Considering Returning the LAB Golf Mezz Putter? Thoughts?

[flubberlange]

Hi All,

 

I recently ordered a Mezz putter from LAB Golf. The science behind it seems sound to my non-science mind.

 

Delivery was pretty quick - about 2 weeks from order date to delivery. Would have been sooner if UPS didn't screw up.

 

My first thoughts on the putter was that it was really light. I like to feel a heavy putter head on the end of the shaft. My top 2 gamers prior to the Mezz are the Cameron X 6TR, and the Odyssey 11 Tour Lined CS. I removed both of the stock grips on those putters and replaced them with Ping Swingman grips. The result was a heavier feeling head. My preferences are contrary to regular advice out there. I play on quick greens (10-12) but enjoy the heavier head as it calms my hands down a bit on the backswing.

 

So, I reached out to LAB with my concern originally looking for them to add more weight. I took their advice and played 3 rounds with it and they'd add more weight if I wanted. I also practiced for a few hours trying to get used to the new feel and the science behind the putter.

 

Here are my take aways - first, I can't feel the head going back which is a bit unnerving to me. I took the advice I found in this forum and tried a lighter grip with no luck. Second, I noticed I was either pushing or pulling putts. My aim is pretty decent as I was aiming the Mezz beautifully (verified with a laser training device) so it was down to my stroke. 

 

I THINK this is what's happening (I'd love you all to confirm if I'm right/wrong) - the Mezz is awesome if you are literally a straight back straight through putter (the putter face stays pointing at the target for the duration of back and through swings. I'm not, as I have some arc. So what I'm feeling is if I take the putter in too quickly on the backswing, the putter won't release causing the putter to come back to square. Instead, the head will travel in to out resulting in a push. The reverse is also true - my tendency is also to start the putter outside on the backswing (heavier putters "tame" this tendency), the Mezz won't resist that "new direction" and the result will be a pull. 

 

I added about 9" of lead tape to the bottom of the putter (seems like a lot to me). I can feel the head now but I'm not sure the pull/push issues I described will go away.

 

Jake at LAB offered to put in more weight or I can return it for a refund minus $150 restocking fee (It was a custom order).

 

Anyways, I am interested in hearing what other's think - return it? Keep it with some sort of change?

 

Thanks!

 

[Doaner84]

return it.  It will always be in the back of your mind if this style putter is causing your pulls and pushes and you will end up buying something else.

[caniac6]

You can’t doubt in your putter. Send it back. That stiff restocking fee is enough to convince me not to try one. Did you do a remote fitting or in person ? I still have quite a bit of interest in LAB putters, but I’d only get one after an in person fitting.

Edited June 20, 2022 by caniac6

[Simpsonia]

Have you tried the thumbs-off drill to get a little more accustomed to the lack of torque?

 

 

[flubberlange]

13 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

You can’t doubt in your putter. Send it back. That stiff restocking fee is enough to convince me not to try one. Did you do a remote fitting or in person ? I still have quite a bit of interest in LAB putters, but I’d only get one after an in person fitting.

Thanks for the comment.  Yup, I did the online fitting. 

[flubberlange]

32 minutes ago, Simpsonia said:

Have you tried the thumbs-off drill to get a little more accustomed to the lack of torque?

 

 

I did. Thanks for posting that. 

[third-times-a-charm]

Get a putter that fits your preferences and stroke, dont go down the rabbit hole of changing your stroke to fit a putter you bought.

[LODGE1519]

@flubberlange  I was exactly like you always adding weight to my putters and preferred that look and agree that the Mezz does feel much lighter than I have preferred in the past.  I will say that after the thumbs off drill I realized that I needed to use the putter left hand low because it just felt so much more natural that way when trying that drill as compared to a traditional grip.  After making that realization and spending some time on my perfect practice mat to feel really confident about start lines and everything the Mezz is definitely my favorite putter I have ever owned.  I have honestly never been this confident in my putting.

[tatertot]

My 2 cents ...

 

You have to be all in or not ... you have doubts and are not in love with it. I'd return.

[flubberlange]

56 minutes ago, LODGE1519 said:

@flubberlange  I was exactly like you always adding weight to my putters and preferred that look and agree that the Mezz does feel much lighter than I have preferred in the past.  I will say that after the thumbs off drill I realized that I needed to use the putter left hand low because it just felt so much more natural that way when trying that drill as compared to a traditional grip.  After making that realization and spending some time on my perfect practice mat to feel really confident about start lines and everything the Mezz is definitely my favorite putter I have ever owned.  I have honestly never been this confident in my putting.

Oh wow. Thanks for your comments. I'll work on the thumbs off drill and see where it goes. I'm really hesitant to go left hand low because I'm super concerned about speed control. Did you have issues with speed control?

