No new acquistions...?

[Joe S]

I found a set of these 1967 Top-Flite Professionals, 2-9, last week.  Does anyone know if they came standard with a pitching wedge or was it sold separately?  

 

Stock Photo

[Hickory4ever]

6 hours ago, Joe S said:

I found a set of these 1967 Top-Flite Professionals, 2-9, last week.  Does anyone know if they came standard with a pitching wedge or was it sold separately?  

 

Stock Photo

I believe it came with a PW, and a SW was available as an add on. 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

7 hours ago, Joe S said:

I found a set of these 1967 Top-Flite Professionals, 2-9, last week.  Does anyone know if they came standard with a pitching wedge or was it sold separately?  

 

Stock Photo

I have the 1964 catalog on my phone so I can check that now.  I have a '66 catalog at home but no '67.

In 1964 they sold the professional as 2-9.   Then on the next page they had the option to buy a 10i, pitching wedge, or all purpose wedge.  

[scomac2002]

Ping B60 putter arrived today.  Felt fortunate to get it considering the USPS mailer was peeled open like a can of sardines.  Good job the seller had the club wrapped tightly in shipping paper.

 

Based on the shaft band and address stamping on the head I believe this to be of 1970's vintage similar to my 1971 Zing putter.

 

Why this?  I've been working on a sort of self fitting exercise with classic putters this past winter and this fills the bill of what I was looking for in a small mallet with a plumbers neck rather than a double bend shaft (say versus a RAM Zebra)

 

The mid sized grip appears to be a revelation as this is the straightest rolling putter that I own.  It will be going straight in the bag for my next outing.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

49 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

Ping B60 putter arrived today.  Felt fortunate to get it considering the USPS mailer was peeled open like a can of sardines.  Good job the seller had the club wrapped tightly in shipping paper.

 

Based on the shaft band and address stamping on the head I believe this to be of 1970's vintage similar to my 1971 Zing putter.

 

Why this?  I've been working on a sort of self fitting exercise with classic putters this past winter and this fills the bill of what I was looking for in a small mallet with a plumbers neck rather than a double bend shaft (say versus a RAM Zebra)

 

The mid sized grip appears to be a revelation as this is the straightest rolling putter that I own.  It will be going straight in the bag for my next outing.

 

The B60 is one of my favourite putters. I bought a BeCu B60 a few years ago, which was one club I had longed to have for years, and was so happy, until I realised that it wasn't the putter for me! The Plumbers Neck type putters just don't work for me, which rules out a lot of my favourite-looking PING putters. I use a BeCu Zing2 with slightly better results...not that I'll ever be a great putter.

 

Glad to hear it's working for you. I still think the B60 is still one of the best look putters around, even if I can't putt worth a damn with one🤣

 

 

[raggal62]

49 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

The B60 is one of my favourite putters. I bought a BeCu B60 a few years ago, which was one club I had longed to have for years, and was so happy, until I realised that it wasn't the putter for me! The Plumbers Neck type putters just don't work for me, which rules out a lot of my favourite-looking PING putters. I use a BeCu Zing2 with slightly better results...not that I'll ever be a great putter.

 

Glad to hear it's working for you. I still think the B60 is still one of the best look putters around, even if I can't putt worth a damn with one🤣

 

 

Ping made a non plumbers neck B60 5BZ. It had I believe was a single bend shaft.

[Fellaheen51]

@scomac2002  Nice.  The B60 is a classic head shape, that doesn't seem to be in favor much anymore.  Think it frames the ball very well.  Consider it to be a mini-mallet.  FWIW, the first B60 came out in 1978 and had Pat Pend in the cavity.  Had a long run in various incarnations and metals.  Believe only the Vault line has a B60 available nowadays.  

 

Have added a bunch of lead tape to mine, ~20 grams or more to weight it up.  On the sole and wrapped around the shaft at the hosel. Can now feel some head heft.  Installed a OG GP Pro Only grip as I had one around.  At 34", it's shorter than what I typical use.  Adapting something of a "Nicklaus Crouch" stance when wielding it.  Prefer a plumber's neck above all else.  Seem to putt the best with one, but don't putt all that well with an anser style.  Even though I like the looks of a Anser 2 or 3.  Like some sight line assistance vs. none.  Wouldn't mind stumbling into a cheap BeNi B60 one day.  

