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?

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?

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 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.

Q: Why are L.A.B. Golf putters becoming so popular with the pros?

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

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