MEMBER REVIEWS: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1 and OZ.1i Putter Member Testing | See What Members Are Saying

[GolfWRX_Official]

We’re thrilled to announce that ten (10) of GolfWRX’s most dedicated and knowledgeable members have been selected to test the all-new L.A.B. Golf OZ.1 and OZ.1i putters. The OZ.1 putters are the first tour-inspired designs from L.A.B. Golf, created in close collaboration with major champion Adam Scott. Each tester was treated to a surprise custom remote fitting, where L.A.B. called in the big guns in to make sure each member received the putter that was best for them and their game. (We won’t spoil the surprise—you’ll have to hear it from the testers themselves!)

 

As the reviews and feedback start rolling in, we invite you to jump into the conversation. Have questions about the fitting process, performance on the greens, or how these putters compare to others? Ask away—the testers are ready and eager to share their insights and experiences with you!

The testers are:
 

•  @jongalt55
•  @hwwong
•  @dam276
• @gator022
• @Jut
• @Young Money
•  @DKgolfAZ
•  @Rbsiedsc
• @Rory4Pres
•  @LBattaglia93

 

About the L.A.B. Golf OZ.1 and OZ.1i Putter

OZ.1i is L.A.B.'s first putter models to feature a face insert. While inserts certainly look cool, there is a functional reason for them. Some golfers prefer a specific sound and feel at impact, and OZ.1i putters have stainless steel inserts that create a firmer feel and faster ball speeds. There are also one-piece, all aluminum OZ.1 Custom and OZ.1 Stock models that feel softer. They will be popular with those that love the way DF3 feels. In terms of size and shape, OZ.1i and OZ.1 are exactly the same.

 

Learn more about the L.A.B. Golf OZ.1. and OZ.1i putter here.

 

Special thank you to @labgolffor putting on this member testing event!

[StoutKing]

LAB are a stand up company.

[hwwong]

 

 

An absolute massive THANK YOU to @labgolf and @GolfWRX_Official for such an amazing opportunity.  I feel very lucky that I got picked.  This forum and community is simply awesome.   

 

I just got my putter on Saturday, so more to follow on the write up!

 

 

[Jut]

HOW IT STARTED

Hello Friends!  Excited to get this party started.  I would assume you’re all most interested in the pics (we dudes are visual folks for sure), so feel free to jump straight to the bottom, but do so at your own peril as these words are championship level.  😊  To start, I can’t thank @labgolf and @GolfWRX_Official enough for this literal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  About 5 years ago, I won the opportunity on here to test out some new grips.  This though is on a whole different level.  The chance to experience/test/put through the paces a L.A.B. Oz.1 putter!?  That I was fitted for and got to design!  Are you freaking kidding me!  I was begging for an Oz.1 for Christmas – like I’ll clean the litter box for 6 months straight & even watch Bridgerton with you begging (to no avail).  I live at my local golf store and I’ve fooled around with all the L.A.B. designs (and putted well with them), but just couldn’t get over the look.  I know, I know, if it performs then damn the look!  I just couldn’t do it.  But then, here comes the Oz.1, and boy oh boy, it’s go time for me for zero torque.  Then I win the GolfWRX/L.A.B. Golf lottery!  “You’re my Density”.  Sorry.  Destiny. 

 

AN EARLY SHOCKER

On Tuesday, March 11th, I receive an email from Shelby at L.A.B. asking for some potential times for me to have a 15 minute Zoom meeting with Sam Hahn, CEO.  What?!  How does the busiest man in golf have time to spend one minute, let alone 15 minutes, chatting with some rando Ohio golf dude?!  But damn if he didn’t.  A few days later we hooked up and spent a good 15 minutes just shooting da spit  - about golf, my putter history, Dayton (Sam has relatives in the area and visits periodically), the explosion of L.A.B. golf, imitators, etc.  I got a good sense for Sam’s passion and intensity, but I also could tell that he’s a chill, down-to-earth dude.  My man crush is in full bloom…my buddies are already sick of hearing, “well, Sam said this” or “well, Sam said that”…jealousy is not a good color for them.  LOL.  Overall, a very cool and unexpected part of the process.  We ended with Sam letting me know that Calvin, L.A.B.’s head fitter, would be in contact with me soon to get the ball rolling on the remote fitting and ordering processes. 

Sidenote:  Not trying to be a stage 5 clinger, but a day or two later I emailed Sam and thanked him for the meeting and told him the next time he’s in Dayton, the round of golf is on me.  No lie, the dude emailed me back within 5 minutes.  Just unreal and very surreal.  

