{"id":333410,"date":"2025-12-07T19:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T19:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/333410\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T19:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T19:42:21","slug":"the-oz-1i-hs-is-the-lab-putter-for-people-who-dont-like-lab-putters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/333410\/","title":{"rendered":"The OZ.1i HS is the LAB Putter for People Who Don’t Like LAB Putters."},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been using LAB putters<\/a> for more than a year now.<\/p>\n

And while I\u2019ve loved certain aspects of each one I\u2019ve tested, there\u2019s always been something that kept me from calling any of them perfect.<\/p>\n

The DF3 was rock solid inside 10 feet<\/a>, but I struggled with lag putting.<\/p>\n

The Mezz.1<\/a> was better for the long putts, but the feel was still not quite there.<\/p>\n

Plus, there\u2019s the look of both of those putters. Let\u2019s be honest, center-shafted putters look and feel a bit weird for a lot of golfers, me included.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong: The DF3<\/a> and Mezz.1<\/a> are both phenomenal putters. The hype is justified. But for me personally, while I definitely like them a lot, I couldn\u2019t quite settle into what I felt was the right fit for my stroke and style.<\/p>\n

So when LAB released the OZ.1i HS<\/a> (the \u201cHS\u201d stands for \u201cheel shaft\u201d), I was curious. Could they really deliver lie angle balance technology without that center shaft? And more importantly, would it finally solve my distance control issues?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve now played about 10 rounds with the OZ.1i HS<\/a> (including 5 across Nova Scotia<\/a>). And I think this might be the LAB putter that finally clicks for me.<\/p>\n

Let me explain.<\/p>\n

What Makes the LAB OZ.1i HS Different?
\n\"LABThe heel-shaft configuration of the OZ.1i HS.<\/p>\n

So, as I said, the HS means that this putter is heel-shafted.<\/p>\n

Every other LAB putter to date has been center-shafted. The shaft runs straight down through the middle of the putter head. For some people, that\u2019s fine. For others, it\u2019s a visual adjustment that, honestly, has never quite felt natural to me.<\/p>\n

The OZ.1i HS<\/a> changes that. Somehow, through what I can only describe as some kind of golf club voodoo magic, LAB figured out how to engineer lie angle balance with a heel shaft configuration. The putter face still stays square throughout your stroke, but now it looks and sets up like a more traditional putter.<\/p>\n

So, for me, right away, I was intrigued just based on the look at setup. It just feels more conventional. And I\u2019ve actually found that matters more than I expected it would. Keep reading.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tLAB’s First Heel-Shafted Putter\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\"LAB
\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLAB OZ.1i HS Putter\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, LAB releases a heel-shafted design that still incorporates the lie angle balance technology that’s made them the most hyped brand in golf. This is the LAB I’ve been waiting for, and it’s the one that’s worked best for me.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tBuy from LAB Golf\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tBuy from Golf Galaxy\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

My LAB Journey So Far<\/p>\n

This is my third LAB putter, so let me give you some context on how I got here.<\/p>\n

Also, just a very short word on the science behind LAB. Essentially, what they\u2019ve figured out how to do through a combination of shaft angles, head design, face angle, lie, weighting, and whatever else goes into it is how to create a putter that basically self-corrects.<\/p>\n

So, with most putters, it takes a lot of skill and timing to return your putterface to the ball with a perfectly square face. All of us open or close the face to whatever extent throughout our stroke. But for the ball to start straight, we need the face square at impact. Easier said than done.<\/p>\n

The LAB putters, with their lie angle balance technology, kind of do that work for you. As your putter is approaching the ball in your stroke, the putter naturally wants to return to square. It does it on its own.<\/p>\n

And I gotta say, it\u2019s impressive. I mean, by this point, you\u2019ve surely heard all of the hype. And from my experience, it\u2019s absolutely legitimate.<\/p>\n

But\u2026 That doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ve found LAB putters to date to be perfect.<\/p>\n

I started with the DF3 about a year ago<\/a>. And like I said, from 10 feet and in, it\u2019s money. The lie angle balance technology legitimately makes it easier to hole shorter putts. When you get everything lined up correctly, it really is like a cheat code.<\/p>\n

Granted, you still need to make the correct read, and you\u2019ve still got to be aligned correctly, and you\u2019ve still got to hit the putt with the right speed. So, it\u2019s not like it\u2019s automatic. But when you do your part, the stroke kind of takes care of itself.<\/p>\n

But on longer putts with the DF3, I\u2019ve struggled. The face feels too firm, and I just can\u2019t quite dial in my distance control.<\/p>\n

After about three months with the DF3, I switched to the Mezz.1<\/a>. And my lag putting improved. It was definitely better than the DF3 for me, but it still wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/p>\n

I tested both on my Puttr system<\/a> at home, and the data confirmed that the Mezz was a better fit for my stroke, but like I said, I haven\u2019t found it to be quite perfect.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Then LAB released the OZ.1i HS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

