Ask MyGolfSpy: L.A.B. Golf
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Ask MyGolfSpy: L.A.B. Golf

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Ask MyGolfSpy: L.A.B. Golf

Today, we are going to dive into the mailbag and answer some of your questions about L.A.B. Golf. L.A.B. Golf is one of the hottest putter companies these days, both on pro tours and at your local course. Every week, you are seeing more L.A.B. Golf putters in professional and amateur bags.

Why are L.A.B. Golf putters such a hot commodity these days?

Let’s explore the phenomenon that is L.A.B. Golf.

Q: Can you please explain Lie Angle Balancing to me like I’m a 10-year old?

Lie Angle Balancing is all about how the putter moves during your putting stroke. L.A.B. Golf’s Revealer, shown in the video above, demonstrates how traditional putters will twist during the putting stroke. L.A.B. Golf putters stay stable, not rotating at all as they are swung.

This lack of rotation eliminates the opening and closing of the putter face relative to the path during your stroke, allowing the putter to naturally return to square at impact.

Q: What’s the primary benefit of a L.A.B. putter?

L.A.B Golf Putter

A L.A.B. Golf putter removes a key variable from your putting. If Lie Angle Balancing returns the face square at impact, then the ball should only travel down your target line. Ideally, you will now never miss the target line due to a face that is open or closed at impact.

If you let the L.A.B. Golf technology automatically square the putter face, all you then need to concentrate on is line and pace. Think of it like algebra. A two variable problem is easier to successfully solve than a three variable problem.

If you remove a variable from your putting, it will be easier to solve that “problem” as well.

Q: How do I get fitted for a L.A.B. putter?

There are two easy ways to get fitted for a L.A.B. Golf. putter. First, you can put your location into their store locator to find an in-person fitting shop.

The other option, as shown in the video above, is that you can send a video of you putting with your current putter to L.A.B. Golf. From that video, they can determine your build specs.

If you are skeptical about the accuracy of this option, don’t be. I did the video fitting with L.A.B. and subsequently did an in-person fitting for another putter company and the results were the same.

Q: What happens if I want to swap the grip for a different one? Will that mess up the balancing?

L.A.B Golf Putter

If you change the grip, the balance will be altered.

As to how much, it depends on the grip, but generally it’s imperceptible. If you feel some twisting, you can always send it back to L.A.B. to have it rebalanced.

Also, some of the models with more shaft lean may feel awkward with a straight grip—but plenty of people do it and like it.

L.A.B. Golf recommends using one of their Press Grips with the built-in forward press. Forward press at impact leads to more of an upward strike on the ball, generating better end over end roll.

Since the Press Grip automatically generates forward press at address, this is yet another putting variable eliminated by a L.A.B. Golf design. 

The Press Grips are constructed with a core that runs a few degrees from perpendicular. This adds the forward press automatically when you address the ball as usual. Multiple shapes and press angles are available to suit individual preference.

Q: How do I know which model might be best for me?

Obviously, you’ll need to buy one of each and experiment. I’m kidding. Well, sort of kidding. Ideally, you can find some of the various models at a shop to roll and see which one fits your fancy.

If demoing them is not possible, and you want to pull the trigger on a L.A.B. Golf putter, then you will just need to pick the one that you like the looks of best.

While this may see like a horrible plan for spending $500 on a putter, here are a couple of reasons why it is not completely reckless.

Although all of the L.A.B. Golf putters look very different, they all feature the same Lie Angle Balance technology. This means that they will perform (essentially) the same.

That means that, if you like a blade, go with the Link.1. Big mallet folks can order the DF2.1. If you are interested in something mid-sized, then the Mezz.1, Mezz.1 Max and DF3 are the ones to consider.

All of the heads have the L.A.B. Golf tech so all of the putters will play like L.A.B. Golf putters. I wouldn’t go as far as to say the models are interchangeable. There are differences in how they play but you can tell the putters are siblings.

Q: Why are L.A.B.Golf putters more expensive than many other putters?

L.A.B Golf Putter

L.A.B. Golf putters are not that much more expensive than other putters. Yes, $450-$500 for a putter is expensive but not unusual in today’s market. L.A.B. Golf is one of many companies offering putters in this price range.

Many of the other putters in this price range have no assistive technology. L.A.B. Golf putters have lots of assistive technology and that technology is why they are expensive.

You’ve probably noticed all of those screws. Adding the screws to the putter increases production costs.

If a recipe calls for expensive ingredients and extra preparation time, the meal will be expensive. When you eat that meal and find it delicious, the elevated cost will seem justified. 

Once you’ve sunk your third 20-foot putt in a row, you’ll have forgotten all about what you paid for the putter.

