Introduction

This review initially started as a Mezz Max review, but as I wrote it, I became increasingly curious about trying a L.A.B broomstick. As a result, it ended up differently from what I originally intended. I ordered a Broomstick, and here we are, a review of the broomstick. I received my Mezz Max (standard/non-broomstick) in August 2023. The Mezz Max Broomstick arrived in January 2024 for some context.

My putting background

Some background on my putting: I’d put my putting in the “okay, but not good enough” territory. Not excellent, not terrible. I don’t 3-putt a lot, but I don’t one-putt as much as I should for my handicap. I also have the occasional bad rounds where my putting is entirely off, but those aren’t regular occurrences. I am good at short stuff inside 4 feet but miss a lot in the 6+ foot range. I have had days where I’ve played to my handicap and missed 6-7 putts from 6-10 feet, hence my frustration. I’ve also had days where I have missed 3-footers because I’m too tentative, and I’ve lost my confidence.

I wasn’t expecting miracles with L.A.B, but I expected to make those longer putts at least sometimes, and before getting my L.A.B, “sometimes” wasn’t very often. Over the last 18 months, since I got back into golf, I’ve been battling to find a putter that works for me — I started with an Evnroll ER2N; it was nice but didn’t feel natural. I tried a mallet (Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11.5), which felt more comfortable than the ER2N, but I still felt like I was battling to keep my swing stable.

I received my L.A.B Mezz Max (non-broomstick) in August 2023. I decided to try the L.A.B putter after a fellow golfer mentioned it. I did some research, like what I saw. I’ll cover the non-broomstick in the next section before I move on to the broomstick.

My quick thoughts on the Mezz Max (standard/non-broomstick)

Given I spent six months on the Mezz Max standard, I thought I would add a quick mini-review before digging into the broomstick review. The simple answer is if I weren’t going the broomstick path, this would be my putter. If broomsticks were banned, the Mezz Max non-broomstick would be my next choice.

“If broomsticks were banned, the Mezz Max non-broomstick would be my next choice.

The Mezz Max helped me realise that many of my long putts missed weren’t misreads; they were mis-putts. An obvious push or pull is an easy miss to identify.

The problem with putting is that 1-2 degrees is enough to miss a putt or add enough side roll to allow for a miss. It’s also small enough for you to pass off as a misread, so it’s only really when you see it’s not a misread that you start to understand how much of a difference the putter makes.

Why a broomstick?

The Mezz Max was a significant improvement on my Scotty. I’ve had some fantastic days draining long putts with the Mezz Max, and I came second in our club champs. I also had the most birdies in a single round, 2 of which were long putts. That being the case, why the broomstick?

But, as much as the Mezz Max made a huge difference, there were a few reasons I looked at it:

My success with my L.A.B Mezz Max non-broomstick helped me realise I had nothing to lose by thinking outside the box.

1. My success with the L.A.B made me realise I had nothing to lose by thinking outside the box. The Mezz was a good stepping stone to the broomstick because it helped me understand that a putter is not just about feeling. Balance plays a considerable part in it. It made me step out of my comfort zone and see what unconventional putters can do.
2. My putting stroke still felt quite deliberate and contrived. This is part of why I had such exceptional and mediocre days. The L.A.B helped my alignment, but it could do a limited amount on my ability to gain adaptable distance control on fast and slow days. I may be good on one speed of green and not the other.
3. I wasn’t getting the end-over-end roll that I saw with Broomstick putters. This showed me that my putting stroke still had a lot of work to do. When your stroke isn’t natural, and you add a line to the ball, you’re likelier to get a slight wobble.
4. If it didn’t work, I could return to my existing L.A.B and at least know that I was headed down the right path. Without trying, I didn’t know whether I had anything to gain.

Design and Construction

Starting with aesthetics, my original L.A.B Mezz Max was a head-turner due to the sharp angles of the design. It was a love-it-or-hate-it design. I like it, but I wouldn’t say I like the DF. Modern, space age, sharp angles like a Tesla Cybertruck. The broomstick version is a head-turner for a different reason: it’s a broomstick putter, and they’re not that common or mainstream on the golf courses I play at. I live in a small town with many retired golfers where I don’t think I’ve ever seen a broomstick or armlock.

Our local importer carries some standard broomstick configuration models in stock. I picked up a broomstick that was already in stock and ready to go. Specs were 46” with 79.5 degree lie. It came with an Accra white shaft, a black Winn split grip and a black head cover. The aesthetics of this spec are not my first choice. The length and lie angle are spot on, but the black Winn grip combo with the white shaft hasn’t grown on me. The white grip/white shaft works, and the white grip black shaft works, but the white shaft/black grip doesn’t look great.

