Equipment

New heel-shafted L.A.B. OZ.1i HS putter: Lie Angle Balance with a more traditional look

Published

9 months ago

Aug 26, 2025

L.A.B. Golf has always celebrated the fact that its putters don’t look traditional. The company’s designs are built around function first. Recently, Sam Hahn and his team at L.A.B. had a launch event for media out at their unconventional headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, to show off the new OZ.1i HS putter, where we got all the details on the new design.

We have seen more and more L.A.B. putters on the professional tours, where the company has gathered more feedback on its putters. The new OZ.1i HS comes from the feedback that some players just don’t like looking at a center-shafted putter, but they really love the Lie Angle Balance technology.

Previously, the company had nothing to offer such players. Now, with the addition of the OZ.1i HS putter, they do.

It isn’t hard to see what is new in the OZ.1i HS putter. The new aluminum riser (hosel) is custom-designed to ensure that L.A.B.’s Lie Angle Balance tech works just like every other putter in their lineup. This wasn’t a simple process of just tossing a hosel onto an OZ.1i putter head; it had to be thoughtfully engineered to work in harmony, as just the slightest changes in weight and shaft orientation can throw off the balance.

Brian Parks and his team of engineers came up with a very lightweight design that was strong enough, but ran into an issue with custom fitting length and lie of the putter. The solution was to create 10 riser lengths that would work with the different lie angles to make sure that the shaft didn’t interfere with the balancing.

“Designing a heel-shafted putter that stays balanced to the lie angle presented us with a unique challenge,” said Brian Parks, vice president of engineering. “The result is our custom, proprietary aluminum riser, a key feature of the OZ.1i HS that lets us offer multiple lie angles without compromising the signature feel and balance golfers expect from every L.A.B. putter.”

There is a standard hosel height for standard lie putters, and if you require a more upright lie, then the riser gets longer to accommodate that. I needed a slightly flatter lie angle on my putter, and it required a shorter riser. The risers also offer the golfer the choice of forward shaft lean or a vertical position that can help with hand position or the look.

These riser changes allow the shaft to virtually enter the head at the same angle to keep the face pointed towards the target. I got to play with the new putter and can say from address, it is a very good blend of L.A.B. and a heel-shafted mallet. You are able to see a little more of the head and the alignment, and I definitely felt more comfortable lining up the OZ.1i HS compared to the DF3 or OZ.1i putters that I have in my collection.

I was under the impression that the face on the OZ.1i HS was designed to offer that slightly more crisp feel and sound that the original OZ.1i has been known for. Brian told me that not only does it do that, but it also helps with adding weight to the head. He also told me that they spent a ton of R&D hours on getting that face to perform and fit correctly in the putter head. Sam hinted at the possibility of additional face options with different materials, millings, and finishes to allow golfers to really dial in their putter to their liking.

Like the current line of L.A.B. putters, you will be able to customize the new OZ.1i HS with a mind-blowing number of alignment options, head color choices, grips, and shafts. L.A.B. takes a little different approach to shaft fitting as they have found different shafts can really change the feel and sound of the putter. I was able to hit a steel shaft, Accra graphite, both new Mitsubishi Diamana shafts, and the TPT shaft side-by-side on L.A.B.’s huge indoor putting green.

Each shaft offered a slightly different feel, with the TPT offering the firmest feel and more audible sound. L.A.B. requires the shafts they use to be perfectly straight in order to get the best performance out of the lie angle balance, weighting, and, to my surprise, a lot of shafts are not even close to perfect. L.A.B. works directly with all of the shaft companies to ensure that the shafts they use fit their extremely tight tolerances.

The new L.A.B. OZ.1i HS putter is available now, starting at $499 for stock putters and $599 for custom putters.

Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.

The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod

An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability

The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.

Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:

“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.

My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”

Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”

Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules