L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1 vs Mezz.1 Max

[a009938]

For those of you that own or have played both putters how would you compare them? Stability, distance control, feel etc... 

[flubberlange]

I have Mezz, Mezz Max, and DF 2.1.

 

I first got the Mezz. After sending back to LAB for weight adjustments and figuring out some setup issues, it was lights out. I figured the DF must be better so I picked one up at the LAB Outlet. There was no adjustment period with the DF. It just worked. Ugly and strange looking as hell but it just works. Distance control was there, so was getting the ball on my intended start line.

 

The ugliness got to me so I figured the Mezz Max would be a happy medium so I ordered on with the “heavy” option. I’ve been trying to get it to work for me but I just can’t - I can’t hit my start lines with it even after practicing. I think it might be the weight. Perhaps, it needs to be heavier? I don’t know.

 

So I leave the DF in my bag and roll putts in my office rotating with the Mezz and Mezz Max hoping one day I’ll figure out how to get the Max to work for me.

 

TLDR; the DF 2.1 is nasty looking but it’s a phenomenal putter.

[a009938]

Bump

[vietnameeh]

On 12/14/2022 at 6:33 AM, flubberlange said:

I have Mezz, Mezz Max, and DF 2.1.

 

I first got the Mezz. After sending back to LAB for weight adjustments and figuring out some setup issues, it was lights out. I figured the DF must be better so I picked one up at the LAB Outlet. There was no adjustment period with the DF. It just worked. Ugly and strange looking as hell but it just works. Distance control was there, so was getting the ball on my intended start line.

 

The ugliness got to me so I figured the Mezz Max would be a happy medium so I ordered on with the “heavy” option. I’ve been trying to get it to work for me but I just can’t - I can’t hit my start lines with it even after practicing. I think it might be the weight. Perhaps, it needs to be heavier? I don’t know.

 

So I leave the DF in my bag and roll putts in my office rotating with the Mezz and Mezz Max hoping one day I’ll figure out how to get the Max to work for me.

 

TLDR; the DF 2.1 is nasty looking but it’s a phenomenal putter.

I dont have value to add to this thread, 

 

but its hard to beat the OG GOAT DF2.1 ..... 

 

I have the mezz and every version of the 2.1. .....  the 2.1 is just hands down so good and ugly and it hurts haha.

 

tough sell when you can find a 2.1 in your specs for much cheaper than mezz max right now

[coops]

Well... I was at Thaniya Plaza (Bangkok) getting a new 5 wood... and spotted some new LAB Mezz. No Max version, but at least able to try those out.

I'd already seen a DF 2.1 in person recently during a visit to Chicago... but they the PGA superstore only had the armlock version of the DF 2.1 there - but the shape didn't put me off.

There's a reason i'm not put off by the looks... my current putter is this (with a round Edel grip):-

 

 

I actually find the futura 'ugly beautiful' now... and exepect the Df 2.1 i've ordered from Ebay to fall into that category. Ordered a stock version at 34" and 67 lie. Don't expect to get it until late January, but that's fine - i'm off to the oil rig for 4 weeks over Xmas and New year anyway.

[golfgirlrobin]

I’ve been happily using the 2.1 for two years. Literally turned my putting game around, got my handicap down under 1 for the first time. Still went ahead and ordered the Mezz Max. I’m 12 rounds in, and 7-8 practice sessions, and it has not been an immediate success.

 

I can’t get my alignment straightened out and the lack of confidence is resulting in a lot of weak pushes. The Max doesn’t have that nice smooth flow that the 2.1 has. It feels closer to a regular putter than it does to the 2.1. The Max feels much softer than the 2.1 and it’s affecting my lag putts. (I got the Accra shaft.)

 

My overall feeling is that if you’re coming from a non LAB putter, it’ll probably feel pretty good but if you’re coming from the 2.1, you’re going to notice the areas where the Max is a little lacking. I haven’t given up on it, but I am looking longingly at the 2.1 in the corner of the garage and remembering the good times.

[a009938]

What shaft do you have in your 2.1?

[golfgirlrobin]

19 hours ago, a009938 said:

What shaft do you have in your 2.1?

Just the standard issue black steel. 

[vietnameeh]

21 hours ago, golfgirlrobin said:

I’ve been happily using the 2.1 for two years. Literally turned my putting game around, got my handicap down under 1 for the first time. Still went ahead and ordered the Mezz Max. I’m 12 rounds in, and 7-8 practice sessions, and it has not been an immediate success.

 

I can’t get my alignment straightened out and the lack of confidence is resulting in a lot of weak pushes. The Max doesn’t have that nice smooth flow that the 2.1 has. It feels closer to a regular putter than it does to the 2.1. The Max feels much softer than the 2.1 and it’s affecting my lag putts. (I got the Accra shaft.)