I ordered a spare white grip and left it off the putter for two weeks to see if the black grips would grow on me. They didn’t, so I’ve replaced it with a white. The white L.A.B grip looked much better. I appreciate this was a short-term issue with stock due to the high demand.

In comparing the white and black grips from a usability and quality perspective: the ridge on the back of the white grip isn’t something I liked. The original Winn grip has a slightly better design with worse aesthetics. As a result, if L.A.B can remove the ridge, I think they’d have a better design.

The construction on the Mezz Max is excellent, which I would expect for the price. L.A.Bs aren’t cheap. It’s not glamorous like some of the Scotty’s with painted inlays and bling, but it’s functional and practical. I think the Scotty approach is a little more art and collector-orientated, where this is designed with a purpose. It reminds me of a B2 Stealth Bomber. That said, I still think the Mezz Max looks a lot better than the D.F. range.

I didn’t opt for the T.P.T. or L.A. Golf shaft upgrade. At the time, I wasn’t sure if I could justify the $400 price upgrade on a TPT shaft. The construction quality of the Accra is really high. The matt finish is durable and I haven’t had any marks appearing on the white shaft in 4 weeks which is surprising with general golf bag usage.

The coating on the Mezz Max head itself is also durable. After 6 months of use on my non-broomstick, I’ve seen almost no marks or scratches, and I would expect the broomstick to be the same. I am not someone who is very careful with my gear so it’s good to know it can take knocks without issue..

There are two minor gripes I have with the quality of the putter. The first of these relates to the cover. For the price of the putter, I feel like it should be a better-quality cover. My six-month-old black Mezz Max cover looks frayed on the outside. I don’t think that should happen. I bought a $20 Magnetic Alixpress cover for my Scotty Phantom X, which looks far better after a similar time frame.

It feels a little substandard on the L.A.B Putters and could be fixed at a relatively low cost. Looking back, I think my Evnroll had the best headcover, followed by the Scotty (velcro), and then the L.A.B feels relatively low quality compared to the others. I’ve ordered a white version, which seems to have a better construction. I would recommend going for the white or brown if you have an option at purchase, but if you are buying a stock spec, you get black whether you like it or not.

The second issue is the screws on the bottom rusting. My 6-month-old Mezz Max standard is already seeing rusted screws, which I don’t think should happen on a putter of this price. It’s just cosmetic, but I still don’t think it shouldn’t happen. As someone who plays in some less-than-ideal weather, it’s an annoyance. I understand it’s something to do with the heating of the screws, so I’m not sure if there is a way around this. Perhaps a light clear coat at the factory would avoid this.

The screws shouldn’t be rusting on a $470 putter, let alone a more expensive one

First Impressions

The first thing that caught me off guard was the weight. It’s a lot heavier than I expected. I don’t mean it negatively. It’s just an observation and a surprise, not that it feels too heavy. You have some perceptions about what a broomstick will feel like, and I was expecting something much lighter.

The broomsticks have a different feel, so it didn’t feel natural from day one. The putting stroke wasn’t terrible and not as foreign as I expected. It’s like learning to putt again, but the progression is quicker because you already know how to read the lines.

Off the face, the putter has a soft feel as if you’re putting with a softer ball. This is no different to the Mezz Max and reminds me a little of the softer feel you get with an EVRoll putter over a Scotty Cameron. The distance was easy to get used to although I was already using a Mezz Max non-broomstick so that would influence it.

As mentioned in the construction area, I opted for the stock configuration. In hindsight, after a month of use, I would recommend considering the TPT, if you can afford the extra cost. With the stock Accra, you can feel a tiny bit of flex. If the TPT offers increased stiffness, it’ll help reduce this. I’ll be clear and say the flex is only noticeable when you’re holding it in a non-putting position, I haven’t noticed it while putting.

I’m not sure if this is only noticeable on the longer shafts as mine is a 46. I haven’t tried the TPT, so I can’t comment emphatically on whether the TPT is noticeably better or whether this is simply what longer putters feel like. I’d still rather get the L.A.B in Accra than not have a broomstick, so it isn’t a make or break issue.

There was talk that a grip would feel natural immediately. Two felt naturalish, and I bounced between those two grips before settling on the cigar grip. The elbow towards the target thing worked best for me.

The biggest challenge with broomsticks is that it isn’t an exact science. There are videos like the one from L.A.B below, but they all cover the basics of broomstick putting. There is information like “put your top hand here” and use a couple of different grips, but Sam’s video doesn’t cover the nuances of grip strength or other more advanced elements.