 

Firmly in the backup putter position when the frontliner starts acting up.  Here's to making lots of putts with yours.  

Edited April 12, 2022 by Fellaheen51

[Fellaheen51]

5 minutes ago, raggal62 said:

Ping made a non plumbers neck B60 5BZ. It had I believe was a single bend shaft.

 

Correct.  Single bend with a lot of offset.  Ping 5BZ models (several) were face balanced.  Learned this in the OSP FB group.  

[scomac2002]

3 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Correct.  Single bend with a lot of offset.  Ping 5BZ models (several) were face balanced.  Learned this in the OSP FB group.  

 

I need some toe hang to get the face to close properly otherwise I tend to have my putts leak to the right.  The work around was to putt with a slight open stance when using a face balanced putter.  Okay, but not ideal.

 

The plumbers neck gives the proper amount of toe hang I'm looking for without an undue amount of onset as can be the case with a flow neck.  Mid sized grip takes some of the hand action out of the stroke for more consistency on release. 

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

4 hours ago, raggal62 said:

Ping made a non plumbers neck B60 5BZ. It had I believe was a single bend shaft.

 

Yep, and a heel-shafted version of of the B60 (B61, I think), but none look as good as the B60 to me. I love the look of the plumber's neck even though it doesn't suit me.

 

It's like having the most beautiful girl in the world tell you she loves you, yet you know she isn't right for you!

[Fellaheen51]

There were 5 versions of the B6x.   The B60 & 61 had a plumbers neck with the 62 hosel connecting more towards the heel.   The B62 & 63 had slant (?) necks, with hosels at the heel (62) and hanging way off the heel (63).  Plus the 5BZ.  

 

Agreed the B60 looks the best.  Don't think I could wield a B63, it looks quite "unusual".   8802 style on steroids.  

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Picked up 2-9 + D.S this week. 
1962 M Tourney VFQ with the propel 2 shafts.  Speaking of shafts they are really clean with little use except 4i has some pitting the entire shaft length.  How does one club get that in set that’s been together for 60 years?

They have replacement grips but appear to be the original lengths.   

[Joe S]

I bought a very beat up set of these a few years ago.   All of the shafts are pitted with chrome loss.  I thought I could polish them up at first, but no luck.   Those look great.  Nice find.

Edited April 13, 2022 by Joe S
punctuation correction

[scomac2002]

I have a set that have pitted shafts that I play.  Perhaps I'm naïve, but if they fail they will fail and then into the bin they go.  I just don't see surface rust being that big of an issue for an old farht like me with modest swing speed.  After all, we are talking about 130g made in the USA shafts, not some POS made from much lower grade stainless.

[Joe S]

3 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

I have a set that have pitted shafts that I play.  Perhaps I'm naïve, but if they fail they will fail and then into the bin they go.  I just don't see surface rust being that big of an issue for an old farht like me with modest swing speed.  After all, we are talking about 130g made in the USA shafts, not some POS made from much lower grade stainless.

 

That's right, they play just fine.  Mine just aren't as pretty as Cold_War_Era's.

[RobotDoctor]

On 4/12/2022 at 8:53 AM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

The B60 is one of my favourite putters. I bought a BeCu B60 a few years ago, which was one club I had longed to have for years, and was so happy, until I realised that it wasn't the putter for me! The Plumbers Neck type putters just don't work for me, which rules out a lot of my favourite-looking PING putters. I use a BeCu Zing2 with slightly better results...not that I'll ever be a great putter.

 

Glad to hear it's working for you. I still think the B60 is still one of the best look putters around, even if I can't putt worth a damn with one🤣

 

 

I gamed a BeCu B60 in the mid 80s for a year or so (1986/1987).  Like you, I couldn’t get used to the Plumber’s Neck and ended up trading it in for a Ping Zing.  

Edited April 19, 2022 by RobotDoctor

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

57 minutes ago, RobotDoctor said:

I gamed a BeCu B60 in the mid 80s for a year or so (1986/1987).  Like you, I couldn’t get used to the Plumber’s Neck and ended up trading it in for a Ping Zing.  

 

Ah, you might be the perfect person to ask. Do you know what the difference is between the Zing and Zing 2 putters? Based on the pictures I've seen, the Zing looks to have a more compact head than the Zing 2. I like my Zing 2, but the same sort of putter with shorter heel to toe length would be even better.