First Impressions: This Looks More Like a Normal Putter<\/p>\n

The most obvious and very first thing that hits you when you compare the OZ.1i HS<\/a> to any other LAB is the heel shaft placement. It just looks more normal.<\/p>\n

The head itself is a half-moon mallet design and LAB\u2019s first solid-body construction. It definitely still looks like a LAB in that it\u2019s got a bit of a futuristic look to it. But I will say that it\u2019s not nearly as radical as something like the DF3. I actually think this might be a good fit if you\u2019ve been turned off by the unconventional look of LAB up to this point.<\/p>\n

The feel off the face is softer than both the DF3 and the Mezz.1, although I still wish it were even a touch softer. But compared to the other LABs I\u2019ve used, this was a noticeable improvement.<\/p>\n

One thing worth mentioning: The OZ.1i HS<\/a> currently only comes with a stainless-steel face insert. The standard center-shafted OZ can be configured with aluminum, which is softer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The stainless-steel face I was originally planning to avoid.<\/p>\n

When I eventually got fit at LAB headquarters<\/a> (more on that in a minute), we tested both. The aluminum felt better, but the heel-shafted version with stainless still won out for me because of how much more confident I felt standing over it.<\/p>\n

For me, confidence is more important than specs. And I\u2019ve found that I like the conventional look of a heel shaft more than a center shaft.<\/p>\n

On the Course with the LAB OZ.1i HS<\/p>\n

Over about 10 rounds with the OZ.1i HS<\/a>, I\u2019ve found this to be the most well-rounded LAB putter I\u2019ve tested.<\/p>\n

On shorter putts, it\u2019s been very good. Maybe not quite as rock-solid as the DF3<\/a>, but still excellent. I\u2019m holing those round-saving 5-7 footers far more than I ever did before I started trying out zero-torque putters.<\/p>\n

That said, if your primary concern is absolute confidence on short to mid-range putts, the DF3 or Mezz.1<\/a> might edge this out slightly. The center-shafted design just seems to inspire a bit more stability on these specific putts.<\/p>\n

But on longer putts, the OZ.1i HS<\/a> really shines.<\/p>\n

My lag putting with this putter has been significantly better than with either the DF3 or Mezz.1. I\u2019m getting those long putts close more consistently and reducing my three-putts as a result.<\/p>\n

The slightly softer feel off the face is a big part of this. Distance control is all about feel, and when you can\u2019t gauge the feedback at impact, it\u2019s tough to dial in speed.<\/p>\n

This is definitely a personal thing. Some people will prefer a firmer face. I personally like softer.<\/p>\n

According to my Arccos data<\/a>, I\u2019ve been gaining between one and two strokes per round with the OZ.1i HS compared to my 10-handicap counterparts. I\u2019ll definitely take that.<\/p>\n

However, for comparison, the PXG Bat Attack ZT, which has been my overall favorite putter of the past year<\/a>, has gained me over three strokes per round on average. Now that\u2019s massive.<\/p>\n

So, the PXG is still my top performer, but the OZ.1i HS is right there and the best of the LAB selections for me so far.<\/p>\n

What I Learned from Getting Fit at the LAB Headquarters<\/p>\n

After a year of playing LAB putters off the rack, I finally made the trip to my hometown of Eugene, Oregon, to get properly fit at the LAB headquarters<\/a>. And, honestly, it was eye-opening.<\/p>\n

They set me up with a Quintic machine, which is basically the TrackMan of putting. It measures everything: launch angle, ball speed, skid distance, forward rotation, impact location, face angle, path, you name it.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest focuses was skid. We wanted to see forward rotation right off the putter face, which leads to a truer, more consistent roll.<\/p>\n

What we found was, for me, the OZ putters achieved less than 30 inches of skid with forward rotation starting at zero.<\/p>\n

With the DF3<\/a> and Mezz.1<\/a>, it wasn\u2019t even close to that.<\/p>\n

That immediately explained at least part of my lag putting struggles. If the ball is skidding for the first 30 inches instead of rolling true, your distance control is going to suffer on longer putts.<\/p>\n

We also tested different shafts, which blew my mind. I always thought a shaft is a shaft when it came to putters. Wrong. The Accra shaft was consistently my favorite. It provided a better feel and helped with the overall balance of the putter.<\/p>\n

From a pure performance standpoint, the standard center-shafted OZ with an aluminum face was the technical winner. But when I stood over the heel-shafted version, I just felt more comfortable and confident. And in putting, that\u2019s everything.<\/p>\n

So I went with the OZ.1i HS<\/a>, even knowing the face would be slightly firmer. Because all the numbers were still excellent, and that intangible feeling of confidence was more important to me.<\/p>\n