There aren’t a lot of advanced putting tutorials on broomstick putters

It’s not a criticism of the video itself. It’s designed to be an introductory video on using a broomstick. Still, it highlights a problem: There aren’t a lot of resources for advanced Broomstick-putting techniques to fall back on for small things. No, I’m not offering my services. I’m the last person you want to get advice from.

In terms of the learning curve, I wouldn’t say a broomstick is more straightforward to putt with, but what I have found is that it’s easier to be accurate with, and it’s easier to get your distance right. It will still take a fair amount of work to reach a point where you are doing well. You can putt at a mediocre level quickly, so if your putting is terrible, you could match or exceed that early. Getting consistent roll on all putting lengths will take work.

Where the Mezz Max standard/non-broomstick was easier to get immediate results because it’s fixing alignment and you already know how to swing a putter the way you did before, the broomstick needed more practice. I had the added complexity that our course tends to let the greens go a little longer to protect them during December/January holiday traffic. Playing slow greens with long putts can be challenging for accuracy with a broomstick if you’re starting. The short answer is to let the putter’s weight do the work and focus solely on keeping the putter aligned in the forward swing. Don’t try to accelerate the putter on the downswing. You will get more speed out of the putter with a long controlled pendulum putt and a centre hit than forcing it and having an off-centre hit.

Once you get to grips and feel more comfortable, it’s much more consistent in distance than a conventional putter. If I know the line, I can get five putts within a foot of the hole on a 30-foot putt. I could not get that consistency on lag-putting previously.

The second thing I’ve noticed is the consistency of the ball roll. When you look at the ball roll end-over-end in this Lucas Glover video at 3:31, I didn’t get that with a conventional putter. I sometimes had it with a conventional putter, whereas I almost always get it with my broomstick.

What does it mean in real terms? My first outing with the putter was a Saturday club comp. It arrived midday on the Friday, so I had an hour or two and then decided to give it a go. 32 putts on the day, not a bad outing for a first day.

My second outing was a little better, 30 putts for the day. It was more in line with what I was expecting. The third outing got even better with a 28-putt day.

The negatives of broomsticks

There are two negatives with the L.A.B broomstick:

• Firstly, there is still the issue of social stigma. There is still some negativity to broomstick putters. When you show up with a broomstick, people seem to think you’re a clueless pro wannabe or a useless putter. Most of these elements disappear when (or if) you putt well, and the stigma turns to genuine curiosity. I’ve had some people who look at you with complete disdain. Most naysayers have conservative views of golf as a traditional game yet seem open to gaming newer driver head designs that give them a 30-yard advantage. Ironic? As we see more P.G.A. wins with broomsticks, we should start to see greater acceptance levels.
• Secondly, good luck getting a grip changed. With broomsticks not being commonplace, five places I went to were too scared to swap my black to white grips because they were worried about damaging the grip or the shaft. They had never done a broomstick before. Some offered to ship it off to other stores with a week’s turnaround before I found someone capable of doing it.

Longer term view

It’s been a month since my broomstick arrived, so what’s a longer-term view relative to my Lab Mezz and Scotty? I’m a broomstick convert. I’m keeping the Mezz Max standard/non-broomstick and selling my Scotty. I’m not expecting the L.A.B non-broomstick to get much work, but I’ll keep it as a backup in case there is a change of rules.

I’m a broomstick convert

With a bit of work, my lag putting is now as good as it’s ever been. I’d say my putting has gone from a weakness to one of the strengths in my game. I still have the occasional off day, but that’s typically more about misreading greens.

My putting straightness had previously improved with the arrival of the L.A.B non-broomstick. But distance control was a challenge, and I would bounce between 28 and 35 putts depending on the green speed. The broomstick has filled the gap in my distance control. I can easily shift between varying green speeds and maintain my distance control, provided the practice greens are similar to the course. As someone who plays regularly on a public course, we occasionally find our greenkeepers mowing the practice greens and playing greens on different days, making practice before comps a nightmare. We’ve even had them mowing greens midway through a comp, believe it or not.

One of the things the broomstick exposes is a realistic understanding of how bad you are at reading greens. I don’t think I understood how bad I was at reading greens until I started putting well enough to know I was hitting the ball exactly where I wanted.

After all of that, where am I now?

1. Saturday comp 13 Jan – First outing 32 putts
2. Saturday comp 20 Jan – Second outing 30 putts
3. Saturday comp 27 Jan – Third outing 28 putts
4. Saturday comp 03 Feb (monthly medal) – 28 putts

I’ll note that for monthly medals at our course, it’s obviously back tees with the pins are tucked away in pretty difficult spots. The greens are cut much shorter than normal, so 28 putts on the day is really good. We had some greens where the balls rolled backwards if you didn’t reach the hole. I also won the monthly medal with a net 68 in tough conditions.

