuracy of it and you have something that I believe all golfers should go through even if you are not going to buy the putter. So please if you havent yet, check out the fitting video and submit yours. I am sure it will be eye opening for you. 

Next up is the customization options they have. WOW! With new colors, shafts, alignment aids, grips and everything else you really can find a putter that is to your liking. 

Why did I go with the Mezz Max? Well I love the fang styles. Always have and for me they really help with alignment and setting up properly. When asking Sam about what to do Mezz vs Mezz Max it was a clear no brainer from him recommending the Max. If you havent listened to our Community Call recording with him, he goes into a few datails about how the Max came about. Very cool story. 

Why Cappuccino? I am coffee addict and truthfully was torn between it and Orange. However given the rest of my bag aesthetics the Cappuccino just matched better. I will say this right now that if you thought it looked good in photos out of the box or online it looks way better in person. 

T Alignment - There were so many options and simply put I gravitated towards this one and since then have not regretted it one bit. 

Shaft - The Accra shaft is exceptional. SO stiff and rigid I love it. I did see they have a new TPT shaft which I am extremely interested in and in truth putter shafts may be what I am most interested in for the golfing industry and what strides are being made there and will be made moving forward as tech advances. 

Grip - The Black and White grip with 1.5 press did take some getting used to. Not in a bad way, it feels exceptional and is just the right amount of softness and tact. 

Initial hits and first impressions

Out of the box I couldn't help but notice difference in balance and swing compared to my previous putters. It just flowed and was smooth, there is a balance to the LAB pu istters that may be understated and it could also be unless you have tried it you would likely never think different. However once it is in your hands and you go back and forth between a LAB putter and a standard putter there is a stark difference. 

There are only great things to say about the looks of the Mezz Max. The fine details, the color and craftsmanship is plain and simple so good. 

When it comes to rolling the putter and actual feel and sound again this hit the marks for me right away. I had been using a Odyssey White Hot Micro Hinge face for years and while I putted well with it and putting did become a strength the softer feel did catch me from time to time. Switching to the SIK Cobra face was a nice welcome change, but took a lot of getting used to . I also have a Ping Fetch which I love the feel of, but don't love the sound. 

For me the Mezz finds a great balance between all of these. It isnt too firm, the feel is responsive and sound is a great mid point that should appease to the masses.  There is also a stark difference in sound when hitting out the toe or heel. 

The Putting Stroke

I am a solid if not very good putter. It is a strength of mine and I lean heavily on it by getting to the green and feeling confident that as soon as I get on the green I am worst going to 2 putt. My stroke is level, equal, smooth and relies on tempo. 

LAB Influences Change

I will admit I struggled a bit at first. Not so much with alignment (save that for later), but more with the speed and longer lag putts. While there is great consistency off the face, pure middle strikes do come off with a certain zip. Again not a bad thing imo, just something I have noticed. I also found that with my other putters had led me to do a very large forward press and be a little handsy. Combining the forward press grip and stability of the LAB this lead to a lot of initial inconsistency. I was used to doing this big forward press and this was no longer needed. 

I went back to basics a little bit, more shoulders, less press if none at all and that is when I started hitting lightening in a bottle.  Everything was going exactly where I had lined up and it truly became if I can read the green properly (and boy could I not a lot of the time) Iit would be starting right where I setup. 

With the changes I did and still do have some days or rounds where I dont  quite get speeds right and it is something I am working on. The other part is lag putts I did struggle more with at least for the first however many rounds. 

On The Course Impressions

This putter got a lot of looks and a lot of questions. I loved talking about it, loved handing it over to others to try or feel and the response was almost always this thing is really cool and feels great. Nobody said it was too big or anything like that. 

The first few rounds as I alluded to I struggled with speed, in part I wasnt always finding middle of the face but we also had some greens which were being worked on so no point in hiding it. I had a lot of 3 putts to start off. While the feel, line and setup were all far better than what I had imagined the pace and speed left a lot to be desired. 