How Does the OZ.1i HS Compare to Other Zero-Torque Putters?<\/p>\n

I know people are going to ask about this, so let me address it head-on.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if the OZ.1i HS is truly a zero-torque in the same way a center-shafted LAB is. I\u2019m not an engineer. And honestly, I don\u2019t really care.<\/p>\n

What I do care about is the results. And for me, the OZ.1i HS<\/a> has performed exceptionally well.<\/p>\n

Like I said, I\u2019ve also been using the PXG Bat Attack ZT this year<\/a>, which is their zero-torque option. And I do have to say that the PXG has been the surprise performer of the year for me. It\u2019s given me better confidence on both short putts and lag putts than any LAB I\u2019ve used, and the strokes-gained numbers back that up.<\/p>\n

Does that mean the PXG is better? For me, maybe. For you? Maybe not.<\/p>\n

Putters are deeply personal. The best putter<\/a> is the one that helps you make more putts. For a lot of people, that\u2019s going to be a LAB.<\/p>\n

Just look at how many people swear by them, including more and more tour pros. For others, it might be a PXG, or a Scotty, or a 30-year-old Ping they found at a garage sale.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not here to crown a winner. I\u2019m just telling you about my experience.<\/p>\n

Things to Know Before You Buy<\/p>\n

Even with the heel shaft making it look more traditional, LAB putters are different. Most of them come with a forward press grip, which takes time to get used to. And the lie angle balance technology itself requires a slight mental shift in how you approach the stroke.<\/p>\n

The point is not to expect miracles overnight. Give it a handful of rounds to really dial it in.<\/p>\n

Another thing to know is that while there are a ton of customization options, they can get pretty expensive pretty fast. Stock, the OZ.1i HS runs $499<\/a>. But if you want a different grip, shaft, colors, weights, you\u2019re looking at $599 and up.<\/p>\n

Plus, there\u2019s a significant backlog, so you might be waiting five to six weeks or more for a custom build.<\/p>\n

And while I found the in-person VIP fitting experience<\/a> to be incredible, I have to say that I think most people can get 85 to 90% of the way there without flying to Oregon. LAB offers a remote fitting process that\u2019s going to be more than enough for most golfers.<\/p>\n

Who Should Buy the OZ.1i HS?<\/p>\n

I think this is going to be the LAB putter for a lot of people.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been curious about lie angle balance but couldn\u2019t get past the center-shafted look, this is the one to try. It sets up more traditionally while still delivering the performance benefits that have made LAB the hottest putter brand on the planet.<\/p>\n

Is it the best putter on the market? I can\u2019t say that. Putters are too personal<\/a> to make any blanket statements.<\/p>\n

But is it the best LAB putter I\u2019ve tested after a full year of gaming them? Yeah. For me, it is.<\/p>\n

So, take that for what it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n

Final LAB OZ.1i HS Thoughts<\/p>\n

With the OZ.1i HS<\/a>, I finally feel like I\u2019ve found the LAB that works best for my game. The heel shaft gives me confidence. The softer feel helps my distance control. And the performance has been consistently strong across 10 rounds.<\/p>\n

Is it perfect? No. I\u2019d still prefer an even softer face insert. And, for me, the PXG Bat Attack ZT is still edging it out in my personal strokes-gained numbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But this is the closest LAB has come to being the complete package for me.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering a LAB putter and maybe don\u2019t want to stray too far from conventional, this is the one I\u2019d start with.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tLAB’s First Heel-Shafted Putter\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\"LAB
\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLAB OZ.1i HS Putter\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, LAB releases a heel-shafted design that still incorporates the lie angle balance technology that’s made them the most hyped brand in golf. This is the LAB I’ve been waiting for, and it’s the one that’s worked best for me.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tBuy from LAB Golf\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tBuy from Golf Galaxy\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\tLAB\u2019s first heel-shafted design is the one I\u2019ve been waiting for.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t9.2<\/p>\n

\t\t\tFantastic\n\t\t<\/p>\n

If you’ve been intrigued by LAB but turned off by the unconventional looks and center-shafted designs, this new heel-shafted OZ.1i HS might be your best fit. It was for me.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThe Good <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tBest lag putting performance of any LAB I’ve tested <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tHeel-shafted design looks and feels more conventional than other LAB models <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStill delivers excellent performance on short to mid-range putts <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tSofter feel than DF3 or Mezz.1 <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThe Bad <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStainless-steel face insert still firmer than I’d prefer <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tExpensive, especially with customization <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLong wait times for custom builds <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tPresentation
\n\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tPerformance
\n\t\t\t\t10\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tFeatures and Quality
\n\t\t\t\t10\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tPrice
\n\t\t\t\t8\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tPersonal Affinity
\n\t\t\t\t9\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I\u2019ve been using LAB putters for more than a year now. And while I\u2019ve loved certain aspects of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":333411,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[64,63,755,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-333410","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-golf","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/333411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=333410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=333410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}