It's fair to say that L.A.B. Golf has completely changed the landscape of the putter market over the last couple of years since the induction of its Lie Angle Balanced technology, which has since led to a meteoric surge in production of zero torque putters from pretty much all of the major manufacturers.
Since the monumental success of the DF3 and the release of the Adam Scott-inspired OZ.1i, the brand has been on a mission to bring its performance traits to a wider array of visual profiles. Following the launch of the Link 2.1 and 2.2 earlier in the year, we’re now treated to a mid-mallet profile in the shape of the VZN.1i - a putter that takes alignment and feel to an entirely new level.
As someone who tests the best putters released as and when they come to the market, I’ve been privy to all the latest designs, inserts, and milling patterns on faces offering a fairly large variety in feel and acoustics.
The DF3i and the OZ.1i thoroughly impressed me with the addition of their stainless-steel milled inserts, however, when I learned about the newly optimized design of the VZN.1i and a refined deep milled face, I couldn't have been more excited to get it out on the course and see how it performed on the greens.
Visually, the VZN.1i is a futuristic mallet that boasts a fairly substantial footprint, but it’s the clever geometry that sets this model apart from many other zero-torque putters on the market. Sitting behind the ball, there is a little square cutout that acts as a visual cue, and is something I found that makes squaring the face at address feel nearly automatic.
When you combine that cutout with the parallel and perpendicular crown lines, you have a putter that feels really easy to line up to your target when rested down at address. I found the head framed the ball perfectly, and the T-bar alignment aid on the top of the head made centering the ball seem effortless. It removed all the guesswork from my setup, allowing me to trust my lines instantly and free up my stroke.
The VZN.1i putter features a deeper mill on its insert than what we see on either the DF3i or the OZ.1i, and while I liked the previous insert, it felt a little firm and fiery off the face at times.
Typically, when you go to a deeper mill, the ball feels softer due to less surface area making contact with the golf ball, and while this was the case with this putter, it got the ball rolling quickly enough and meant I didn’t feel as though I had to consciously smash longer putts to get them to the hole.
My pace control from 20 to 30 feet was exceptional right out of the gate, and it felt like the ball hugged the green as soon as it left the face rather than bobbling before skidding. This was even the case on putts struck towards the heel and toe, making it one of the most forgiving putters I've had the chance to test recently.
Of course, the engine of the VZN.1i remains as L.A.B. Golf's patented Lie Angle Balance technology. The putter simply wants to stay square throughout the stroke, which meant I could rely on using my larger muscles and simply rock my shoulders to set the stroke in motion.
This provided solid consistency, especially on straight putts inside 10 feet, and gave me a genuine feeling of confidence despite it being my first time with this putter on the golf course.
As is standard with L.A.B. Golf, the putters are meticulously hand-balanced. Stock models are generally available for $499/£499, while taking advantage of the brilliant custom options (including specific alignment cues, head colors, and upgraded shafts) starts at $599.
The precision craftsmanship does mean slightly longer lead times than buying off the rack, but trust me, getting a putter perfectly tailored to your stroke is absolutely worth the wait.
