A new technology in putters hit the market in 2019. It is from an American company called L.A.B. Golf. The patented technology of the putter, Lie Angle Balance, is designed to keep the putter face square to the swing path automatically without any manipulation by the golfer. The technology does work.
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Traditional putters require the golfer to consciously manipulate the putter to keep the putter face parallel to the swing path (putting drills, left hand low grip, claw grip, armlock, broom stick putter). The golfer is searching for the putter or technique, the “touch,” that rolls the ball the desired distance and direction and into the hole. This is the “magic” that all golfers are looking for in a technique or putter. The “magic” is the manipulation of the putter face during the swing to be square to the swing path. When the “magic” disappears, the search begins for the next putter or technique. The L.A.B. putter does remove the need to manipulate the putter. The L.A.B. putter simplifies the putting motion. Just swing the hands and arms and allow the putter to swing instead of making the putter swing.
The L.A.B. putter is not for everyone. In order to obtain the benefits of the putter, it requires the golfer to change the putting technique to do less, to let the club swing without the any manipulations that have become ingrained in the golfer’s putting stroke. This is easy to say but hard to do.
This is why I think the tour pros that use this putter use either a broomstick or armlock shaft length. With a conventional shaft length, the stroke is too similar to the stroke using a conventional putter, but need to do less. That may be hard for some golfers to do. Since the putter requires a different stroke, then going to a broomstick or armlock stroke is different enough to be easier to repeat without to doing the subconscious manipulation
How I use the L.A.B. Putter
I have the Mezz.1 Max Custom putter with the following specifications: Length: 35”, Lie Angle: 63 degrees, Shaft: L.A.B. Golf x TPT, Grip: Press II 1.5 degree textured, Alignment Mark: Dot.
My fitting determined that my lie angle should be 63 degrees. I did a fitting using the virtual fitting and also did a fitting at the PGA Superstore. The virtual fitting recommended 63 degrees and the PGA Superstore fitting recommended 62.5. I went with 63 degrees, the flattest lie angle L.A.B. provides. All my conventional putters I had to fit to the more upright lie angle. With the L.A.B. fitting, I got fit to what felt comfortable to me, an amazing concept.
I do not use my hands to manipulate the putter head to swing square to the swing path. My focus is to have my shoulders swing back and forth and feel the butt end of the putter swing back and forth in my hands. The L.A.B. putter automatically swings square to the swing path. I feel the shoulders swing back and forth and I allow the butt of the putter to swing back and forth in my hands. I feel two separate swing motions: my shoulders and the putter.
The L.A.B. putter is an expensive putter, but it cost as much as my driver with the AutoFlex shaft. I use my driver 14 times a round while I use my putter more than twice that number of times a round. I want my scores to improve so it is worth it to me to invest in a club that gives me the best chance to lower my scores with fewer three-putts and more one-putts.