Line & speed
If you get these right, most putts will drop, or at least end up around the hole. The vagaries of grain and wind will affect some rolls, too. But line and speed do the vast majority of the work.
I don’t know of any putters that help you judge speed, yet. But ever since the first dot got drilled on the top of a Bullseye blade, putter manufacturers have been trying to help players line up.
Today, every putter has some visual alignment aid. With their new VZN.1i, L.A.B. Putters have developed a combination of head shape and alignment assistance that provide golfers with an almost foolproof point-and-shoot flatstick.
Playing the L.A.B. VZN.1i
I’m going to be honest here: I switch between putters like Timothy Chalamet switches between supermodels. But the L.A.B. DF3.i had been my arm-candy for most of the season, and I was getting pretty serious about it. Then the VZN.1i arrived on my doorstep. I unboxed it, and the six-sided putterhead adorned with multiple alignment lines and a ball-width square hole behind the putter face got me questioning my loyalties.
The tricky thing about lining up most L.A.B. putters is the center-shafted design. Players who are used to plumber’s necks, single- or double-bend shafts, or heel-shafted designs can feel like they’re lining up to the left of their target. (Though the OZ.1i HS, the company’s first heel-shafted model, seeks to address that visual perception.) The VZN.1i ($499, stock model) trapezoidal head shape and the aforementioned alignment aids counteract the illusory left-bias.
Long story short, the VZN.1i went straight into my bag, and I played several rounds on multiple courses with it. Alignment was brilliant – as advertised and as promised. What lacked for me was speed. The stock version of the VZN is somewhat lighter than the DF3, to which I’d grown accustomed. Consequently, I ended up with lots of putts on line, but just short, especially on my home course, where the greens are somewhat slow.
Fortunately, L.A.B. offers detailed online custom fitting, including heavier weight plugs, that allows you to dial in precise specs. If I did not already have a sexy little number, er, putter, in my bag, I would avail myself of the customization options.
L.A.B. VZN.1i: The verdict
As it is, I keep the VZN.1i in my rotation for faster greens. I would highly recommend it for any player who wants L.A.B.’s trademarked lie-angle balancing – which guarantees zero torque, even on off-center strikes – and a more traditional head shape.
Like every L.A.B. model, the VZN.1i almost feels like cheating. If you can dial in the speed, the line is practically automatic. Your pre-shot routine then becomes really simple: Ready, aim, roll.