[Sankacoffee]

I'm in a similar boat right now, but am beyond the return window. The technology makes perfect sense to me, and my mid range putting is very good right now. I've had the putter for 3-4 months now and I still have no feel on shorts putts and it hasn't improved. I've done all the drills and there is just something that doesn't feel right in that range. I compared it to my old Newport the other day, and the mezz is better 15 feet and longer but the Newport is way better for me within 15 ft. 

[flubberlange]

4 minutes ago, Sankacoffee said:

I'm in a similar boat right now, but am beyond the return window. The technology makes perfect sense to me, and my mid range putting is very good right now. I've had the putter for 3-4 months now and I still have no feel on shorts putts and it hasn't improved. I've done all the drills and there is just something that doesn't feel right in that range. I compared it to my old Newport the other day, and the mezz is better 15 feet and longer but the Newport is way better for me within 15 ft. 

Wow. Thanks, for that. It's interesting your mid range putting is good. What about long range putting/lag putting? Your speed is good with the Mezz?

[Sankacoffee]

Just now, flubberlange said:

Wow. Thanks, for that. It's interesting your mid range putting is good. What about long range putting/lag putting? Your speed is good with the Mezz?

Yeah my mid range and long are honestly the best they've been in a long time. I'm sure it's a mental thing on short putts, but I'm at the point where I think I need to determine which is more important to my game. 

[LODGE1519]

5 hours ago, flubberlange said:

Oh wow. Thanks for your comments. I'll work on the thumbs off drill and see where it goes. I'm really hesitant to go left hand low because I'm super concerned about speed control. Did you have issues with speed control?

I didn't have any speed control issues but I have putted left hand low off and on for as long as I can remember, but with the Mezz I have finally decided to commit to it.  With the thumbs off drill my left hand low stroke feels basically normal, but when I tried that drill with a conventional grip it was almost as if I had never held a putter before in my life.  

[03trdblack]

Lab putters are definitely odd feeling at first because the head does feel really light even though it's super heavy overall.  I remember putting my DF2.1 on a swingweight machine and it came in at something like F2 or something crazy heavy.  It feels light because there is no weight trying to pull against you during the stroke (the lack of torque they mentioned).

 

I listened to a golf podcast with the CEO of Directed Force and he said that a lot of golfers fall into the routine of trying out a friends putter and make everything to start, then they go into a "torque detox" where they couldn't make a putt if the hole was the size of a bucket.  Eventually you retrain yourself to the no torque feeling and start making more putts again.  I found myself going through this exact process and wondered if I should keep mine or not.  I missed a ton of short putts and it got into my head for a while.  I decided to stick with it and just reminded myself to keep super light grip pressure and just rock my shoulders and let the putter head stay aligned square to the path as it's designed to do.  Now it's just an automatic feeling and life is good.  The putts do start to go in once you trust it.

 

I'm not advocating for you to keep it, but as other's have mentioned, if you stick with it then it could work out given enough time.  

[dmeeksDC]

It’s hard to offer advice on stuff like this. I really like the way the Mezz1 rolls it. But it is a putter that requires me to take a very light grip. Takes some time to develop that touch and not twist it. 

[manVSgolf]

It is such a unique putter, I would try to give it a few weeks.  If you wanted to keep putting the same way as before, you’d have bought the same putter again.  Here’s a vote to stick with it for a while longer!!  

[Red4282]

Gotta be open minded with lab putters, if your stuck in your ways its gonna be hard to make work…

[TaylorGreen]

I went through a honeymoon period with my Mezz.1XL and then hit a wall with speed control.  In the past few weeks, I've played my best golf of the year.  Alot of that is due to my putting.  Speed control is getting better with each outing and my line/direction has never been better.  Maybe I've "untorqued" myself?  Regardless, here's a vote to hold onto the LAB a bit longer.  I know I'm never going back to a traditionally weighted putter.

[BYK]

Yah, agree with all the others who say to return it

The doubting demons you have about this will be hard to shake

just move on.

[craz-e]

I will reiterate what most others have said, you got to have a great relationship with the putter, trust it completely and understand if you miss its you and not the putter.

That relationship can take a while to build up but it sounds like the Mezz you can put down to giving a go and it not being a great fit, it happens

[LODGE1519]

On 6/21/2022 at 8:29 PM, TaylorGreen said:

I went through a honeymoon period with my Mezz.1XL and then hit a wall with speed control.  In the past few weeks, I've played my best golf of the year.  Alot of that is due to my putting.  Speed control is getting better with each outing and my line/direction has never been better.  Maybe I've "untorqued" myself?  Regardless, here's a vote to hold onto the LAB a bit longer.  I know I'm never going back to a traditionally weighted putter.