L.A.B Golf Putter

Pros like to make money and most of a tournament purse is made or lost on the putting green. If a putter helps players make more putts, other players notice.

Case in point: last year’s Jailbird trend.

L.A.B. Golf putters are showing up in more and more professional bags because more and more pros are having success with them. Even some folks you would never expect to see using a L.A.B. Golf putter are using one.

Phil Mickelson has had a L.A.B. Golf DF3 in the bag for a few tournaments now. I was shocked to see Lefty making the leap to a L.A.B. Golf putter from his usual 8802 style Odyssey. I guess it is not that surprising since Phil has a reputation for playing what works.

Q: I’ve heard that L.A.B. putters have a “learning curve.” Is this true and, if so, what does it mean?

Your new L.A.B. Golf putter may seem odd at first. Don’t immediately fall into a state of buyer’s remorse. What you are likely feeling is your old putting stroke fighting the L.A.B. Golf putter.

You are used to a putter that twists in your hands and the L.A.B. Golf doesn’t twist. This can take some getting used to. I say this from experience. My first session with the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 was not pleasant nor productive.

This changed almost immediately when I started using the Thumbs Off drill. Basically, you address the ball as usual and then lift your thumbs off the grip. Now putt and let the L.A.B. Golf putter move as designed.

With your thumbs off of the grip, you can’t manipulate the putter as much and you will quickly get a feel for what the L.A.B. Golf putter stroke should feel like. Now you can add your thumbs back to the mix.

I start every practice session with a L.A.B. Golf putter with this drill. It is a great way to connect with the putter and it dramatically improves my performance with the L.A.B. Golf putter.

Find out more about L.A.B. Golf putters at LabGolf.com

For You

For You

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Dave Wolfe

Dave Wolfe

Dave Wolfe

A putter-obsessed recreational golfer, constantly striving to improve his game while not getting too hung up about it. Golf should be fun, always.

Dave Wolfe

Dave Wolfe

Dave Wolfe





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      HikingMike

      8 months ago

      “Forward press at impact leads to more of an upward strike on the ball, generating better end over end roll.”

      Anyone care to explain that? It seems like it would reduce putter clubface loft and cause the hit to angle the ball into the ground initially, rather than level or slightly upward which would be preferred for roll consistency. Though it seems like it would be a good way to start the backswing as a trigger to prevent a bad takeaway. Perhaps I don’t know what forward press means?

      Reply

      JT

      8 months ago

      Great putters. Yes they take a little getting used to but like the article said, take your thumbs off and putt. Another little trick is to do that and only look at your target, not the ball. This putter has been in my bad since mid April and have only 1 three putt.

      Reply

      Pieter

      8 months ago

      Good review. I play a mezz max since July 23 and the story is recognizable. First regrip, play like that for a few rounds and then place back 1 thumb. If I occasionally fall back into manipulation I take the thumbs off again. Trust the arc. Hardest thing is lag putting. The absence of torque makes the head feel lighter than it actually is.

      Reply

      Mike

      8 months ago

      I had an LA be putter the past two seasons, ultimately, I decided it was not for me. My model was very heavy and I had trouble adjusting from fast to slow greens whenever I played different courses

      Reply

      Robert D

      8 months ago

      Quick call the network several putters have escaped from the Simpson’s cartoon show!

      Reply

      Randy S

      8 months ago

      5 rounds in and am sold. The thumbs off drill is what did it for me. Went to the local proshop and did a couple of practice sessions before buying it using that drill and saw the difference in how the ball rolled. I have a sharpie line on my ball and my playing partners have remarked about how my putts are rolling end over end on that line. . Almost pulled the trigger on the broomstick. Next time. Probably selling my collection of putters but maybe like loosing weight I need to keep my fat pants around just in case the wife starts baking again :)

      Reply

      Daniel Tripp

      8 months ago

      Have always thought a putting machine tested with different amounts of force applied to mimic twisting the handle would be a better way of testing putters to determine their ability to resist human error and stroke variables. Current testing is confounded by human perception ans manipulation especially w putters.

      Reply

      Hopp Man

      8 months ago

      I have tried various models at PGATSS and never felt like I could get along with one of them, even when I tried to just let the putter swing, I like the concept, just not sure they are for me. I tried the link model version once, it felt sort of normal, but other putters feel better for me. I have tried Mezz and DF 3.1 and just don’t get the love of them.

      Reply

      Sam Blasco

      8 months ago

      I have the Mezz broomstick. Been using it for over a year. Definitely superior to my Odyssey Two Ball broomstick. I’m a face on putter, so take the “different” up a notch. I compete in a local league and people that have never played with me before always want to try my putter because I sink so many putts. Plus, I’m deadly from four feet in, nearly automatic. I was a pretty good putter before the LAB, but lights out since. I have gone as many as three rounds in a row without three putting. The putter is just so consistent.