I ended up putting a lot more time in on my PuttOut and on the course practice facility. This is when things started to turn and I began to the see the results of putts rolling into the hole and confidence growing. 

I normally try to drop a putt into the hole and not be too aggressive, but this all changed as the confidence started to climb. I began to up the pace a bit on putts making sure they got to the hole or would go by if I was to miss being extremely confident that I would be able to make the comeback putt if I was to miss. 

This is when I started seeing a lot more 1 putts, more birdies and things started to feel much more automatic. I still have blips where I get handsy and make silly mistakes, but the more efforts I take to slow down and setup the more putts which have been falling. 

There are still some lapses as well on long putts, which I continue to work on. 

Final Initial Thought Part 1

The more I use the LAB the more it feels as though it will be my "forever" putter. I know there will still be bad rounds, bad putts, but I cant really place this on the putter. I am human and make mistakes. 

The other part I am torn about is lining up the ball or not. I have gone through back and forth and have yet to see a big difference in putting stats. It has averaged out to the same amount of putts per round and I cant say if I am more confident one way or another with that. 

The paint has rubbed a bit on one corner. I guess the headcover slid a bit and it rubbed up against a club. Nothing deal breaking, but it is worth noting that you should take care with the finish. Same with the face I have a few spots where I am guessing there was sand or something from the greens which were being maintained that made the smallest of marks on the putter face. 

If you are on the fence about LAB the best thing I can say is get out and try one if you can. 

I will also leave with a parting thought about center shafted putters and the nature of them, however I will be brief. This never once crossed my mind or found it to be off or weird. It never was a distractions or anything I really noticed at all. 

 

Stay tuned for a lot more to come and at some point a large photo drop!

[Josh Parker]

I just got my DF2.1 in and couldn't agree more with @GolfSpy_APH on the feel.  I got one round in on it so far but have practiced with it.  I went with the stock option with colors and build out.  I had been looking at them for the last couple years because I hadn't found anything to replace my old doc17 center shafted putter.  

The press grip will take a min to get used to and I have figured out that if I hold it with the top hand and thumb that my other hand is just added stability with this putter. You almost don't have to even hold any pressure for it to stay square. If you have it lined properly, it follows and the ball tracking is great. 

Looking forward to getting some rounds in on it. 

[Todd K.]

This is excellent.  I was wary of the online putter fitting process, but this info  makes me less anxious.   I think I will send in my video.  Thanks @golfspy_aph

[Josh Parker]

14 minutes ago, Todd K. said:

This is excellent.  I was wary of the online putter fitting process, but this info  makes me less anxious.   I think I will send in my video.  Thanks @golfspy_aph

It was super easy and within 24hrs had specs and feedback on what I needed. I had originally put an inch longer and I followed their recs. 

I also mentioned in my email what putter had been my favorite and why and they took that in to consideration when telling me what putter they thought would work best. 

[GolfSpy BOS]

19 minutes ago, Todd K. said:

This is excellent.  I was wary of the online putter fitting process, but this info  makes me less anxious.   I think I will send in my video.  Thanks @golfspy_aph

While I haven't ordered one.... yet... I did send in my online video and the results they sent back we exactly spot on with what my two prior putter fittings resulted in.  So I have full confidence in saying what ever they're doing with their online fits is working to get length and lie correct.  

And I'm not near standard (32.5 length and 67* lie).  

[Todd K.]

All of this is great information.  I have been looking at the mezz for far too long.  Time for me to jump in 

[funkyjudge]

8 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

This is going to be part 1 of my overall review with the LAB MEZZ.1 MAX. I have a lot to say about this putter and LAB, but havent gotten all the direct data I need. So in this part it will be more subjective feedback, on course perception and some greater thoughts. 

First the fitting and virtual fit. This is a part of where LAB shines. The fact you can get a trusted online virtual fit in the matter of hours of sending in a video is exceptional. Toss in the accuracy of it and you have something that I believe all golfers should go through even if you are not going to buy the putter. So please if you havent yet, check out the fitting video and submit yours. I am sure it will be eye opening for you. 