What are your thoughts on the XL?  I am very interested to see what all the options will be when that becomes regularly available in July.  The only thing that could get me to possibly change away from the Mezz right now would be to go with the XL for the more weight and if there are more sightline options.

[jml4]

I think Sam has mentioned in videos that what we perceive as weight of a putter is often torque. So older non-LAB putters may have felt heavier and let you feel the head while swinging it because they had torque during the stroke. Since LAB does not, it feels a bit lighter. The push/pull could be an effect of a press grip/shaft, but I also think it could be years and years of your body correcting for your stroke with a putter with torque.

 

I agree, trying to stick with the no thumbs drill is a good call. The two-ball drill is also something to keep in mind. Obviously, with the MEZZ you can't put the balls down, but the idea is the same. For speed control, I focus on a 1:1 ratio. I take the putter back slow and smooth and swing the putter basically the same distance. If I need the putt to have some pace or take away pace, I adjust the speed of my putt or length of the stroke but always maintaining that 1:1. As far as alignment, I have a slight arc to my stroke and have no issues with push/pull unless my hands try to affect it, if I let the putter do it's thing, the ball goes where I aim. I might suggest making sure you're completely soling the putter. Something I've found myself periodically standing too close to the putter, which is every so slightly (talking millimeters) changing my lie angle during the stroke. That is when my putting is most suspect. Something I think is interesting, find a spot to sole the putter and lean it against a wall, then step away and look at the angle of the shaft. With me, it's a lot more angled than I would expect, and now when I set up and am too close, I can tell that the shaft is a little too upright so I'll inch back and try to replicate the shaft in the exact angle it enters the heads.

 

I also think you might try playing around with ball position. I know my MEZZ ball position is further forward than with the DF, so I might mess with that. Change position, hit some putts, and see where they roll in relation to your aim. then adjust and repeat. 

 

I will say you definitely have to be totally willing to give the LAB putters a chance, any doubt will be all you can focus on. I personally am 100% in on LAB, so I would say stick with it, and really make an effort to keep an open mind. Hope my novel above helps.

 

 

Edited June 23, 2022 by jml4
added more :/

[SwingBlues]

Here's my take...

 

I've been using Lie Angle Balance since 2017 with my Directed Force 2.0 built by Bill Presse IV and starting this year, am a WRX member testing the Mezz.1.

 

Anyway, I consider myself DEFINITELY "untorqued"

 

For about 5+ months, I used the Mezz as stock spec. Putted between OK & pretty well but about 6 weeks ago I decided to go back to my DF, I just felt I had better control of the head with my DF especially on those critical 6 to 12 footers. Then the greens were punched and on a whim, decided to go back to Mezz.

 

I love the look of the Mezz and its small footprint on my bag. It looks great but at the back of my mind, I didn't feel I had control of the head as good as the DF. I decided to add lead down the bottom that brought the stock swing weight of D9 to E4. In contrast, my DF comes in at F1 with the OG Stability. So while the DF looks heavy from the swingweight & size, it really is not. I would not mess with my DF...but the Mezz, I feel, needs a tweak with the heavier weight

 

RESULT - Wow, What a difference.

 

I could feel the head much better. Been playing and practicing with heavier head since & I very much enjoy it better than stock. I'll play with it for a little longer, got some games so I don't want switch back to the DF, just too close & not enough to readjust - well, Mezz feels pretty darn good & better to me now. I'll make it permament with a LAB weight change once I am satisfied with the testing and proving to myself, this is the best & right fit

 

So yeah OP, count me as keep it. Since 2017 putting is my least practiced part of my game & best (assuming you do all the basics right) and Lie Angle Balance is the way to go. As I said to my friends, I got a staff bag full of custom putters, some $$$$ but my gamer putter has never changed. Well, until now to the Mezz.

 

As a side note, at least one other WRX tester also had his Mezz.1 head weight increased as well.

 

ps feel free to reach out to me with PM if you have any questions, or drop them in the WRX Mezz testing thread here

 

[TaylorGreen]

12 hours ago, LODGE1519 said:

What are your thoughts on the XL?  I am very interested to see what all the options will be when that becomes regularly available in July.  The only thing that could get me to possibly change away from the Mezz right now would be to go with the XL for the more weight and if there are more sightline options.

I'm using the XL broomstick.  I can honestly say that I'm never looking back.  My aim has been so good and my speed control is finally getting to where I need it to be.  The added weight has been great for me and my strike consistency is what pleases me as much as anything.  If I didn't have the dreaded yips I would probably have myself in the DF 2.1 but the Mezz has been a game-changer for me.  My aim has been good so the sightline options (or lack of) have not been a big issue for me.  

