Today, L.A.B Golf adds two new LINK models to their blade putter line-up.
I’ll start the discussion about these new releases with this quote from L.A.B. Golf founder Sam Hahn.
“Putters are SUCH a personal thing. Everyone prioritizes different aspects of a putter design differently. While our technology was in its adolescence, our designs were constrained by certain realities around size and shaft location, but our R&D team has been adamant that we need to have something in our lineup for everyone.”
The subtext of that quote made me chuckle a bit. Since we are talking about L.A.B. putters, “constrained by certain realities” loosely translates to “the putters had to look like that for the technology to work.”
Looks of the original Directed Force putters separated golfers into one of two camps. You either accepted the atypical profiles because of the outstanding performance or you avoided directly looking at the putters for fear of turning to stone.
I was not a L.A.B. early adopter but I gradually made my way from the latter group to the former. For me, and many others, what we saw the ball do on the green ended up being far more important than the looks of the putter.
Gateway L.A.B. Golf putters
Although L.A.B. Golf’s popularity and acceptance with the golfing public have skyrocketed, they still face an ongoing optics obstacle when it comes to attracting new customers.
Ultimately, L.A.B. Golf needed putters that the uninitiated wouldn’t be afraid of trying. Back in 2023, the original LINK.1 blade was a great ambassador putter for L.A.B. Golf newbies.
Though loaded with weights and sporting a novel hosel design, the LINK.1 looked like a more traditional blade putter. The LINK.1 was closer to normal, but not quite.
At the time, I believe I referred to the LINK.1 as a “three-headed goat.” It looks like a goat but there’s something peculiar about it.
Which brings us to today’s release. Without a doubt, the new L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 are the most traditional-looking L.A.B. Golf putters to date.
Although some L.A.B. loyalists will view these new putters as being too traditional, I believe L.A.B. Golf has hit the sweet spot between novel and normal.
It starts with the hosel
The new L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 putters feature the heel-shafted hosel we first saw last summer with the OZ.1 HS. This allowed L.A.B. Golf to eliminate the constrained reality of requiring a center-shafted build for the Lie Angle Balance technology to work.
Remember, Lie Angle Balanced putters are not zero torque. They are built to control the face rotation at the specific lie angle required by the player. Eliminating rotation and controlling rotation are not the same thing. Again, Lie Angle Balancing is about controlling the torque, not killing it off.
The new heel-shafted hosel represented a big advance for L.A.B. Golf. Not only did it change the overall looks of the putter but it possibly simplified their manufacturing process as well.
Prior to the implementation of the heel-shafted hosel, lie angle was established by drilling the shaft insertion hole into the head.
If you needed a 72-degree lie angle, that’s the hole angle L.A.B. drilled. This necessitated that each head be manufactured separately.
It also essentially kills off the secondary market by eliminating after-production adjustments. Because the lie angle is drilled in, you can’t buy a used 69-degree DF3 and get it bent to your usual 72 degrees like you could with a traditional plumber’s neck putter.
With the new hosel, lie angle is achieved by varying the length of the hosel, with flat lies requiring short hosels and upright lies needing longer ones. The neck changes but the head stays the same.
With the heel-shafted hosel, if you need a different lie angle, you can send the putter in and get a different angled hosel. Yes, you will need to send it in to L.A.B. because the lie angle change will likely require the head to be re-balanced.
This new hosel has changed L.A.B. Golf’s production story. Now they can produce single heads and bolt in the correct neck as needed. No drilling needed.
This should dramatically improve delivery times for these putters, potentially freeing up some build time for the traditional styles as well.
Clicking the new LINKs
While L.A.B. Golf’s eclectic elements are still present, the new L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 are mostly mundane in appearance and construction.
This is a good thing.
Both look like traditional heel- and toe-weighted blade designs. Although you will still find the necessary balancing weights on the sole, they are absent from the top of the putter.
Remember, the LINK.1 needed weights on the top to achieve the correct balance.