Next up is the customization options they have. WOW! With new colors, shafts, alignment aids, grips and everything else you really can find a putter that is to your liking. 

Why did I go with the Mezz Max? Well I love the fang styles. Always have and for me they really help with alignment and setting up properly. When asking Sam about what to do Mezz vs Mezz Max it was a clear no brainer from him recommending the Max. If you havent listened to our Community Call recording with him, he goes into a few datails about how the Max came about. Very cool story. 

Why Cappuccino? I am coffee addict and truthfully was torn between it and Orange. However given the rest of my bag aesthetics the Cappuccino just matched better. I will say this right now that if you thought it looked good in photos out of the box or online it looks way better in person. 

T Alignment - There were so many options and simply put I gravitated towards this one and since then have not regretted it one bit. 

Shaft - The Accra shaft is exceptional. SO stiff and rigid I love it. I did see they have a new TPT shaft which I am extremely interested in and in truth putter shafts may be what I am most interested in for the golfing industry and what strides are being made there and will be made moving forward as tech advances. 

Grip - The Black and White grip with 1.5 press did take some getting used to. Not in a bad way, it feels exceptional and is just the right amount of softness and tact. 

Initial hits and first impressions

Out of the box I couldn't help but notice difference in balance and swing compared to my previous putters. It just flowed and was smooth, there is a balance to the LAB pu istters that may be understated and it could also be unless you have tried it you would likely never think different. However once it is in your hands and you go back and forth between a LAB putter and a standard putter there is a stark difference. 

There are only great things to say about the looks of the Mezz Max. The fine details, the color and craftsmanship is plain and simple so good. 

When it comes to rolling the putter and actual feel and sound again this hit the marks for me right away. I had been using a Odyssey White Hot Micro Hinge face for years and while I putted well with it and putting did become a strength the softer feel did catch me from time to time. Switching to the SIK Cobra face was a nice welcome change, but took a lot of getting used to . I also have a Ping Fetch which I love the feel of, but don't love the sound. 

For me the Mezz finds a great balance between all of these. It isnt too firm, the feel is responsive and sound is a great mid point that should appease to the masses.  There is also a stark difference in sound when hitting out the toe or heel. 

The Putting Stroke

I am a solid if not very good putter. It is a strength of mine and I lean heavily on it by getting to the green and feeling confident that as soon as I get on the green I am worst going to 2 putt. My stroke is level, equal, smooth and relies on tempo. 

LAB Influences Change

I will admit I struggled a bit at first. Not so much with alignment (save that for later), but more with the speed and longer lag putts. While there is great consistency off the face, pure middle strikes do come off with a certain zip. Again not a bad thing imo, just something I have noticed. I also found that with my other putters had led me to do a very large forward press and be a little handsy. Combining the forward press grip and stability of the LAB this lead to a lot of initial inconsistency. I was used to doing this big forward press and this was no longer needed. 

I went back to basics a little bit, more shoulders, less press if none at all and that is when I started hitting lightening in a bottle.  Everything was going exactly where I had lined up and it truly became if I can read the green properly (and boy could I not a lot of the time) Iit would be starting right where I setup. 

With the changes I did and still do have some days or rounds where I dont  quite get speeds right and it is something I am working on. The other part is lag putts I did struggle more with at least for the first however many rounds. 

On The Course Impressions

This putter got a lot of looks and a lot of questions. I loved talking about it, loved handing it over to others to try or feel and the response was almost always this thing is really cool and feels great. Nobody said it was too big or anything like that. 

The first few rounds as I alluded to I struggled with speed, in part I wasnt always finding middle of the face but we also had some greens which were being worked on so no point in hiding it. I had a lot of 3 putts to start off. While the feel, line and setup were all far better than what I had imagined the pace and speed left a lot to be desired. 

I ended up putting a lot more time in on my PuttOut and on the course practice facility. This is when things started to turn and I began to the see the results of putts rolling into the hole and confidence growing. 