 

ME

Just a bit about me, well, just golf me.  I play a lot of golf (just hit the big 5-0, 3 kids at Ohio State, wife that understands my obsession).  Like a lot of you, when I’m not playing golf, I’m thinking about golf – looking up golf s***, spending hours on the forums, BST hourly, I know the local Golf Galaxy, Miles of Golf, and Golf Exchange bros by name).  The sickness is real.  I’m a higher single digit capper (4-7 depending on the time of year).  When I can get off the tee and hit greens (my weaknesses), I play pretty well.  Short game, especially putting, has always been a strength.  3 putts are very rare and I make a lot of mid to longer putts that my buddies just don’t understand.  If I could use help on the greens, it’s in that 4’ to 8’ range.  I miss more of these makeable putts than I should and once I miss one or two in a round, it snowballs (mental?!).  My theory is that this is where lie angle balance, zero torque, and the L.A.B. fitting process will be an aid to my game.

 

THE PUTTER

Before Calvin could even reach out to me, I’d already recorded my 5 second video for the remote fitting (it only took me like 30 takes to get a video that I was happy with – between the camera adding 10 lbs. and my putting stroke not being “perfect” - thanks to the wifey for her help and patience).  I also blew up L.A.B.’s website, building and deleting custom OZ.1s 20 times or so.  Calvin was right on schedule with his email and I sent him my video.  Within no time, he had my specs and it was a “go” for me to build my putter!  BTW – I know there’s been some griping regarding the current lead times, but I will say that Calvin was emailing me after midnight on a Saturday, so the team is definitely busting their you-know-what’s trying to serve customers as quickly as possible.  I decided pretty quickly to go with the OZ.1 and not the OZ.1i because I love a softer feel and I enjoy the cleaner look of no insert.  From there, I chose the white Accra shaft.  I liked that it was stable – maybe not as stable as the Gears or TPT – but stable and with a softer feel than the other two.  Shaft lean 2*.  35” per the fitting.  Press Pistol 2* white.  I went back and forth a million times on the color.  I love the blue color, but I play a yellow ball.  This combo of maize and blue is a hard no (if you know, you know).  Red and black were great options, but I’ve had those before.  Cappuccino just kind of jumped out to me.  Distinct without being overwhelming and a good fit (at least to me) with a yellow ball.  Plus, it looks fantastic against the white shaft and grip.  I’m a feel putter, so I kept it simple with alignment, just a solid line before and after the shaft insert (Alignment Mark Front G and Alignment Mark Back 7 for those keeping score at home).  White Icon head cover to finish off this gorgeous gal.

 

THE ARRIVAL

I’m not sure there’s anything quite like the anticipation of receiving a long, rectangular brown box.  She arrived in all her glory on Monday, April 7th in the late morning (again, the wife saved the day since she was working from home and brought the beige beauty right inside).  Getting through the rest of the work day was BRUTAL.  The sound barrier was broken on the drive home.  From this point on, pictures are definitely worth a thousand words, so check 'em out.  Packaging = A+, Instructions = A+, Workmanship = A+, Visual presentation = A+, First roll(s) = A+, Overall = A+.  

 

GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

Dear Diary – I know it’s early, but I’m already quite smitten with this Cappuccino Concubine.  She’s a 10/10 in the looks department.  Feel is what I imagined – soft yet solid.  It’s only indoors to date (due to the Ark that would be needed to take her outdoors in Ohio right now), but alignment and roll are true.  This is my first foray into any type of forward press, so I was expecting an adjustment period, but it seems so natural right out of the gate.  The one caveat is look-at-address - this putter (and I see the same thing with almost all Ping putters I've had) visually seems to sit just a hair closed when seated on the ground.  Ironically, whether I leave it like this or adjust it to square before taking her back, it just rolls dead straight.  It's not the slightest bit bothersome and doesn't impact me one bit, I just know that some folks are super sensitive to this look.  Heck, it may just be me visually getting used to the center shaft and forward press setup.  I'll keep everyone updated on it.  The real kicker will be getting outside and testing the lag putting and those pesky 4’-8’ putts that I have nightmares about.  Much more to come, but for now, please enjoy our first pictures together…

 

Edited April 8 by Jut

[Rbsiedsc]

Hi all 

 

Thanks to LAB and Golfwrx for this opportunity. I am very grateful and thrilled to test this out. I chose to test the  OZ.1i as I tend to leave putts short and wanted the extra ball speed from the insert and a more solid feeling. 
 

I went with a custom alignment mark based on T11 but with a heart in the middle after discussions with their main fitter Calvin. I also got the TPT shaft and the pistol grip (made specifically for the Oz), which was recommended by Sam in our conversation (now he is an awesome guy). The fitting process was the remote fitting. Without a ball we came up with a lie angle of 72° which was more upright than past fittings I’ve done with LAB. Calvin recommended doing it with a ball and that came out closer to 70° and we went with that. 

 

 

I received mine on Saturday (4/5) an I have a putting green session with it and compared it to my df2.1. My df2.1 is at 69°. 

Comparing them side by side, the Oz appears to be half the size of the DF2.1. The tint of blue has also changed. The Oz also felt lighter that the DF, maybe due to having the TPT shaft. The pistol grip also feels really nice on the Oz. I putt LHL and have no issues there. For comparison my DF has the press 3° grip and I can go back and forth with them with little issue. 