 

My overall feeling is that if you’re coming from a non LAB putter, it’ll probably feel pretty good but if you’re coming from the 2.1, you’re going to notice the areas where the Max is a little lacking. I haven’t given up on it, but I am looking longingly at the 2.1 in the corner of the garage and remembering the good times.

Thank you for this!

 

the 2.1 will probably be staying in my bag now. finally gave up on my mezz.1 and put back the 2.1 just literally swings itself

[Haber]

I went from a standard Mezz.1 to an arm lock DF2.1 and I have no intentions of going back. The 2.1 is special, I don’t know if it is the armlock but it just gets the ball rolling so well and hits its line 99% of the time.

 

I bought it as an experiment to get through winter and have played a few rounds with it and had good success. Since the snow hit I’ve really played with my set up with it and dialled in the stroke. I cannot repeat the results with my Mezz or any other putter I own on the practice mat. The DF is a game changer.

[OspreyCI]

I just left PGA SS and spent a long time today with the Mezz Max 35” putter that had the Accra shaft. Loved the feel! Loved the roll. Wow! 
 

Been using the DF 2.1 broomstick for several months now and have professed my love for it all over these threads. First bad day yesterday with it, so as a Wrxer, had to go try something else. Feels strange being back to a short putter, but the Mezz Max looks good, feels good, and putts that LAB roll on the ball. Cross handed felt great with it. I could tell it is not as forgiving as that massive beast “THE DF 2.1”. Gotta say the blue head and white shaft looks money! 
 

Spoke to a nice fella there that has several Mezz’s and swears by the them. 

[drza3]

I’ve been playing around with both the Mezz max and 2.1 broomsticks. Had the original mezz a while ago as well. I’ll echo the comments that I find the 2.1 much more stable and I hit my lines far more often. Lag putting worked from the start to my surprise. The Mezz max I start just left of target a lot with tiny pulls.  It’s the standard weight so maybe the heavy version would help but I’m not looking to move from the 2.1 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by drza3

[bluedot]

The only advantage of the Mezz, imo, is that it looks more or less “normal”.  The DF is superior in every other respect.

[OspreyCI]

6 hours ago, bluedot said:

The only advantage of the Mezz, imo, is that it looks more or less “normal”.  The DF is superior in every other respect.

Thank you for the reply. You just saved me a bunch of $$$$$

Edited January 16, 2023 by OspreyCI

[labgolf]

Speaking strictly the the tech, the DF is better. They are very different putters. Someone above said that if you're coming from the DF, you'll struggle but if the MM is your first LAB, you'll love it. I don;t think this is law but I agree that this does emerge as a trend from the feedback we've gotten. Oddly, DF users have had LESS trouble switching from the DF to the LINK.1 which is such a huge departure that its interesting. Still early on the LINK feedback to know if what we've seen so far is a fluke.

[KensingtonPark]

My wife's Link.1 came in a few weeks ago, and it's great. She was gaming a Mezz.1 before. I game a DF2.1.

 

My rough sense is that the "LAB Factor" is strongest on the DF2.1 and weakest on the Mezz.1. The Link.1 kind of in the middle, slightly closer to the DF2.1, which surprised me. I don't know where the MezzMax would land. I agree that I could not go to the Mezz.1 but could go to the Link.1 if I needed to.

[SEP1006]

Well after reading about the theory behind it and watching the video on the website. I have a DF 2.1 Armlock in red with the Accra white shaft. 42" long, 73.5 lie angle with the Jumbomax Flat grip and custom alignment ON THE WAY.

[roundersmitty]

I was talking to a local seller who has a Mezz Max for sale.  He told me he owns 5 Lab putters and needs to sell some.  After reading this post I asked if he has the DF2.1.  He said yes, do you want to buy it for $150cnd? I said sure, that worth the gamble to try it out.  My favourite putter so far is the Toulon LV, I might add similar rear sitelines to the DF2.1 and see if I can experiment this winter

[Rbsiedsc]

I’m waiting to hear back from the outlet store on some alignment options. Gonna get a DF from them in the color I want at a good price. Very excited to give it a go. 

[labgolf]

On 1/18/2023 at 5:02 PM, KensingtonPark said:

My wife's Link.1 came in a few weeks ago, and it's great. She was gaming a Mezz.1 before. I game a DF2.1.

 

My rough sense is that the "LAB Factor" is strongest on the DF2.1 and weakest on the Mezz.1. The Link.1 kind of in the middle, slightly closer to the DF2.1, which surprised me. I don't know where the MezzMax would land. I agree that I could not go to the Mezz.1 but could go to the Link.1 if I needed to.

