Gear: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1, OZ.1i putters Value: Beginning at $599.99 eachSpecs: 100% aluminum (OZ.1); aluminum physique with stainless-steel face insert (OZ.1i), with customizable lie angle, head weight, alignment markings, and grip choices.Obtainable: December (OZ.1i), January (OZ.1)
Who it’s for: Golfers who need the advantages of zero torque and extra consistency on the greens mixed with a extra conventional putter form.
What you might want to know: L.A.B. Golf teamed with Australia’s Adam Scott to create a mallet-style putter, the OZ.1, that retains the corporate’s Lie Angle Steadiness advantages whereas providing a extra standard form. The OZ.1i has the identical form however includes a milled face insert.
The deep dive: Zero-torque putters have develop into one of many hottest tendencies in golf gear in 2024. Whereas conventional blades and mallets encourage the opening and shutting of the putter face through the stroke, zero-torque putters drastically cut back or eradicate face rotation. L.A.B. Golf, based mostly in Creswell, Oregon, has been on the forefront of this pattern. The corporate’s DF 2.1 and Mezz putters launched golfers to Lie Angle Steadiness, adopted by the DS3 earlier this 12 months. Now, with enter from Adam Scott, L.A.B. has launched two new putters: the OZ.1 and OZ.1i.
Like L.A.B.’s earlier putters, the OZ.1 and OZ.1i characteristic Lie Angle Steadiness. When the putter is within the deal with place, the weighting and stability are designed to maintain the face sq. to the golfer’s stroke path. Whether or not your stroke is straight, arcing barely, or includes a sturdy arc, these putters purpose to make it simpler to return the face sq. to the ball and roll putts extra constantly alongside your goal line.
The OZ.1 and OZ.1i putters have on-set, so the shaft enters the putter behind the face. (L.A.B Golf)
Each the OZ.1 and OZ.1i are milled from aluminum and have a extra standard, semi-circular mallet form developed with enter from Scott, the 2013 Masters champion and longtime L.A.B. Golf person.
One other distinctive characteristic of the OZ Collection putters is the brand new zero-degree Shaft Lean choice. Zero-torque putters sometimes require on-set shafts, the place the shaft enters the top behind the hitting space moderately than on the goal facet. This normally ends in a ahead press that some golfers discover visually distracting. Nevertheless, the shaft within the OZ Collection putters is vertical, making a cleaner look whereas sustaining on-set traits. This design can also be appropriate with normal grips.
For golfers preferring a ahead press, each fashions can be found with a 2-degree Shaft Lean choice and L.A.B.’s Press Grip.
The L.A.B OZ.1 and OZ.1i can be found in a rainbow of customized colours. (L.A.B Golf)
Each putters use weights within the sole to attain Lie Angle Steadiness, however there’s a key distinction between them. The OZ.1 has an aluminum face that’s a part of the putter’s chassis, providing a softer really feel at influence. In distinction, the OZ.1i options a stainless-steel face insert (“i” stands for insert), which creates a firmer really feel and a higher-pitched sound at influence, a desire for a lot of golfers.
Customization stays a trademark of L.A.B. Golf, and the OZ Collection putters aren’t any exception. Via the corporate’s web site, golfers can tailor almost each side of the putter, from lie angle to grip sort, making certain a match that matches their distinctive placing fashion.
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