Sound wise, the Oz sounds higher pitched and firmer but not tingly compared to the DF. I tried to get the video to sense that. You can clearly hear it while putting. 

 

I have noticed the Oz is less stable overall than the DF which is expected with the head size. However what I really like so far in my limited use is the consistency of the Oz, especially with the TPT. On the putting green balls were finishing right on top of each other. The Oz also really lets you know where you are striking on the face. I typically heads up putt but due to some of the stability deltas I am seeing I may have to look down to putt for a little bit until I can really dial in contact. The Oz also allows me to have a more traditional length stroke compared to the DF, which overall makes me more comfortable. 

I am overall very excited to get this out on the course soon and see how it works for me. 
 

More to come!

 

 

closer indoor look at specs

 

Sole

Milling

pistol grip

Edited April 9 by Rbsiedsc
Photos and videos

[Rbsiedsc]

With regards to the chat with Sam, which caught me by surprise and I was super pumped for it, the man is a treat to talk to. He was going to go over the whole spiel with me about how to use a LAB and such. When I told him I had a DF already, he basically was "Ok, great, now we can just shoot the s*** and have some fun". I talked with him on things from the technology, to what my putting misses were, to alignment marks and shafts and the whole nine 9 yards. For a CEO, he is a very down to earth just like us kind of guy. He is also super educated on putting and the game itself. He isn't just some good salesman but a genuine golfer that wants to see people get better and enjoy playing the game. I am located in Oregon and he even offered for me to drive down to Creswell and get fit there but sadly I had to pass due to family priorities. It was awesome that everyone on this test got an opportunity to talk to him and got a gold star Pro treatment from Calvin and Sam.

[jongalt55]

Very excited to have been selected as a reviewer on this one!  Big thanks to Golfwrx and LAB Golf!

 

I haven't received my putter yet--it's supposed to be delivered to my office today, but I'm travelling so I won't be able to get it until tomorrow.  So until I have pictures, here is what the process has been like so far.

 

After being selected, LAB reached out to schedule an introductory call with LAB's CEO, Sam Hahn.  This is my first LAB putter, so Sam did a great job of walking me through what to expect when I got the putter, how it may differ from the putters I've used in the past (my gamer is an Odyssey 2-Ball Fang), and even a "thumbs off" drill to use when I get the putter to get used to letting the putter do its work.  We also talked a little about my anticipated build, and he encouraged me to go hit some putts in a retail store before deciding on my desired head weight to make sure I ordered what I would want (turns out that the OZ putters have higher nominal head weights than other putters in LAB's product line).  Sam gave me a couple of links to youtube videos to prepare me for the testing experience.  This one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh45e5It8UQ?si=t48KFWZFEhiM81-6) talks about a drill to get used to letting the putter do the work, and this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdBZBkTAeHs?si=C2OikZmNOdwYhDxb) really helps visualize the relationship between shaft plane and face angle.  I really recommend folks watch the second video as it helps clarify LAB's goal--helping the face stay square to the plane (which is different from staying square to the target).

 

After my call with Sam, I went through their remote fitting process so they could appropriately fit me for my putter.  The process is really pretty easy--you just take a short down the line video of your putter swing.  Here was mine:

 

Once I had the video, I emailed it to LAB's Director of Fitting, Calvin Green, who then sent me my specs, along with a recommendation for an appropriate build length (since I'm ordering my test putter counterbalanced).

 

After that, I went straight to LAB's website and designed my custom putter with their custom build interface.  I found it to be very intuitive and it did a great job of showing me what my putter would look like.  I went with the green head, a heavier head weight, a straight in shaft (since I'm building a counterbalanced putter), and alignment style C (which is the standard T alignment style you see in the stores).  We were also fortunate that LAB offered us the upgraded TPT shaft.  Finally, LAB agreed to build the putter with the same Winn 15" counterbalanced putter grip I use on all my putters.  I think that will be awesome for testing purposes because it will minimize the differences between the LAB and my gamer.  I should mention that I went with the OZ.1 (without the insert) because our greens are really fast and I prefer a putter where the ball comes off a little slower because it lets me swing more freely.  Here are the specs I ordered:

 

All in all, an awesome process so far.  Can't wait to get the putter in my hands and get you some pictures and first thoughts!

[ilikegolf26]

31 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Hi all (will update with pictures and videos once I get my upload space increased here)

 

Thanks to LAB and Golfwrx for this opportunity. I am very grateful and thrilled to test this out. I chose to test the  OZ.1i as I tend to leave putts short and wanted the extra ball speed from the insert and a more solid feeling. 
 

I went with a custom alignment mark based on T11 but with a heart in the middle after discussions with their main fitter Calvin. I also got the TPT shaft and the pistol grip (made specifically for the Oz), which was recommended by Sam in our conversation (now he is an awesome guy). The fitting process was the remote fitting. Without a ball we came up with a lie angle of 72° which was more upright than past fittings I’ve done with LAB. Calvin recommended doing it with a ball and that came out closer to 70° and we went with that. 