      Reply

      Tony

      8 months ago

      I have played around 10 rounds now with my custom Mezz1 Max…..It is awesome (27 putts the other day!), but like he says, there is a learning curve. If you are a straight back and straight through putter (or mostly), you should test one out.

      My process – A local fitter had a stock Max & I tried it, loved it. Put it down & left. Came back 3 days later & tried it again….loved it more. So the decision was to pay a lot for a stock one or go the custom route & pay a bit more. I went custom.

      I shot a video of myself (recommend you have someone shoot it & not do it yourself) and sent it in. Got a reply asking for me to redo the video & send them a new one….but I also received a setup tip from the fitter from LAB. Awesome!
      Sent in the new video & then received the specs back from the fitter based on what he saw (65% lie angle which is flatter than normal) & we agreed to move forward…..then waited 4-5 weeks for delivery. Agonizing.

      First impression is you would think it would be heavy, but it is not. You would think it might be loud upon contact, but it is almost silent. I suggest if you are playing on greens than are a 10 or less on the stimp, you might want the heavier option – particularly on long putts.

      Reply

      Jimmy

      8 months ago

      Herein lies the issue with the proliferation of sponcon at MGS. LAB putters have never made much noise in Most Wanted testing. So which evaluation should we believe? The results of their rigorous, unbiased testing or this vibes-based ongoing advertorial campaign?

      Reply

      CB

      8 months ago

      So much this! Perhaps it’s the learning curve piece that results in the Most Wanted struggles. I must admit that I’m intrigued by the design concept and physics behind said concept. It makes sense.

      It was similar when I first watched the EVNROLL video highlighting their groove technology. It made sense and the results were intriguing, so I purchased an ENVROLL ER2, and I love it. Maybe a mix of the face/groove tech from EVNROLL and LAB lie angle balancing would be the perfect marriage! But since I’m happy with my EVNROLL for now I don’t imagine talking myself into a $500 LAB putter anytime soon.

      Reply

      Ken

      8 months ago

      I agree. I does seem like a lot time is being spent writing about putters that finished 13th (DF3) and 23rd (MEZZ.1 MAX) in the “best mallet putters of 24” testing. And remember Phil was an early user of the original Cameron Futura. How did that go?

      Reply

      MarkM

      8 months ago

      I guarantee you that anyone using their normal putting stroke will not get along with a L.A.B. putter in a Most Wanted testing situation. There definitely is a learning curve, took me a couple of weeks to get comfortable with mine.
      I would be interested in a test of current L.A.B. players vs. “normal” putters to see how they would fare in comparison.

      Reply

      Garrett D

      8 months ago

      The golfers testing off of these putters are likely using their normal putting stroke. Remember that they may not have adjusted to not needing to deal with torque.

      I bet if they tested the putters again after adjusting, they would feel extremely different about them (in a very, very good way).

      Reply

      Jimmy

      8 months ago

      So far all we have to support that is a bunch of anecdotes. It sounds plausible but I’m not convinced the learning curve is all that different from moving to any style of putter that’s not the same as your gamer. Sounds like some independent testing is in order.

      But if that is true, then it calls into question the value of Most Wanted results.

      George

      8 months ago

      I’ve always thought the disparity was due to the idiosyncratic feel and setup required for a LAB putter vs a regular mallet. Ball is much more forward, the fwd press grips are weird to start, the feel is completely strange. And that’s if it’s fitted to you to begin with!

      If I’m a member of the testing pool, I’m likely not getting the very upright putter I was fitted into, but instead something that isn’t going to work as well and still feels weird doing it. I’ll try a few strokes, shrug, then try something more natural.

      Try this. If Ping hasn’t deprecated it already, try their iPutt app. You can tape an iPhone—Apple only, unfortunately—to your putter shaft and it works well enough. No need for their special cradle. See what it fits you into. I found that pretty identical to what Roger at L.A.B. said my video fitting recommended. Which was a relief.

      Then, if the app suggests something “normal” like 34″, 69 or 70°, go to a good big box golf store—PGA Superstore usually has a good selection of LAB gear—and try one there.

      Pete A

      8 months ago

      Good point. I tried a friends this past weekend and really liked it a lot. No wobbles in backswing and it came back to square easily. Currently putter is Scotty Phantom 11.5 but keep thinking about the Lab.

      Reply

      BH

      8 months ago

      I wonder how many putters Dave has in his garage? One garage sale I’d like to know about.

      Reply

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