[philsRHman]

I got a DF about 2 months ago and have cut my handicap from 4.6 to 2.4, and Arccos says it’s almost all putting. I say that for context for these couple thoughts:

 

My first 9 holes, I had something like 6 3-putts. It almost never got another chance. 

 

I putt entirely thumbs off now. Mentally I feel that cradling the grip underneath is the closest I come to turning myself into a human “revealer” and I let the weight of the grip simply lay in my hands. It also took me practice to dial in both ball position and hand position. I also choke down about half an inch. 

 

For the longest time I wanted to putt with my shoulders. This thumbs off approach has converted me. When I’m pushing-pulling it’s almost always that my grip pressure is getting out of whack and my hands are sneaking back in. 

I’ve gone nearly 100% to look, aim, feel, putt. No practice strokes, no thinking. Get my read behind the hole and behind ball, and just let it happen, hit it where I’m looking. This is likely success breeding confidence, but it’s working. 
 

Most of my practice now is alternating 5’ and 10’ and then a ton of distance putting of 20-60’ focusing on 2 putts, with as much variance as possible. It’s taught me instinctive speed control and it’s translating beautifully to the course. It helps that my 4’ and in putting has been so steady I don’t feel the need to grind through tons of rounds of 3’ circle drill. The lag practice has helped me establish a consistent tempo where I adjust speed by the length of my back swing. 
 

Hopefully something here will give you the spark of an idea. Good luck with it. 

[IC3BURGH]

I’m a big believer in the Mezz I bought a couple months ago. My putting has improved dramatically. 
 

I’m also a big believer that confidence on the greens is paramount to success. While I think most people could see improvement from a LAB putter, you have to believe you can. Otherwise, the only right option is finding a new flatstick. 

[Sankacoffee]

I have been toying around with my old Newport recently and one thing I noticed is that I aim it a lot better than the Mezz. I think that explains some of the short putting issues I have with it, but it still feels awkward within 15 feet regardless. Anyone have alignment issues with the Mezz?

[labgolf]

On 6/20/2022 at 10:11 AM, flubberlange said:

Hi All,

 

I recently ordered a Mezz putter from LAB Golf. The science behind it seems sound to my non-science mind.

 

Delivery was pretty quick - about 2 weeks from order date to delivery. Would have been sooner if UPS didn't screw up.

 

My first thoughts on the putter was that it was really light. I like to feel a heavy putter head on the end of the shaft. My top 2 gamers prior to the Mezz are the Cameron X 6TR, and the Odyssey 11 Tour Lined CS. I removed both of the stock grips on those putters and replaced them with Ping Swingman grips. The result was a heavier feeling head. My preferences are contrary to regular advice out there. I play on quick greens (10-12) but enjoy the heavier head as it calms my hands down a bit on the backswing.

 

So, I reached out to LAB with my concern originally looking for them to add more weight. I took their advice and played 3 rounds with it and they'd add more weight if I wanted. I also practiced for a few hours trying to get used to the new feel and the science behind the putter.

 

Here are my take aways - first, I can't feel the head going back which is a bit unnerving to me. I took the advice I found in this forum and tried a lighter grip with no luck. Second, I noticed I was either pushing or pulling putts. My aim is pretty decent as I was aiming the Mezz beautifully (verified with a laser training device) so it was down to my stroke. 

 

I THINK this is what's happening (I'd love you all to confirm if I'm right/wrong) - the Mezz is awesome if you are literally a straight back straight through putter (the putter face stays pointing at the target for the duration of back and through swings. I'm not, as I have some arc. So what I'm feeling is if I take the putter in too quickly on the backswing, the putter won't release causing the putter to come back to square. Instead, the head will travel in to out resulting in a push. The reverse is also true - my tendency is also to start the putter outside on the backswing (heavier putters "tame" this tendency), the Mezz won't resist that "new direction" and the result will be a pull. 

 

I added about 9" of lead tape to the bottom of the putter (seems like a lot to me). I can feel the head now but I'm not sure the pull/push issues I described will go away.

 

Jake at LAB offered to put in more weight or I can return it for a refund minus $150 restocking fee (It was a custom order).

 

Anyways, I am interested in hearing what other's think - return it? Keep it with some sort of change?

 

Thanks!

 

Gimme a DM and I will get you dialed. Promise!

[labgolf]

In my pre-LAB life, I would have agreed with the "don't force comfort" sentiment here but we are a bit of a different animal. There are really only a couple reason that anyone would struggle with a self squaring putter and we can fix all of the quite easily. Regarding the weight, by adding lead tape, the putter is no longer balanced. Hit us up and we can add as much weight as you need and re-balance but please contact me first so I can confirm that the lack of weight is what is throwing you off.