 

 

I received mine on Saturday (4/5) an I have a putting green session with it and compared it to my df2.1. My df2.1 is at 69°. 

Comparing them side by side, the Oz appears to be half the size of the DF2.1. The tint of blue has also changed. The Oz also felt lighter that the DF, maybe due to having the TPT shaft. The pistol grip also feels really nice on the Oz. I putt LHL and have no issues there. For comparison my DF has the press 3° grip and I can go back and forth with them with little issue. 
 

Sound wise, the Oz sounds higher pitched and firmer but not tingly compared to the DF.
 

I have noticed the Oz is less stable overall than the DF which is expected with the head size. However what I really like so far in my limited use is the consistency of the Oz, especially with the TPT. On the putting green balls were finishing right on top of each other. The Oz also really lets you know where you are striking on the face. I typically heads up putt but due to some of the stability deltas I am seeing I may have to look down to putt for a little bit until I can really dial in contact. The Oz also allows me to have a more traditional length stroke compared to the DF, which overall makes me more comfortable. 
 

I am overall very excited to get this out on the course soon and see how it works for me. 
 

More to come!

What pistol grip was made specifically for the Oz?

[Rory4Pres]

Hi All, I'm very thankful and blessed to have been chosen as one of the lucky testers.  Just wanted to say thank you to GOLFWRX and LAB for this opportunity.  

 

Despite the obvious fact that I know all the employees at Lab are super busy right now, I really appreciate the time and one-on-one conversations Sam, Calvin and Shelby have provided.  

 

I just received an email that my putter has gone into production and am counting down the days until I get to test this baby out.  

 

I'll dive into a detailed background, experience and thoughts very soon but just want to reiterate I really appreciate golfwrx and Lab for my selection.  

[Rbsiedsc]

17 minutes ago, ilikegolf26 said:

What pistol grip was made specifically for the Oz?

The 2° pistol. 

[ColdOkieGolf]

55 minutes ago, Jut said:

 

AN EARLY SHOCKER

On Tuesday, March 11th, I receive an email from Shelby at L.A.B. asking for some potential times for me to have a 15 minute Zoom meeting with Sam Hahn, CEO.  What?!  How does the busiest man in golf have time to spend one minute, let alone 15 minutes, chatting with some rando Ohio golf dude?!  But damn if he didn’t.  A few days later we hooked up and spent a good 15 minutes just shooting da spit  - about golf, my putter history, Dayton (Sam has relatives in the area and visits periodically), the explosion of L.A.B. golf, imitators, etc.  I got a good sense for Sam’s passion and intensity, but I also could tell that he’s a chill, down-to-earth dude.  My man crush is in full bloom…my buddies are already sick of hearing, “well, Sam said this” or “well, Sam said that”…jealousy is not a good color for them.  LOL.  Overall, a very cool and unexpected part of the process.  We ended with Sam letting me know that Calvin, L.A.B.’s head fitter, would be in contact with me soon to get the ball rolling on the remote fitting and ordering processes. 

Sidenote:  Not trying to be a stage 5 clinger, but a day or two later I emailed Sam and thanked him for the meeting and told him the next time he’s in Dayton, the round of golf is on me.  No lie, the dude emailed me back within 5 minutes.  Just unreal and very surreal.  

 

 

Oh man!  I think I'm more jealous of that than the putter!  Sam seems like he'd be such a cool hang.  Talk putters, talk music and guitar..etc.  Just a cool human.

Okay - now to leave this thread as I don't need to buy the Oz.  Nope, I don't need to buy the Oz.   Nope 

[jjthomp2]

Congrats to all who were picked. Very cool! Pretty much knew I wasn’t picked for this so had to go ahead and order my own OZ.1i 😂 excited for it to arrive. Keep the stories coming

[DKgolfAZ]

Massive thank you to @labgolf and @GolfWRX_Official for this opportunity!

 

L.A.B. OZ.1i  
 

Initial Experiences

• To my surprise, I was contacted by Sam Hahn’s wonderful assistant to set up a video call to talk to the man himself! Sam was an absolute pleasure to talk to, he asked me about my game and why I think the OZ.1i could help. Well... shooting a 79 with 39 putts was about enough of an answer as he needed. We then discussed my current putter and if I have tried other LAB putters, and while I have rolled them, they have not taken a place in the bag for various reasons the OZ.1i addresses. He then opened it up for questions from me, we discussed shafts as I was curious about the GEARS vs TPT shaft options. Next came alignment aids and if they created them from any sort of research or if they were there to make for an easier transition to create something similar to other designs on the market. Sam then mentioned some videos to help with the transition to Lie Angle Balance and drills to dial the putter in. Overall, it was a great experience, and he was extremely easy to talk to. 10/10 would chat with him again if given the opportunity.
   