This assesment is correct. The MAX is in between the DF and the link

[PDFPXG]

I think that when LAB should offer an option a special edition of the DF2.1 with a goat on it. 

[SEP1006]

On 1/18/2023 at 7:57 PM, SEP1006 said:

Well after reading about the theory behind it and watching the video on the website. I have a DF 2.1 Armlock in red with the Accra white shaft. 42" long, 73.5 lie angle with the Jumbomax Flat grip and custom alignment ON THE WAY.

 

Okay, have played 4 rounds with this putter. Don't know if it's the Armlock (my first) or the DF 2.1 (again my first) itself but I feel like I'm cheating. FAR AND AWAY the best I've ever putted, and I've always been a consistently good putter.

 

Absolutely nuts how easy it is to putt and make putts with this combination!!!!

[OspreyCI]

18 hours ago, SEP1006 said:

 

Okay, have played 4 rounds with this putter. Don't know if it's the Armlock (my first) or the DF 2.1 (again my first) itself but I feel like I'm cheating. FAR AND AWAY the best I've ever putted, and I've always been a consistently good putter.

 

Absolutely nuts how easy it is to putt and make putts with this combination!!!!

Congrats man. The DF sure ain’t purrty but she gets the job done. I feel the same way as you with my DF broomstick. Like cheating. Enjoy watching your hdcp go down…. Or up if you are that good. 

[Tiger_Stud]

On 1/21/2023 at 2:38 AM, labgolf said:

This assesment is correct. The MAX is in between the DF and the link

How come? One would assume the design of the Mezz Max provides more stability than a more or less classic blade design. What's the magic here?

[KensingtonPark]

4 hours ago, Tiger_Stud said:

How come? One would assume the design of the Mezz Max provides more stability than a more or less classic blade design. What's the magic here?

Seems like that is consistent with your expecations:

 

DF 2.1 > MEZZ.1 MAX > LINK.1 > MEZZ.1 > Everything else

[Bumbershoot]

On 2/1/2023 at 10:45 AM, SEP1006 said:

 

Okay, have played 4 rounds with this putter. Don't know if it's the Armlock (my first) or the DF 2.1 (again my first) itself but I feel like I'm cheating. FAR AND AWAY the best I've ever putted, and I've always been a consistently good putter.

 

Absolutely nuts how easy it is to putt and make putts with this combination!!!!

 

I'm delighted to hear this.  I'm in your exact situation.  I've only played nine holes with my new armlock DF 2.1 so far, and my initial impression was that it makes me think I'm going to hole everything 20' and in.  I'm a good lag putter, but the shorter putts made me nervous.  I think those days are over...

[SEP1006]

1 hour ago, Bumbershoot said:

 

I'm delighted to hear this.  I'm in your exact situation.  I've only played nine holes with my new armlock DF 2.1 so far, and my initial impression was that it makes me think I'm going to hole everything 20' and in.  I'm a good lag putter, but the shorter putts made me nervous.  I think those days are over...

 

Good deal, and your right. For me 10' and in is almost a guarantee. I have one of those practice putting greens at home and my record is 42 putts in a row, and that's using the smaller hole. Just need to perfect the lag putting as soon as the weather gets better.

 

What helped me tremendously was "locking everything in" once I get set up. Also playing the ball a little further up. Then all I do is rock the shoulders and go.

 

I still laugh at how easy this armlock method is with the DF 2.1.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by SEP1006

[OspreyCI]

35 minutes ago, SEP1006 said:

 

Good deal, and your right. For me 10' and in is almost a guarantee. I have one of those practice putting greens at home and my record is 42 putts in a row, and that's using the smaller hole. Just need to perfect the lag putting as soon as the weather gets better.

 

What helped me tremendously was "locking everything in" once I get set up. Also playing the ball a little further up. Then all I do is rock the shoulders and go.

 

I still laugh at how easy this armlock method is with the DF 2.1.

 

 

 

 

Right on….Stop. Making me want to try the Armlock vs my Broomstick. 

[Bumbershoot]

21 hours ago, SEP1006 said:

I still laugh at how easy this armlock method is with the DF 2.1.

I switched to rocking my shoulders in 2021, and had great success, especially with my lag putting.  I switched back to a "normal" stroke last season, and I didn't putt as well.  Back to the shoulder rock this year, armed with a new armlock DF 2.1.

 

His 'n' hers...  She was fitted by Sam on the practice green at Emerald Valley. 

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by Bumbershoot

[OspreyCI]

You guys are really wanting me to try the Armlock. I had an Odyssey Armlock prior to my DF Broom. Lost a touch of love with it lately and looking at the the @labgolf Outlet to see what Armlocks are out there.