If you compare the three models at address, the new LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 putters are more traditional in size, shape and looks than the LINK.1
As with the LINK.1, the LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 are milled from 303 stainless steel. Unlike the LINK.1, both feature deep-milled faces. While this change is primarily to influence feel, it also makes the new LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 putters look like more traditional putters.
The hosel is the same as the OZ.1 HS from last summer but there is a slight difference. The hosels on the LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 putters have the lie angle printed on them. One benefit of the label is that it helps remind the consumer of the importance of correct lie angles for L.A.B. Golf putters.
The new label also helps the folks building the putters know exactly which hosel they are installing. Without the printed number, they would probably need a ruler to know which lie angle is which.
Of course, there are some differences between the LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 as well. Let’s take a deeper look at each model.
L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1
The L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 is the model that is most similar to the LINK.1. It is also the closest to a traditional Anser-style blade. Based on the length and squared-off profile, I’d say that it is more Anser 2 than Anser.
Regardless, outside of the hosel location, it looks and feels much more like a “normal” putter than the LINK.1. It’s a bit hard to describe the difference between the L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and the LINK.1 but they feel different when you roll balls.
The LINK.1 is longer heel-to-toe and it feels longer heel-to-toe. It feels like it takes up more space during the stroke.
The LINK2.1 feels more like a normal blade putter. While alternating back and forth between the two, the LINK.1 reminded me of running a squeegee across wet glass. As I said, it feels wider, almost scythe-like swinging across the grass. In comparison, the LINK2.1 feels like a putter.
That’s an observation, not a criticism. They are different heads and they will feel and likely perform differently for different players. I just call them how I feel them.
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L.A.B. Golf LINK2.2
The L.A.B. Golf LINK2.2 is a squishy square of delight. It’s not actually squishy but it does make me want to grab its chubby little cheeks while making funny noises. This putter is so perfectly plump.
It looks more balanced to me than the LINK2.1, likely due to the reduced heel space behind the hosel.
The L.A.B. Golf LINK2.2 is shorter heel-to-toe than the LINK2.1 and significantly shorter than the LINK.1. The mass removed from the length was redistributed to the width, increasing the face-to-tail dimension.
At address, this creates a myriad of alignment assistants. Not only is there a sight line but the edges of the putter and the cavity provide four additional parallel-to-target lines as well.
Paired with the square top line, you should have no problem pointing the LINK2.2 at your target.
The impact feel is a little “thicker” with the LINK2.2 than it is with the LINK2.1. I believe this is primarily a perceived sound difference rather than a tactile one. The LINK.2.2 produces a more muted tone when striking the ball. The feedback is still there but the tonal frequency is a couple of hertz lower.
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Are the LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 the most important L.A.B. Golf models to date?
For a long time, I would have said the DF3 was L.A.B. Golf’s most significant release. That putter took the Lie Angle Balance technology of the Directed Force putter and packaged it in more palatable proportions.
These new LINK putters may prove more influential than the DF3.
The L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 will bring new customers to the brand. Most people have heard of L.A.B. Golf at this point but the looks of the other models are off-putting.
From the deep-milled faces to the deep-black PVD finish, the L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 look like normal putters. That’s a big deal.
They will be the entry point for new golfers, perhaps even opening the door for some to eventually explore the more esoteric L.A.B. Golf designs.
The L.A.B. Golf LINK2.1 and the LINK2.2 putters look familiar and thus safe to try.
Don’t forget, though, that these are still L.A.B. Golf putters. The Lie Angle Balance is still there. Putts will be made with these putters.
Comprehensive fitting and customization options are still key elements when it comes to buying one. As with all of the other L.A.B. Golf models, the LINK2.1 and LINK2.2 will be available in stock and custom configurations.
I am very impressed with these two new models, especially the LINK2.2. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for my full report on building a custom version of that squatty little delight.
Yes, it will be purple.
For more information about the new LINK.2.1 and LINK2.2 putters visit labgolf.com.
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