• After the call Sam’s assistant sent me 3 videos LAB has put out that Sam had mentioned.
• Next came the virtual fitting and building out the putter. Calvin was a great resource for me in discussing alignment aids as a right eye dominant putter, press vs non press options and the why, shaft options, and if counterbalance may be something beneficial to me. I will say building a putter on lab can create some option paralysis. I was in between a few alignment aid options, but Calvin helped narrow it down for me in our phone call. I ended up at 69* lie and 34" length, the same specs other putter fittings in person has produced. The build was finalized and sent to production.
   
• There is something different about seeing a LAB box in front of your door. The best way I can describe it is… Hope. It’s a beacon of hope for better days on the greens. A shinning light to lower scores. There is hope ahead, neatly packaged in a rectangular box.
  
   

Build Options:

• Aesthetics: The Cappuccino color is very nice, I really enjoy a chromatic bronze color, and while this is definitely darker, it is very pleasant on the eyes without being distracting.
• Milling/Attention to Detail: The milling on the putter body is quite nice, very neat and tidy. The face milling is a standard medium fly mill and is well done, it sits evenly in the insert pocket with no overlaps or overhangs. The anodizing is even and smooth, whoever LAB is using for anodizing is among some of the best I’ve seen yet. The putter head feels and looks like the premium product it is.
• Alignment Aids: For non-blade putters I have had 2 alignment aid styles work well for me. First is the TM True Path and second is the Toulon Vegas putter. The E11 combo kind of combines the two and is visually very appealing on the head shape. The laser engraving has a good pop on the cappuccino colorway.
• Forward Press: I went with the press shaft option. After talking with Sam and Calvin about it, it has more to do with visuals than it does with an actual forward press. It des a good job at making the onset of the putter less apparent.
• Grip: The Pistol Press II reminds me of a Super Stroke Pistol 2.0 without the V on the underside of the grip. It’s a bit flatter and has taken some getting used to compared to the standard style pistols I am accustomed to. I have had to grip the club a bit differently but overall its been a pretty seamless transition.
• Shaft: The TPT shaft really is a premium option. I was not expecting to get the opportunity to select it, but WOW am I glad it was an option. Sam in his call said if I had the chance, get it, and he was right. It unequivocally feels, looks, and performs better than any graphite putter shaft I have. The spiral wrap of the fiber is unique and very aesthetically pleasing, the matte finish is one I wish was far more prevalent. It has me wanting to try more TPT shafts in other clubs, the quality is on another level.

 

Performance

• Insert Feel and Feedback: The insert and TPT shaft combination really fit what I was looking for that I had not previously had in putters like the DF3 or MEZZ. While I enjoyed the performance while testing/rolling those putters, the aluminum face just didn’t create a pleasing tone/feel for me. The link did produce a great feel, but the onset didn’t sit right with my eye… if only I was left eye dominate…
  
  The OZ.1i creates a nice mid toned pop on a firmer ball (I use the PXG Xtreme Tour X, and it produces a similar tone to a ProV1x), with a softer ball like a ProV1 it is a bit more muted. Its not at all clicky, but its not very muted like a non-insert LAB or putters with face inserts. I will gather up a bunch of different balls and make a video to show the differences.
  
  I am very glad I went with the TPT Shaft and Insert combo, the feedback is quite close to a milled blade, without the performance loss on off center hits (thank you Lie Angle Balance!). You can feel where you hit it on the face, but the ball stays closer to your intended start line. I will test distance control on off center strikes this upcoming week.
• Forgiveness: In the testing process.
• Distance Control: In the testing process, in the short period I have had it, it’s been very plug and play to my old putter, but I don’t have to work as hard.
• Consistency: I can already tell that the Lie Angle Balance tech is doing its intended job. Off center strikes stay on a better line. I am still in a transitionary period and adjusting my grip/stroke/etc. to get the most out of it. What I was hoping for from the putter was to think less about trying to start the ball on line and just to think about pace… and it has allowed that. I pick my start line and the ball just goes on it when I do my part, and it’s becoming more consistent as I get more comfortable with my set up, stroke, and grip.

 

Practice and Play:

• Practice: My current practice protocol has not changed to much. I spend time on a 5’ putt with my putting mirror. I want to make sure I am setting up the same each time, the ball has moved forward in my stance, my grip is different with the larger grip, and I just need to get that all dialed in without thought. The consistency I am getting starting my ball on line is truly better. I am fairly blown away by how much better really. More below.
• Drills: The majority of my start line practice is indoors on my birdie ball mat. I use a putting mirror as described above and putting tutor gate system for this. I have been using the putting tutor a lot, and it has been very helpful with the LAB tech transition. Combined with the thumbs off drill it has highlighted one thing; the less I do with my hands the better. Set my grip, maintain wrist angles, rock shoulders and it goes on line. Whenever I start pulling anything its because I am doing to much, do less and its right back on track.
  
  My biggest eye-opening moment was my end of practice putting test. I see how many in a row I can get through the smallest gate. My previous record was 29 with my old gamer… with the OZ.1i I just rolled 57 through and am pretty sure if my back wasn’t screaming at me from that many putts in a row, and resetting the ball, I could have just kept going. I have never needed to take a break in that drill previous to this.