The bad days are still going to happen…

So, I’ve just been telling you how amazing the L.A.B is, and now I’m saying that’s not the case. How does that work?

You probably saw Byeong Hun An miss a 6-foot putt in the playoffs. That’s the kind of thing we’re talking about. He wouldn’t have reached the playoffs if he wasn’t putting well. Rory McIlroy 3-putted from 2 feet, so it’s not a L.A.B problem. It’s a good and bad day problem. If the bad days are your every day, then that’s a problem, but you could occasionally find off days.

The key is to look at average putts over multiple rounds, not expecting the putter to miraculously solve the days where you sunk 16 beers the night before, and your breath smells like jet fuel, or just slept badly. My average putts are now down to around 30 putts or less a round.

Well, the problem with putting is that there are three elements to consider:

• The Putter
• Technique
• Green reading

The broomstick may help make #2 easier to get the technique consistent, but you still have to have the right technique and read the putt.

When I miss a putt on my broomstick, it’s usually because I’m trying to force the right hand. My stroke becomes inconsistent. Given it’s only been a month, I know that will become more natural in time. My backswing doesn’t feel quite as smooth as I would like, but that will improve.

You are also going to have bad green reading days. I’ve had days (non-comp) where I am misreading the amount of break or the speed, and the putter isn’t going to help you there. Green reading depends on moisture, grass length, grain direction, etc. Let’s be honest: most of us aren’t good enough to get it right most of the time, let alone all the time.

I’ve enrolled in an Aimpoint class in the coming month, so that should help me with my green reading, assuming they can teach me.

Some lessons I’ve learned on my short journey with a broomstick

1. Let the putter do the work – don’t force the swing with a broomstick putter. Focus on keeping the pendulum on the correct line and let the backswing and weight of the putter do the work. If you force it and try hit the ball, you’ll have off-centre strikes and shorter distances.
2. You have to invest the time to relearn how to putt to get your putting consistent. Broomsticks won’t solve a lack of putting practice.
3. Practice with alignment balls if you can – Getting your roll right gives you an immediate cue on how well you are striking your putts and how straight the pendulum is. Wobbles on your putting stroke mean you have work to do. I used Srixon Z Star divide as a putting ball while practising as I found they are one of the best balls to see the roll with a Pro V1 ball feel. Try the Qstar divide if you want something harder to compare to a Pro V1X.
4. Practice mats are great for getting used to your stroke, but nothing will beat being on greens where the speed isn’t consistent.
5. You will have to work it out on your own until there are some advanced broomstick resources on the web. We need Adam Scott to do an intermediate and advanced series with L.A.B to get some learnings from a Broomstick veteran.

Conclusion

As you’ve already gathered, I’m really impressed with my L.A.B broomstick. I was already a believer in what L.A.B were trying to achieve after I got my Mezz Max standard putter, but the broomstick has been a real eye-opener for me. I’m glad to see the success they are starting to achieve in professional golf because it’s an organisation that I think deserves the credit they are getting.

L.A.B putters aren’t going to suit everyone. Broomstick putters are niche and may be intimidating for those who haven’t considered them. The L.A.B aesthetics may not be everyone’s choice. I like them, but I also heard someone once say they are the ugly baby only a mother could love. That said, you’d be crazy not to try them, even if it’s only the Link.1. The benefits could be substantial. and what looks better to you? A good-looking putter or a good-looking scorecard?

My wife may disagree with my sentiments for financial reasons, but I consider my L.A.B purchases a worthwhile golf investment. I don’t feel nervous when I stand over longer putts in comp, and I have greater confidence in my ability to drop putts in the 8-10 foot range. Now I expect them to drop, even if they don’t.

The next thing on my radar will be test with the TPT shaft. That’s probably the only change I would consider right now. On a side note, I would love to see a collapsible broomstick for travel because I feel like I couldn’t use a rental short putter anymore if I travel for business and rent clubs. That’s starting to get into first-world problems.

I used to think broomsticks were only for people who had the yips

I used to think broomsticks were only for people who had the yips, but I’ve realised it’s just another tool, and different tools suit different people. Much like the difference between an iron, a hybrid, and a wood, they’re all just different ways of getting to the same hole, and some golfers are different than others. Some PGA players can’t use hybrids because they hook them. I put this in the same territory.

My only question is what will happen when I arrive at the Team Titleist Golf Day with my broomstick. Will I be shunned and treated like an outcast? Will the other players even talk to me? I’ve already converted a friend to a broomstick, so at least I won’t be alone.