Mallet Putter
The MEZZ.1 is L.A.B. Golf's answer to a question most putter makers ignore: why does the face twist during the stroke? L.A.B. stands for Lie Angle Balance, and the whole putter is engineered so that the shaft has no torque on it when the club sits at its fitted lie angle. In plain terms, the head doesn't want to open or close. It just wants to swing straight back and through with the face pointing where you aimed it.
That sounds like marketing until you actually putt with one. You stop fighting the face. Golfers who have battled a pull or a push under pressure often find the MEZZ.1 takes that variable out of the equation, because there's no rotational force trying to close the face through impact. The tradeoff is that it looks strange sitting behind the ball. There are weights bolted around the perimeter and a wide, blocky shape that will never be mistaken for a classic Anser.
This is a real tour putter, not a gimmick. Lucas Glover won on the PGA Tour with a L.A.B. design, and Adam Scott has gamed one. The MEZZ.1 is the more compact, more mallet-conventional option in the lineup compared to the larger DF putters, which makes it the easiest L.A.B. to look at for a player curious about the technology but not ready for the full spaceship.
Design
The MEZZ.1 carries a mid toe hang, which is worth explaining because it doesn't mean what it usually means. On a normal putter, toe hang tells you how much the face rotates during the stroke. On a L.A.B., the Lie Angle Balance design cancels the torque regardless, so the head stays square through the stroke rather than rotating open and shut. The toe-hang read is more about how the putter sits than how it behaves. The alignment aid is a strong point. Bold lines and the framing of the head give you a clear picture of your start line, and the wide body helps you set the face square at address. One thing to know going in: L.A.B. putters have to be fitted to your lie angle. The zero-torque benefit only works when the sole sits flat at your setup, so buying one off a shelf without a fitting defeats the point of the design.
Who It's For
- You lose strokes to pushes and pulls and suspect the face is twisting under pressure rather than a bad read.
- You are willing to trade a traditional, clean look for a putter that keeps the face square without you managing it.
- You can get properly fitted for lie angle, since the L.A.B. technology depends on it and won't perform the same off the rack.
Technology
About L.A.B. Golf
L.A.B. Golf pioneered Lie Angle Balanced (LAB) technology, which means the putter face stays square to the target throughout the stroke without any manipulation. This zero-torque design simplifies putting mechanics.
Specifications
| Brand | L.A.B. Golf |
| Model | MEZZ.1 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Mallet |
| Toe hang | Mid toe hang |
| Alignment aid | Yes |
| MSRP | $399 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Lie Angle Balance actually do in the MEZZ.1?
- It removes the torque on the shaft when the putter is at your fitted lie angle. Because there's no rotational force, the face doesn't want to open or close during the stroke. You swing it straight and the face stays pointed at your target instead of rotating through impact like a conventional putter.
- Why does the MEZZ.1 have toe hang if it's supposed to be balanced?
- The mid toe hang describes how the head sits when you dangle it, but it doesn't dictate the stroke the way it does on a normal putter. Lie Angle Balance cancels the twisting force regardless of the toe-hang read, so the face stays square through the stroke rather than rotating open and closed.
- Do I really need a fitting to use the MEZZ.1?
- Yes. The zero-torque benefit only works when the sole sits flat at your setup, which means the lie angle has to match your posture and hand height. Buying one without getting fitted for lie angle undercuts the entire reason the putter exists.
- How is the MEZZ.1 different from the bigger L.A.B. DF putters?
- The MEZZ.1 is the more compact, more mallet-conventional shape in the lineup. It uses the same Lie Angle Balance technology as the larger Directed Force models but with a smaller footprint, so it's the easiest L.A.B. to look at for someone who wants the tech without the full oversized head.
- Is the MEZZ.1 hard to get used to?
- The look takes adjustment because of the perimeter weights and blocky shape. The stroke itself tends to feel easier fast, since you're no longer squaring the face manually. Most golfers report the strangeness is visual, not mechanical, and it fades after a few rounds.
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