Introduction

If you’re reading this article and the link 2.2 armlock is already available, this article won’t make a whole lot of sense. Just keep in mind it wasn’t when I wrote this.

If you’ve ever wanted to try something really stupid, but don’t want to take the risk, you can live vicariously through me in this moment. If you’ve already done something stupid, you know what I am doing.

LAB has a tendency to add armlocks (and Broomsticks) to their putter ranges a lot later than the initial releases, in some cases not at all. For example some models have never had an arm lock option available like the link. I don’t see this changing any time soon as LAB focus on commercial profitability, which is a fair approach given its a business not a charity, and armlocks are likely a very small percentage of their business.

I’ve wanted a lie angle balanced heel shafted putter for a little while. I love my armlock, but I find I have a tendency to miss with a slight toe-side hit because hitting in line with the shaft isn’t 100% natural for me.

The idea of converting a putter isn’t a simple one, particularly when that putter is a LAB.

• First off, adding length to the putter changes the swing weight.
• Secondly, an armlock putter typically has a greater loft than a normal putter due to the shaft lean caused by the armlock angle.
• Thirdly, putter head weights for armlocks tend to be heavier, than conventional, in part because of point one.
• Finally, LAB are lie angle balanced putters can’t be modified by more than an inch without impacting the lie angle balance.

How do I address these points in theory?

I’ve addressed 1 and 3 by ordering a heavier head on the putter. Theoretically, by adding an extra 3 inches to the putter, the head should feel lighter, so the heavier head should be offset back to a normal weighted head, in theory at least. It may be 5 grams lighter than what LAB may used in an armlock head, but its hard to confirm because I don’t have both OEM heads to confirm.

The loft I am fixing indirectly via the type of grip I used. Rather than use the LAB grip, the grip I am using is the EVNRoll Midlock grip which incorporates the armlock lean into the grip. With a conventional armlock head, this would be an issue, because it forces you to place the ball further forward in the stance which adds loft. In the case of the LAB Link 2.2, it doesn’t have the extra loft. I may still have to tweak the loft, that’s part of the experiment.

Finally, the tough one…the lie angle balance. I’ll be honest here and say I don’t know how much of an issue it’s going to be. LAB say you can extend the shaft by one inch without any issue. I’m not sure how much 3 inches will throw it out so I’ll have to wait and see what happens . It may require some experimentation or it may be close enough that I don’t have to worry.

The process

Step 1 – order the LAB (completed 24 July 2026)

Ordering a club to modify, knowing there is a high likelihood the resale value will be low is a high risk to take. Even with converting it to a counter balanced putter, because it may not be lie angle balance with the counter balanced grip, the value could be greatly reduced. In short, I’d be lucky to get 50% of the retail converting it back to the original spec because there aren’t many 6 foot 5 inch and taller gentlemen around who want a putter with an upright 72 lie angle spec.

You might ask why I went for the Link 2.2 over something like the Oz.1 HS and that answer is simple: The 2.2 has a 38” shaft option, the Oz.1 HS only has a 37. It’s a lot harder to add 4 inches than 3 as there are 3 inch graphite shaft extensions on the market.

I ordered my LAB on Friday the 24th July with a spec that probably had a few of the people at LAB scratching their heads. 38”, 72 degree lie would put me somewhere in the 6 foot 5 to 7 foot range in height (my actual height is 6 foot on the dot), so it won’t align to my previous orders. The shaft is an Accra white, in part due to stock and in part due to availability of the 38 inch.

Having had a previous Armlock from LAB, I knew what my length and lie angle were. My length was 41.5, my lie angle 72 degrees along with a 5 degree loft. What I wouldn’t be able to achieve without physical club modification is the 5 degree loft so we will see how the EVNRoll Midlock performs.

The putter goes into production (5th August)

Putter has gone into production, which is surprising given the normal 4-6 week lead time. I guess the additional investment has helped expedite things. The point of no return has been reached, I guess. I’m going to feel like an idiot if they release an armlock for the 2.2 in the next week now. I’m guessing this should be complete in the next week or two and in my hands within two to three weeks.

The putter ships (13th August)

It has shipped. One step closer. Should have it next week and I can start the modifications. No doubt this spec would have caused some head scratching.