Macgregor IMG 5 putters

No_Catchy_Nickname · February 8, 2020

I have a few questions about the IMG 5 putters and similar models, and I thought that this forum would be the best place to ask them.

A couple of days ago, a friend of mine called to say that one of his clients had given him an old putter. My friend is not into the older stuff, but he knows I am (I take my persimmon gear out a lot when I play with him because he doesn't care what I play). We managed to work out over the phone that it was an IMG 5, and I said that it was based on the George Low Wizard 600 putter that Jack Nicklaus used for many years.

Anyway, after chatting for a bit about the putter, and his client who boasted that he had won a lot of money with it back when he was playing, I hung up, but then I got to wondering if it was based on the Geo Low 600 design, and what in fact was the history of that putter. I've never seen either the IMG 5 or George Low Wizard 600 in real life, only pictures, and I know there were several IMG putters; also the George Low Wizard was, I think, manufactured by Bristol (?) first, but did Macgregor ever acquire the rights to it? And when were they released?

Also, I have two Muirfield putters that I assumed were based on the George Low Wizard 600, but is this correct? One has the two parallel sight-lines that I think Jack Nicklaus had on his Wizard 600, but the other doesn't (see picture below). Both feel absolutely sublime, but they look more like 8802 putters to me.

Finally, my friend is unlikely to use the IMG 5 as he has a straight-back straight-through putting stroke, but it looks like he'll let me give it a spin.

If anyone can school me on the IMG putters and/or the George Low Wizard 600, I'd love to hear from them.

My two Muirfields from address:

NRJyzr · February 8, 2020

Sounds like a job for @BIG STU.

BIG STU · February 8, 2020

There are a bunch of versions of IMG Putters---- A George Low has a little shorter blunted off blade------ A 271 Nicklaus looks a lot like a George Low--- Look on E bay and dial up used Macgregor putters. I was on there the other night trying to research the reproduction IM-5 I found the other week. And there are several varities of Nicklaus putters and for an example a JN-100 has two different versions one with offset and one with none. And Muirfields I have seen 3 or 4 different versions

No_Catchy_Nickname · February 10, 2020

I was thinking that the IM-5s are longer heel to toe than the George Low putters. I think the Muirfields are closer to the George Lows than IM5s in shape.

I've a Cleveland putter that looks to be based off the IM-5, and I find I push putts right with it, whereas the Muirfields and 8802s suit my stroke and eye more.