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Our December GolfPass Gear Report comes as perfect timing for all the procrastinators out there.
Maybe you've been too busy at work - or too busy playing golf - but the next couple weeks are the last chance to buy the perfect holiday gift for your favorite golfer. Our holiday gift guide is the perfect place to start shopping.
We've also told you what NOT to buy in our anti-holiday gift guide.
Plus, we've shared the best golf products, equipment and accessories we've reviewed this year as another alternative shopping guide.
If you STILL can't find any inspiration from those articles, our final GolfPass Gear Report of 2024 is your last resort. It's got lots of worthwhile options from sunglasses to golf books. Happy shopping!
MINI-REVIEW: L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 Max putter
Between its lofty technology claims and its quick adoption by touring pros and everyday golfers alike, L.A.B. is the buzziest putter company in the game. Its funky-looking but precisely manufactured flatsticks feature Lie Angle Balance technology, which seeks to eliminate torque, or the subtle twisting that occurs during even short-range strokes with traditional putters. The result, is a smooth and stroke-agnostic solid feeling that many golfers report helps them roll the ball more reliably on their intended line. L.A.B.'s putter grips also feature built-in forward press of between 1.5 and 2.5 degrees, which are meant to help golfers create a better pendulum stroke.
L.A.B. sent me one of their MEZZ.1 MAX putters several weeks ago, and after testing it both on the putting green and on the course, I can see its appeal. The sharp, industrial aesthetic is eye-catching while still reminding of the open-rectangle type of winged mallet putters that are most popular nowadays. The way the shaft enters the center of the putterhead takes some getting used to, but is not overly difficult to overcome with some patience. And as the "Max" part of its name suggests, the clubhead is large, with customizable alignment markings that inspire confidence at address.
Putter feel and sound are both extremely important and tend to be rather subjective golfer-to-golfer. While the MEZZ.1 MAX has a decent feel and sound, it's a bit higher-pitched and clickier than what I experience from my longtime gamer, an Evnroll ER5. Judging by the popularity of L.A.B. putters lately, plenty of golfers like and even love that sound and feel.
Performance-wise, I could definitely perceive some significant differences between traditional putters and L.A.B.'s offering. Whereas traditional heel-shafted putters - even face-balanced ones - want to arc at least slightly to the inside during the backstroke, the MEZZ.1 MAX felt easier to draw straight back and straight through. I was able to get into a pretty impressive groove with it on sub-8-foot putts at times. But this freer feeling had a bit of a double-edge to it, as I often felt like I lost a sense of where the putter head was on longer putts. Struggles similar to the ones I've experienced with other center-shafted putters over the years bubbled up at times in the form of some significant pulls and pushes from medium and long range. This, plus my feel-, sound- and aesthetic-based preference for my trusty Evnroll kept the L.A.B. MEZZ.1 Max putter from unseating it in my bag, but of all the backups I have, it would certainly be the one I reach for first.
The aspect of the L.A.B. Golf putter that ended up intriguing me most was the grip, with its built-in forward press. I could see myself experimenting with such a grip as a standalone add-on to other putters as an audition for introduction to my gamer.
Cost: $469 and up.
Bottom line: If you're in the market for a putter and like the look and feel of center-shafted ones, L.A.B. ought to be one of the first brands you look into. - Tim Gavrich
JONDO Sunglasses
JONDO offers golfers their KRISP technology in high-contrast, enhancement lenses in their sunglasses. These light-diffusing lenses are designed to minimize glare, boost contrast and deliver sharp, clear vision. By selectively filtering specific wavelengths of light, JONDO sunglasses help golfers differentiate between various colors and shades, making it easier to follow the ball against the backdrop of the sky or the turf. I wore the Club Champ sunglasses during a recent round of golf. They're sturdy, form-fitting and don't slide down your nose. The lenses keep bright light out, while still enhancing your vision. Cost: $250. - Jason Scott Deegan
Bunker Mentality's Made For You golf shirts
Where do all the unsold excess inventory of clothes end up? In most cases, you don't want to know. That's why UK-based Bunker Mentality's approach to golf shirt manufacturing is novel and interesting. Instead of letting golfers draw down whatever initial stock they've built up, Bunker Mentality encourages them to buy golf shirts made on a one-off basis from their factory in Thailand.
As soon as you purchase a shirt from the Made For You collection, the wheels get set in motion for it to be made on-demand, and it is shipped to you when finished. As a result, you may wait a few days longer than usual for your shirt, but the cost and quality are right in line with most other popular brands. Beware, though - as Bunker Mentality is based overseas, their fit is a bit on the slim side, so you should consider ordering one size larger than you are used to. Cost: $96. - TG
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons
The best-selling golf book of all-time has been re-released by Avid Reader Press with never-before-seen photos and memorabilia, a new introduction by Lee Trevino and nearly 100 pages of new writings that expand on Hogan's life and career. Cost: $22.50 (hardcover). - JSD
Blue Tees Ultra 4 Series rangefinder
While other high-end rangefinders can cost north of $500, Blue Tees continues to offer more technology for less money in its :. The Ultra 4 can lock on a flag up to 350 yards with the pulsing buzz that let's you know you've definitely hit the target. The OLED display allows golfers to adjust the brightness with up to 6x magnification. Durable construction is waterproof with a magnet that attaches to any cart bar. Cost: $299. - JSD
The Tiger Slam
Author Kevin Cook has released The Tiger Slam to coincide with the 25th anniversary of one of golf's greatest achievements - Tiger Woods winning four majors in the row: the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, The Open at St. Andrews, the PGA Championship at Valhalla and finally the 2001 Masters at Augusta National. Cost: $25. - JSD
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