 

• Performance on Course: I have 1 round under my belt with the OZ so far. It was at Longbow in Mesa, AZ. Anyone who has played there will know they like to keep their greens firm and fast. That day was no exception. I had about 5 days practicing with the putter at this point, but felt comfortable enough to take it on its maiden voyage.
  
  My putting has been in shambles lately. I am a 9 HCI and have been averaging 36.5 putts per round. That’s up from 33. I had always considered putting to be a strength in my game, until the last 6 months or so. As I said going into this, I shot what should have been my best round ever, I had never had better GIR, FIR, etc.… but I had 39 putts for a 79. I had a 72% GIR. And 22% 3 putts or worse. Missed all but one of my birdie opportunities, to include some short ones. The only birdie I made that day was the closest I’ve ever been to a hole in one, about 2” …. This round still haunts me.
  
  In my first round with this putter I had zero 3 putts and 4 up and downs for a total of 31 putts. The rest of my game was a bit rough, but the winds were absolutely gnarly. It was a 3-club wind day if it was in your face. I shot an 83 from the tips, for one of my best differentials yet. My putting saved me that day.
  
  Now the question remains, is it the help of the putter, or the extra work I’ve been putting in transitioning the OZ. More rounds will answer that question, and I’m playing my most played course this upcoming Thursday.

 

 

Edited April 11 by DKgolfAZ

[Young Money]

Really grateful to @labgolf and @GolfWRX_Official for this cool opportunity. I don't have my putter yet, I got a notice it's being built right now, and it sounds like it should ship by this coming Friday so I'm still at least a week away. 

 

Can definitely echo what others have said about Sam and the process. I had my call with Sam the Monday morning right after the Players Championship. We talked about what a bummer it was watching JJ Spaun's potentially winning putt come up short with the DF3 but also how cool it is to see the penetration on tour and just the insane growth of the company over the past few years.

 

I've had some experience with LAB to this point. I've had a DF3 and a Link before and ultimately kept going back to my gamer. I told Sam that I was particularly excited about this opportunity because the OZ.1i head shape is my favorite aesthetic of all of their options. Sam asked what I was currently using I told him that I had been using the LA Golf TPZ 135 putter shaft for a couple years at this point and he immediately was like, go with the TPT shaft in this one then. It was really reassuring that even though that was an expensive option, the only consideration in his mind was making sure that I end up in the best possible fit for me. 

 

The other reason I'm really excited for this is the option to have a 0 degree shaft lean on the putter. I'm VERY married to the Superstroke Pistol Tour and the idea that I can use the OZ.1i with my grip of choice is really cool. It isn't a grip that they offer but they let me send them one to put on which is probably why mine is taking a little longer. 

 

Overall I can't say enough about the friendliness and warmth from everyone that I've interacted with so far at LAB. The fitter Calvin even had me send a couple videos to make sure we got it right. 

 

A little about me, I'm 40 and the last couple years have fluctuated between a 6 and a 9. I don't 3 putt a lot but I also don't 1 putt nearly enough. Really hoping I can maintain the consistency and see more 1 putts go in. My son is a really talented junior golfer and this will be the first putter in quite a while that he won't be able to steal from me. Looking forward to that 🙂

 

Once I get the putter I'll post pictures and initial impressions, can't wait to get it in the bag!

[Red4282]

Congrats to those chosen. Cant wait to hear the testimonies!

[ilikegolf26]

1 hour ago, Rbsiedsc said:

The 2° pistol. 

I had that grip on my DF3 before the Oz was even announced. 

[StoutKing]

2 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

The 2° pistol. 

I got that pistol on my first DF3 in April 2024 FYI.  I don't think it's for OZ specifically.

[Rbsiedsc]

1 hour ago, ilikegolf26 said:

I had that grip on my DF3 before the Oz was even announced. 

When I talked to Sam he said it was for The Oz. Maybe at the time it was a prototype or something. Regardless it’s awesome on the Oz. 

[hwwong]

Here's my first impressions post.  If there are specifics or details I can provide please let me know!  I'm happy to delve into any part.

 

TLDR: I went broomstick.  Insert is very good.  Broomstick has very strong potential.  TPT shaft is also very good.  

 

What a treat this testing experience has been.  It started when I got an email to set up a Zoom call.  I was expecting an engineer or sales person, but it was the CEO Sam Hahn himself! What a pleasant surprise that was, and it was a treat to get some one-on-one time with Sam.  Sam is personable, and we quickly got to the nerding out about putting and golf.  It's clear he has a passion for putting and the technology, and has a deep understanding of the putting process.  We talked about what my initial thoughts were with regard to the OZ design and also went through some of my tendencies on the course.  I'm relatively new to the LAB world, so Sam shared some tips about using LAB putters as well as some insights about putting that were honestly very useful and surprising as well.  

