Untorque for Everyone: L.A.B.’s OZ.1i HS

Playing Through: the OZ.1i HS is L.A.B.’s newest design, and it very well could be their most popular to date. With the help of some trick science, L.A.B. is offering its first heel shafted putter that can will even appeal to the putting “purists” who refused to see the Zero Torque light. So if you’ve been holding off rolling a L.A.B. because you struggled with the look at address, I’m happy to confirm that you can finally eliminate go torque-less (and start finding the bottom of the cup more often).

There’s no denying that L.A.B. is at the forefront of the Zero Torque revolution. But as appealing as their technology may be, some golfers just couldn’t get past the recessed, center-shaft design.

But L.A.B. is here to help the masses, and thanks to their golf-freak scientists, the OZ.1i HS is now here to offer a torque-free putting solution in a heel-shafted setup.

The OZ.1i HS Does the Unthinkable: a Zero Torque Design
Packaged in a Traditional-Looking, Heel-Shafted Package

For those that have been following L.A.B. for a while, you may be familiar with the OZ.1i shape. Designed with the help and inspiration of Adam Scott, the OZ.1i features a more traditional, mid-mallet shape with a stainless steel insert. But unlike the initial iteration of the OZ.1i, the HS features a heel shaft—more like the traditional blade and mallets putters we’re all familiar with.

For those who want to geek out a little, L.A.B. was able to use the OZ.1 headshape in a heel-shafted configuration with the help of the proprietary aluminum riser (i.e., the putter’s hosel or “neck”). Notably, the riser is not a standardized piece; rather, the riser’s height is unique to the lie angle the HS is being built for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Speaking of customization, the OZ.1i HS benefits from the same comprehensive level of customization as L.A.B.’s other putters. Each HS can be spec’d into a unique head color (9 different colors), head weight (standard, heavy, light), steel and graphite shafts, and front (32) and back (22) alignment marks. Combine that with the shaft lie and the fit you’re fit into, and it’s clear when you custom-order a L.A.B., it is truly custom-made for you.

The OZ.1 HS (Center) Features the Aesthetics of a Traditional, Heel-Shafted Putter (Left)
With All The Zero-Torque Technologies Found In Its Other Models, Like the Popular DF3 (Right)

Now to the most important topic: how does it perform? In a word, perfect. As someone who’s been using L.A.B.’s DF3 model for this entire season, I was shocked that acclimating myself to the HS took minutes. I credit this to the fact that my DF3 and the HS have the exact same specs; same shaft, length, lie, grip, and head weight. As a result, it would be essentially impossible to tell them apart if I closed my eyes and made some practice swings. And while I am not going to advocate for amassing a putter collection,

Besides the obvious visual differences, the biggest separator was the HS’s stainless steel face insert. Putts came off feeling a little firmer and faster. But other than just adjusting to a minor feel and speed difference, the HS went straight from the box and into competition play.

On the course, the HS gives all of the same torque-free feels and performance benefits as L.A.B.’s other models. Thanks to the Zero Torque and Lie Angle Balancing technologies, the HS allows you to exclusively focus on your speed control and target line. On this point, it is incredibly liberating to be able to focus on what are, arguably, the two most important aspects of putting. As a result, knee-knockers from inside 5 feet are significantly less stressful with the HS, but where it really shines is on the longer putts. Because you can really identify and commit to your target line, I’ve found numerous putts come to rest within tap-in range (along with the few surprises that find the bottom of the hole).

What makes this all the more impressive is that, like most golfers, I spend virtually no time practicing putting. Besides the infrequent rainy day that forces me to break out the indoor putting mat, I spend almost no time doing speed or line drills; it would be generous to say that I even roll more than 10 putts on a practice green before more round. Despite that, I am filled with confidence once I finally reach the first green and reach for the L.A.B.

While the OZ.1 HS May Look Like an Ordinary Mid-Mallet,
The Truth Is It’s So Much More Than That

Does this mean that the HS, or any zero torque putter for that matter, is a magic bullet? Absolutely not. But I would be a fool to say that I have putting prowess; the improvement I’ve experienced on the putting greens can largely be credited to the assistance of the Lie Angle Balance technology found in the HS. And while I think my experience would be largely the same regardless of which L.A.B. model I went with (DF3, MEZZ or LINK), what makes this HS special is what the name alludes to—you can finally reap the benefits of L.A.B.’s technologies in a heel-shafted design.

The L.A.B. Headcover Signals That You’re Not Playing With
Outdated Putter Technologies from the 60s

So for those of you who get sick to your stomach when you look down at center shafted, there’s finally hope and, more importantly, no excuse to not try a L.A.B.