Jordan Spieth Tests L.A.B. Mallet Putter at Travelers Championship, Signaling Major Equipment Shift

Jordan Spieth tested a L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i mallet putter with zero-torque technology at TPC River Highlands during the Travelers Championship pro-am, marking a significant departure from the blade putter design he has relied on throughout his professional career. The move indicates Spieth is actively exploring equipment alternatives to address recent putting performance issues.

The Equipment Change

On Wednesday morning at the Travelers Championship, Spieth arrived with a black L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i in his bag—a development that caught immediate attention given his long history with heel-toe weighted blades. He won three major championships using a Scotty Cameron 009 and has recently been testing a T.P. Mills Trad II. The shift to a mallet design, particularly one engineered around lie-angle balance, represents an unusual direction for a player whose short-game creativity has defined much of his identity.

The VZN.1i features a hollowed-out head with multiple sole weights and a 303 stainless steel insert designed with a deep milling pattern. Two wide white alignment lines appear on the topline, paired with a futuristic profile intended to assist with face alignment. Spieth tested a 35-inch version with a 70-degree lie angle initially, with L.A.B. Golf subsequently shipping a customized 35.5-inch model with a 69-degree lie angle to the course.

Why Zero-Torque Matters

L.A.B. Golf's core design philosophy centers on lie-angle balance—a concept that reduces the tendency of the putter head to twist open or closed during the stroke. According to the manufacturer's PGA Tour representative Joe Miera, Spieth appreciates that the VZN.1i sits perfectly flat at address while allowing him to maintain his preferred stroking method. Rather than forcing mechanical rigidity, the putter aims to provide face stability while preserving his instinctive feel for reading lines and managing speed—elements central to his putting approach.

Performance Context

Spieth currently ranks 57th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting, but the underlying metrics reveal specific weaknesses. He ranks 117th in Total Putting, 110th in putts between 4 and 8 feet, and 86th in putts from inside 10 feet. These numbers, combined with his last PGA Tour victory coming more than four years ago at the RBC Heritage, provide clear motivation for equipment experimentation.

Equipment decisions at the professional level rarely happen in isolation. Spieth's willingness to test a mallet putter—fundamentally different from the blade design he has used for his entire career—suggests a serious reassessment of whether his current setup is serving his needs. Tour observers noted Spieth also examined zero-torque options from Scotty Cameron during his practice rounds, indicating he is evaluating multiple alternatives rather than committing to a single manufacturer.