When L.A.B. Golf first came to market with its DF (Directed Force) and more recently the DF3 putters, the technology was often overlooked due to the oversized and elaborate footprint. The company certainly took this on board and shortly after released the LINK.1 and then the MEZZ.1 models. Despite still looking slightly unconventional, these two models are far easier on the eye than the DF3 and subsequently L.A.B Golf started to gain some major traction on recognized professional tours with Adam Scott becoming an earlier adopter of a MEZZ.1 broomstick model.
After a few PGA Tour players started taking note of the MEZZ.1 model when out at events, L.A.B. Golf CEO Sam Hahn decided to broaden its appeal by increasing the head size by 20 percent and therefore improving the stability and forgiveness on offer. The main body of the MEZZ.1 MAX is fully CNC Milled from 6061 aircraft aluminum with the face CNC machined from 303 stainless steel for maximum feel.
Personally, I wasn’t expecting to like the MEZZ.1 MAX putter at all as someone who has traditionally always played a blade style putter but it was the patented Lie Angle Balance technology and a lot of persuasion from my colleague Joe ‘The Pro’ Ferguson, who often sings the praises of L.A.B. putters on the Kick Point golf gear show, to give this putter a whirl. It took me a practice session and a few holes on the course to get used to the on-set design of this putter but I'd fallen in love with it by the time I hit the turn. It started to feel a little like a cheat-code and the only way at the time I could describe it to my playing partners was that it felt as easy as ‘point and shoot’.
Of course, good putting mechanics, gauging pace and reading greens also play a part in sinking putts. However, it was only after experiencing the Lie Angle Balance technology in real time that I understood and appreciated the concept in action - it really works. It's by no means a gimmick like some may think and is one of the best putters I have used to date.
This cutting-edge technology isn’t cheap and so the MEZZ.1 MAX putter does come with a premium price tag. The stock offering comes to retail at $469 with the custom option starting from $559. The custom option allows the ability to choose color, sight lines as well a choice of aftermarket shafts but the price does rack up pretty quickly if you choose to go down this route.
This cleverly thought out idea is designed around returning the putter square at impact. The catch - L.A.B. Golf putters never actually move away from square. The MEZZ.1 MAX and all the other L.A.B. Golf putters are designed with the shaft entering the head in a way that removes torque and neutralizes gravity in order to have the putter head remain square to the path of the putter throughout the stroke. The shaft is angled with a slight shaft lean which is then counteracted by the on-set of the head as well as a grip that has a built-in forward press so you don’t have to manipulate your hands at address.
The stability and forgiveness of the MEZZ.1 MAX was seriously impressive, equal to if not more forgiving than some of the best mallet putters on the market. The putter feels somewhat soft and slightly hollow due to the grooves on the face but this provided exceptional roll on the ball and therefore impressive consistency when putting from range. The alignment feature on the top of the face certainly helped with aim and there's no question that I holed more putts from inside 10ft than I had done for a long time.
If putting is the part of the game that is holding you back right now, I’d strongly urge you to test the L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX putter. There are an increasing number of alternatives out there, like the recently launched Odyssey Square 2 Square Jailbird or PXG Allan putter, which claim to feature similar zero torque technology - although this is something L.A.B Golf disputes. The heightened levels of stability and natural urge to stay square to the target throughout the stroke will certainly help you start the ball on line more often with the MEZZ.1 MAX putter. Yes it comes with a premium price tag, but total confidence from short range on the greens is a near priceless commodity.
