Let’s face it. Some of us buy machines we shouldn’t. We had a bad ride on the greens and immediately started checking the Facebook Marketplace for new players.
By the way, have you ever thought that the warehouse for sale on Marketplace is there because someone else hammered 42 nails into it?
Regardless, self-assembly for shooters is a common occurrence. We randomly put anything that looks interesting in the store, never considering it an official fit. Chances are, the putter that can’t miss in the shop doesn’t really suit your shot and will cost you strokes on the course.
This is especially true if you are shopping for one LAB pretty golf.
Simply put: if you want LAB Golf’s Lie Angle Balance technology to work for you, the putter’s lie angle must match your stature and stroke.
Fortunately, it is not difficult to find out the specifications of your LAB Golf device. You can easily find a local fitter or even do the fitment remotely.
I will walk you through the basics of the assembly process and give you a look at my site custom LAB Golf LINK.2.2 putter.
First, though, let’s consider why having the correct lie angle is so important.
Lie angle balance is more about how the shooter sits
Determining the correct angle of a putter’s lie during a putt is nothing new. Case in point: PING’s colored point system. For decades, PING has bent putters straight or flat so a golfer will flatten the putter with the ground at address.
If the putter is too straight or too flat, the probability of hitting the target is dramatically reduced. It’s the same thing that happens if a 7-iron has a lie angle that doesn’t match the player. The ball behaves unexpectedly.
With irons, golfers know the importance of lie angles. With golfers, players may not realize it’s an equipment issue and compensate for constant misses by aiming off target.
I’m not saying that an “always aim for the remaining two inches” placement strategy can’t be effective. Go with what works for you.
However, logic dictates that you will make more shots if you hit the ball where you aim.
Lie angle balancing is static and dynamic
Of course, accurate toe-to-sole placement is part of the line angle story for LAB Golf as well. Outside of Will Zalatoris, golfers want their putters to sit nice and flat on the putting surface.
with LAB pretty golfthe critical need for an accurate lie angle becomes apparent when the shooter begins to move.
Many golfers mistakenly equate Lie Angle Balance technology with zero torque technology. LAB golf groups have torque. In fact, they have very refined torque profiles that go along with the lie angle of the tire.
Lie angle balancing involves balancing a putter at a specific lie angle so the putter will square the ball at address. For each lie angle, the weight profile needed to achieve this goal changes.
This is why having a putter that matches the required lie angle is so important. Simply put, if you need a 72 degree lie and your putter is built at 68, the putter face will not turn correctly on the ball.
At this point, you can try and adjust your shot to match the shooter’s specifications. Maybe this strategy will work. But you are going against your natural biomechanics.
You might be able to diet and exercise enough to squeeze those size 36 pants in the back into those size 32 pants you bought on Poshmark, but wouldn’t it make more sense to buy a 36 in the first place?
Why not just have a barrel that fits you?
Getting a Golf LAB gauge is easy and free
I’ve talked about the effectiveness of LAB Golf’s free online tool in the past. It is accurate and effective. A few weeks before submitting my initial fitting video to LAB Golf, I had an extensive ball fitting session at a major manufacturer.
The build recommendations I got from LAB Golf’s video analysis matched what the expert fitter had determined in person. I quickly went from being a skeptic to a believer in the LAB process.
Thankfully, the number of local shops with knowledgeable LAB Golf fitters is expanding every day. If you’re ever in Oregon, tune in LAB Golf headquarters. I visited last summer and the facility is amazing.
Otherwise, use the best locator tool to find a qualified fitter near you.
(People in Northern California should contact Peter Brown Setting for a great convenient one-on-one session. Haggin Oaks there are also good LAB assemblers in Sacramento.)
Additional mounting options and my new LINK.2.2
Getting the lie angle right is just one of the boxes to check when ordering your LAB shooter. As you click through the listing pages, you’ll select the model, length, shaft, grip and alignment scheme.
For many models, you can also choose the color of your machines. For some reason, CONNECTION. 2.2 not available in purple. I’m sure the reason is legit, but the lack of purple is still unacceptable.
(Finish purple noise.)
Choosing the right axis
If this is your first time ordering a LAB custom golf gauge, you’ll spend time wondering about shaft upgrades and alignment scheme options.
For axle selection, read on Choosing the right putter shaft page under the LAB 101 menu. The TPT axis is the most expensive option, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for you.
That said, I went with the TPT axle for mine CONNECTION. 2.2 build. I tend to go back and forth between the TPT and the Diamana Matte Black shaft.
For him CONNECTION. 2.2i wanted the axle to be as stable as possible. My thinking was that the maximized shaft stability offsets the lower MIA from playing a blade instead of a larger wood mallet.
Multiple alignment options
If you’re like me, you’ll go through multiple alignment schemes before settling on your final lines and dots formula.
For him LINK.2.2 shooterthere are 15 front options and eight rear options. For those of you into math, that makes 120 different alignment options. The many options are overwhelming. I am overwhelmed just writing about them.
This can be the most stressful decision in the construction process. What if you spend all that money on your new LAB device only to find out that the alignment scheme doesn’t suit your eye?
While this is possible, I would say that you should relax and trust yourself. Chances are you’ve already determined what you like to see behind the ball at address. Go with that.
For my LINK.2.2, I went with a marriage of old and new preferences.
For a long time I preferred to dress naked.
Scratch that.
I put in spears without any alignment lines or dots (aka nude). I like to use the ends of the shooting cavity to aim, especially with blades. That’s why for this CONNECTION. 2.2I went with no stretch lines added to the back.
In front, I choose the small, thin line of sight. After aiming with the contours of the body, I make sure this line is centered on the ball. I also use the line as the final focus point before I shoot, similar to what PING promotes with their new Eye Q alignment system.
Basically, LAB Golf gives you enough options to get the layup that feels right to you and will help you hit the target.
Don’t overdo it
Ordering a custom fitted LAB pretty golf it may seem scary, but it’s really easy. Send a short video and someone from LAB Golf will let you know the lie and length specifications you need.
Getting the right specs for your LAB equipment is critical, but not complicated.
If you have questions, call LAB Golf. I have emailed and called them several times and the person on the other end of the phone is always willing to help.
Those of you who follow LAB Golf on social media know that Sam Hahn is very active online. He never hesitates to answer questions and really wants the golfing public to understand what LAB Golf is all about.
The main thing to remember is that the angle of the lie matters. Because of this, be careful if you are looking at used Golf LAB gauges. To be effective, you and your shooter must align your angles.
Thankfully, the new LINK.2 models show the lie angles on the tube, so some of the guesswork is taken away. Also note that poles where the shaft goes directly into the head, like the DF3, cannot be adjusted to a new alignment angle.
Gear up and get the LAB Golf gauge that fits. That’s really all you have to do.
If you are curious about your fit, find a local fitter or contact LAB Golf online at labgolf.com.