 

Picking the putter:

 

After my call with Sam, I got contacted by Calvin Green - LAB's Director of Fitting.  I was instructed to make a remote fitting video, which was super easy to do.  I was going back and forth between traditional length and a longer, counterbalanced version, so I let Calvin know that as I submitted my video

 

So, while LAB reviewed my video, I went to my local golf store to try out different lengths to see what I would ultimately request.  I was lucky - they had all the different head shapes, standard lengths, counter balanced, and even a sweeper/broomstick build.  I tried every LAB putter the store had to offer for a solid 45 minutes.  And I, surprisingly, came to the conclusion that I really liked how the broomstick felt. Side note: my biggest putting flaw is snatching the club away too quickly with the right hand, and the broomstick really did a nice job in quieting my right hand, but still keeps it involved for speed control.  I'll note I also tried claw grip but I didn't feel like I had the same control, nor did it feel as repeatable as broomstick.   Also, I just watched Grant Horvat win the Creator Classic after recently switching to a broomstick, so you could say I might have been slightly influenced.  

 

So, with that, I wrote Calvin to ask about my new direction.  He had already sent over my optimal fit specs, but instructed me to watch the broomstick specific fitting video.  That was even easier to complete, and I quickly wrote back with my full spec list.  

 

This is what I ended up with:

 

OZ.1i

Cappuccino

Heavier head

43”

79.5*

TPT Shaft

Alignment J-8

 

I would be lying if I didn't admit that I had already built an OZ.1 on LAB’s website at least a half dozen times.  So, I knew I wanted Cappuccino for the color.  It reminded me of Ping's patina finish which I find to be stunning.  Length and lie were determined by the fitting video.  The TPT shaft was offered to us as an option - which was also recommended for broomsticks.  As far as alignment, I knew I liked the ball-width, vertical line that's standard but wanted a to try to keep the putter clean too.  So, I opted for the small line in the back just to make sure my alignment was correct across the entire putter and not just the face.  

 

Calvin got back to me in a couple days with an order confirmation, and I anxiously began waiting!

 

Initial Impressions:

 

Uhh...that was insanely fast.  Really appreciate the VIP treatment.  I was fully prepared to wait the standard lead time, so getting my shipment notice just a few days after confirmation was a really nice surprise.  The box showed up, and I immediately opened it.  Putter was nicely packaged and secure. 

 

So, first impressions:  Putter is gorgeous.  It's much better looking than the DF3 (sorry).   The finish is impeccable, everything seems to be to spec.  I believe the broomstick uses a slightly larger (OZ XL?) head.  I much prefer it to the standard size.  The stability is very close to the DF3 in my opinion; it's nearly the same size.  I hope they offer it in the future much like the Mezz/Mezz Max. 

 

I spent a few hours now going back and forth between the broomstick and my DF3, and a few of my other putters.   The insert is surprisingly good.  There is much more feel and feedback than I was anticipating.  Overall, it’s got quite a nice feel.  There’s a little squish, a little pop off the face.  It’s very satisfying.  It’s certainly a touch faster off the face but nothing out of the ordinary.  I’m glad I went with the insert for my set up.   The sound is a medium pitch, not hollow or pingy really.  

 

Now onto the broomstick.  First thing I noticed – it makes me stay WAY more still.  I had no idea I moved so much in my normal putting stroke.  Additionally, it gets my shoulders much more involved.  Again, I had no idea just how handsy I was with a traditional length putter.  Setting up to the ball is actually pretty easy/natural feeling.  As far as I can tell over the last few days, it’s much easier to repeat my set up, or at least get very close to the same set up repeatedly.  Also, the TPT shaft is NICE. Wow. I never have really paid attention to putter shafts, but the finish is amazing and you can definitely tell a difference in the stiffness compared to the Accra I tried in store.  I'm certain it's contributing to the amazing feel I'm getting overall.

 

I’ll come back to post on course information and a longer-term review.  But, unfortunately, the greens at my course were just punched two weeks ago.   Sneak peek: I played 9 with it this weekend – shot even with 13 putts… speed control was excellent, start lines were very predictable.  This wand has some potential!

 

 

 

 

Edited April 9 by hwwong

[pingadingdong]

Really looking forward to seeing these reviews.  I didn’t get selected to test so I bought an Oz anyway, I’ve been loving it.  I’m impressed by what they’ve done with this putter, it’s my 4th Lab now, and no looking back.  

[dam276]

Thanks @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for the opportunity!

 

Have a bunch of data, early impressions and pics ready to go but at Augusta today (I know, humble brag) so just got back to my phone. Taking my OZ for its first round tmrw at Old Barnwell so will have some actual feedback from the course too.

 

Couldn’t be more excited!

 

 

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, dam276 said:

Thanks @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for the opportunity!

 

Have a bunch of data, early impressions and pics ready to go but at Augusta today (I know, humble brag) so just got back to my phone. Taking my OZ for its first round tmrw at Old Barnwell so will have some actual feedback from the course too.

 

Couldn’t be more excited!

 

 

Barnwell!

