At the start of 2023, Lucas Glover ranked 194th of 198 players on Tour in strokes-gained putting — having been tormented for years with the dreaded y*ps.
After switching to a new putter for the 2023 season, he proceeded to card five top-6 finishes on the PGA Tour including back-to-back wins.
The putter? L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX.
In this review, we test the putter that’s taken the golf world by storm.
The Fitting Process
When I ordered my MEZZ.1 MAX, I was directed to the brand’s remote fitting page.
The remote fitting is simple. Record a 5-second down-the-line video of your putting stroke, with a door frame in the background. Effectively, this allows the L.A.B. Golf team to calculate your ideal shaft length and lie angle.
Looks
The L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX is a fang-style mallet putter with a striking design.
Its oversized head — 20% larger than its MEZZ.1 predecessor — gives the putter an angular and blocky profile akin to the Tesla Cybertruck.
The head is fully CNC machined from a billet of 6061 aircraft aluminum, while 8 sole weight inserts provide a unique look to the sole of the putter.
With the MEZZ.1 MAX, there’s no shortage of customization options. It’s available in six color finishes, along with a choice of 11 different alignment inserts.
I opted for an all-black finish with a single alignment line. This contrasts nicely against the raw metal insert piece, making it easy to find the center.
L.A.B. also offers several “press grip” options to choose from. Essentially, these grips provide a natural forward shaft lean to promote a consistent roll.
As a fan of chunky putter grips, I chose the Press II 3º grip. While the in-built shaft lean took some getting used to from a visual standpoint, I began to really like the way the ball sits directly below the grip and my eyes.
Personally, I think this putter looks fantastic behind the ball.
Sound & Feel
Off the face, the MEZZ.1 MAX is quiet and feels very soft.
This is a welcome surprise, given the all-metal build and lack of face insert. Even with a firm stroke, the ball leaves the face with a very quiet sound.
Due to the quietness of the feedback off the face, it can be tricky to detect mishits versus pure strikes out the center. That said, the putter is highly forgiving so you’re rarely — if ever — punished by off-center strikes.
While most putter shafts are steel, a number of PGA Tour players have switched to graphite shafts in recent years. Ultimately, composite shafts are lighter and can offer better feedback in the putting stroke.
For the MEZZ.1 MAX putter, I opted for the ACCRA x L.A.B. Golf graphite shaft which helps amplify the extra-soft feel.
Performance
In short, the L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX makes putting feel automatic.
The theory that underpins L.A.B. Golf is its Lie Angle Balance technology.
L.A.B. Technology promises to make it easy for golfers to deliver a square putter face at impact, by keeping the face square to the arc throughout the stroke.
Simply put, it helps keep the putter face square to start more putts on line.
The MEZZ.1 MAX’s large, fang-style head feels ultra-stable. It allows you to keep putting simple, and focus on line and speed without worrying about strike.
However, it will likely require some practice to get the most out of the torque-free technology since most golfers are accustomed to traditional putters.
One tip I found helpful is to practice with the “Thumbs-Off Drill”. This helps keep the putter face naturally square, without allowing twisting from the hands.
Final Thoughts
If you’re frustrated with your putting, I recommend the L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX putter for its excellent stability and levels of forgiveness.
While it’s an expensive putter and can require some minor technique changes, it can certainly transform your time on the greens for the better.