I normally try to drop a putt into the hole and not be too aggressive, but this all changed as the confidence started to climb. I began to up the pace a bit on putts making sure they got to the hole or would go by if I was to miss being extremely confident that I would be able to make the comeback putt if I was to miss. 

This is when I started seeing a lot more 1 putts, more birdies and things started to feel much more automatic. I still have blips where I get handsy and make silly mistakes, but the more efforts I take to slow down and setup the more putts which have been falling. 

There are still some lapses as well on long putts, which I continue to work on. 

Final Initial Thought Part 1

The more I use the LAB the more it feels as though it will be my "forever" putter. I know there will still be bad rounds, bad putts, but I cant really place this on the putter. I am human and make mistakes. 

The other part I am torn about is lining up the ball or not. I have gone through back and forth and have yet to see a big difference in putting stats. It has averaged out to the same amount of putts per round and I cant say if I am more confident one way or another with that. 

The paint has rubbed a bit on one corner. I guess the headcover slid a bit and it rubbed up against a club. Nothing deal breaking, but it is worth noting that you should take care with the finish. Same with the face I have a few spots where I am guessing there was sand or something from the greens which were being maintained that made the smallest of marks on the putter face. 

If you are on the fence about LAB the best thing I can say is get out and try one if you can. 

I will also leave with a parting thought about center shafted putters and the nature of them, however I will be brief. This never once crossed my mind or found it to be off or weird. It never was a distractions or anything I really noticed at all. 

 

Stay tuned for a lot more to come and at some point a large photo drop!

Many of your observations regarding the L.A.B. Mezz Max putter, particularly those regarding “zip” or “zing” off the face and your initial difficulties gauging distances on lag putts, echo what I have experienced with the Makefield V.S. Putter that I was fitted for, and have been using since this April. I have gotten fairly well adjusted to this putter, and how “hot” it can feel on longer putts, and have had some very good to excellent putting rounds with it over the last month or so. It will be interesting to see if you experience the same thing with your Mezz Max.

 

[TSauer]

Strongly considering selling my Scotty Phantom or working it in with a trade deal to get a Mezz. I’m perfectly fine with my Link, but I’d love to try one of those as well. 

[Syks7]

26 minutes ago, TSauer said:

Strongly considering selling my Scotty Phantom or working it in with a trade deal to get a Mezz. I’m perfectly fine with my Link, but I’d love to try one of those as well. 

I've been eyeballing DF2.1s on the outlet site for a while now.   Like Sam said, Link is a gateway drug.... 

Though if this is coming to market I may hold off....

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwN49jPNwkv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR0eRDPcy4GHYgyjoPDYxMq_-iJAWyGY7_VpkU9cYW1XRIRo6qLh09IFWE4

Edited August 31, 2023 by Syks7

[GolfSpy SAM]

21 minutes ago, Syks7 said:

I've been eyeballing DF2.1s on the outlet site for a while now.   Like Sam said, Link is a gateway drug.... 

Though if this is coming to market I may hold off....

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwN49jPNwkv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR0eRDPcy4GHYgyjoPDYxMq_-iJAWyGY7_VpkU9cYW1XRIRo6qLh09IFWE4

I would genuinely (!) consider getting that thing in replacement of my 2.1 - and literally if only because of the (seeming) ball-collector in the middle. My ONLY complaint with the DF is that it's impossible to scoop the ball up, and I know that's ridiculous, but that thing looks slimmer in all the right ways.  Dag...I better go make some extra money  

[TSauer]

20 minutes ago, Syks7 said:

I've been eyeballing DF2.1s on the outlet site for a while now.   Like Sam said, Link is a gateway drug.... 

Though if this is coming to market I may hold off....

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwN49jPNwkv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR0eRDPcy4GHYgyjoPDYxMq_-iJAWyGY7_VpkU9cYW1XRIRo6qLh09IFWE4

Oh yeah, I forgot about the mini version Sam was talking about. Looks so much better than the original. I may look into that one as well.