[StoutKing]

9 hours ago, jjthomp2 said:

Congrats to all who were picked. Very cool! Pretty much knew I wasn’t picked for this so had to go ahead and order my own OZ.1i 😂 excited for it to arrive. Keep the stories coming

Same here brother.  I knew I wouldn't be chosen, kind of like the Masters lottery.  My OZ should be here within the next week.  Come on Sam!! ;)

[bladehunter]

I’ll admit. I really wanted to win one of these.  And I don’t know why.  The chances of truly unseating my mezz max is less than zero.  
 

congratulations to the winners. Going to enjoy following along.  LAB putters are one of my favorite companies in the sport. 

[Rbsiedsc]

Added in photos and videos after clearing up some space. I hope to get out to the putting green at least this week and maybe a round in the next week or two pending weather and schedule. 

[Rbsiedsc]

11 hours ago, dam276 said:

Thanks @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolf for the opportunity!

 

Have a bunch of data, early impressions and pics ready to go but at Augusta today (I know, humble brag) so just got back to my phone. Taking my OZ for its first round tmrw at Old Barnwell so will have some actual feedback from the course too.

 

Couldn’t be more excited!

 

 

Hey nice color and alignment! 🙂 

[dam276]

34 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Hey nice color and alignment! 🙂 

Right back at you! Such a fan of the blue/white contrast.. versus my Link or the stock black/white the blue is clean 🤌🏼

[dam276]

Hi all, 

 

As long as I’ve been on here (2007!!), have never been picked for one of these, so I’ll start by saying it was pretty awesome for this to be the first. A huge thank you to @GolfWRX_Official and @labgolffor the opportunity. 

 

A quick about me.. I’m a former high school/college golfer who took a decade off in my 20s once it was readily apparent my barely + handicap wasn’t going to cut it. Lived in NYC and worked a million hours a week building my career instead. I got back into the game in 2019 after moving to FL and have spent the last 3 years whittling down from a mid-single digit handicap to someone who can now occasionally break par again. 

 

Driving and approach have been my (comparative) strong suit, short game is decent, but putting has always kept me from going low. I wish we had Arccos when I was a kid, but now that I track my stats I oscillate between 4-8 shots worse than a +4 handicap and have had exactly 2 rounds out of all of my recorded history where I gained strokes putting (both under par). In short, it’s the biggest reason I’m still on the wrong side of a scratch. My last 20 rounds I’ve averaged 3.2 1-putts, 13.1 2-putts, and 1.6 3-putts (34.6 putts per round) against ~13 GIR. 

 

Over the last 20 years of playing I’ve tried pretty much everything: anchoring, belly, arm lock, overly short, overly long, mallets, blades, etc. Now trying to play competitively again, I’ve been taking lessons and working daily on fundamentals, green reading, and anything I can to help.

 

With that as a backdrop, you can imagine I was first in line when the DF 2.1 dropped a few years back. While the idea resonated, I couldn’t for the life of me get used to the shape and struggled with alignment and pushing putts. In an Edel fitting I was told my tendency is to aim right (I’m right eye dominant), so this was no surprise. I then went on to the Mezz broom (sorry Odyssey, don't care), and had a lot of success on shorter putts, but really couldn’t get dialed into longer putts. Nothing wrong with the putter, but the confidence just wasn’t there. 

 

At the beginning of the year I bought a Link.1 on the BST and absolutely loved it. The more compact head let me feel a more natural release and I was hooked on the LAB construct. I really liked the Oz1 shape however, so was ready to go through the online fitting when I saw the opportunity for this and figured I’d wait to see how it went before I pulled the trigger. Sorry LAB, was going to spend the money but can’t take it back now! 🙂

 

As someone who’s tall-ish (6-1) with longer arms (<35” wrist to floor), I’ve actually had some good success with counterbalanced putters, but always felt like lie angle was off on stock models. I was excited to work with LAB to build something that would fit my frame and stroke in a CB model. 

 

Way too much about me, but excited to be a part of this thread. For context, I’ve got a GCQuad sim setup at home (COVID repurposing of vacation budget FTW!) so will try and be the data-heavy guy in here. I also have a dozen or so putters for comparison, so feel free to ask questions. I’m in my own lab at home 4-5 nights a week so will do my best to be responsive.

 

Edited April 9 by dam276

[bladehunter]

Curious specifically on the reviews for the tpt shaft.  Glad to see at least one in the bunch. 

[dam276]

54 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Curious specifically on the reviews for the tpt shaft.  Glad to see at least one in the bunch. 

I’m a big fan. I had it in the broom and then have the steel in Link, Accra in a stock CB and the TPT in my custom fitted CB.

 

The biggest difference for me is on lag putts. I don’t really notice a difference inside of 10-15 feet, but when you’re making a more deliberate, longer stroke there’s a sensation of flex that isn’t there for the others. The Accra to me feels like a lighter version of steel - very stable but stiff.

 

IMO the TPT helps me feel the putter head better through a longer stroke.