[pymmdcp]

It’s been awhile cause I can’t find nothing worth buying. But good grief did I make a score yesterday on my 19 year anniversary with the wife. These are simply beautiful and only cost me $15!

Edited April 19, 2022 by pymmdcp

[RobotDoctor]

23 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Ah, you might be the perfect person to ask. Do you know what the difference is between the Zing and Zing 2 putters? Based on the pictures I've seen, the Zing looks to have a more compact head than the Zing 2. I like my Zing 2, but the same sort of putter with shorter heel to toe length would be even better.

The Zing does appear to be a little more compact.  Also the neck on he Zing 2 was more of a flown neck instead of a slant neck.  The neck of the Zing 2 appears to be located a smidge toward the center of the putter, maybe 2-3mm. This would affect the toe hang and natural release of the putter.  

[Joe S]

15 hours ago, pymmdcp said:

It’s been awhile cause I can’t find nothing worth buying. But good grief did I make a score yesterday on my 19 year anniversary with the wife. These are simply beautiful and only cost me $15!

 

Now you REALLY have something worth celebrating on that date!  Good find.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Just picked these up.  They seem to be original condition.  However they have some serious pitting on the shafts.  1962 Toney Pennas.  The driver appears to have a deeper face

[cold_war_era_golfer]

 

Upon closer inspection it’s not pitting. The chrome is flaking.  

[BIG STU]

On 4/19/2022 at 8:25 AM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Ah, you might be the perfect person to ask. Do you know what the difference is between the Zing and Zing 2 putters? Based on the pictures I've seen, the Zing looks to have a more compact head than the Zing 2. I like my Zing 2, but the same sort of putter with shorter heel to toe length would be even better.

Your observation is correct because I have both. The Zing is more compact than the Zing 2. Now the difference in mine is the Zing is MGBZ and the Zing 2 is SS. The old Zing has a more solid feel to me. I have not measured them per say or weighed either one. But that is just my naked eye and feel observations

[BIG STU]

On 4/19/2022 at 7:27 PM, pymmdcp said:

It’s been awhile cause I can’t find nothing worth buying. But good grief did I make a score yesterday on my 19 year anniversary with the wife. These are simply beautiful and only cost me $15!

Great find that old double duty wedge IMHO is one of the most versatile wedges ever made. Those were really good on the old school borderline goat tracks I grew up on. I still have one that matches your set and I think it loft wise checks out around 53* loft. You were extremely lucky to find the whole set with the wedge with it

[BIG STU]

On 4/20/2022 at 7:35 AM, RobotDoctor said:

The Zing does appear to be a little more compact.  Also the neck on he Zing 2 was more of a flown neck instead of a slant neck.  The neck of the Zing 2 appears to be located a smidge toward the center of the putter, maybe 2-3mm. This would affect the toe hang and natural release of the putter.  

Doc sorta off topic but one of the guys either on PGS or Mac collectors society just bought a pristine set of Penna WW Specials---- He stated that he had been after them for a while that another collector had them and he paid a dear ( undisclosed) price for them. Just FYI

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

Doc sorta off topic but one of the guys either on PGS or Mac collectors society just bought a pristine set of Penna WW Specials---- He stated that he had been after them for a while that another collector had them and he paid a dear ( undisclosed) price for them. Just FYI

😳

 

Pristine set of WW Specials would be in the 5 figures.  I’d say at least $15K but probably north of $25K.  

[RobotDoctor]

14 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Doc sorta off topic but one of the guys either on PGS or Mac collectors society just bought a pristine set of Penna WW Specials---- He stated that he had been after them for a while that another collector had them and he paid a dear ( undisclosed) price for them. Just FYI

 

I found out who purchased the woods.  I look forward to seeing pictures of them.  I am sure they're outstanding.

 

@scomac2002, MacGregor WW Specials were made only one year (1954) and were a custom order.  These were a huge departure from the conventional finish most people were accustomed to and weren't as popular as I believed MacGregor had hoped.  It is rumored that a little more than 100 sets of the WW Specials were ever ordered making these as rare of a set as there is.  To find any WW Special wood is rare, a full set even more rare.  To find a set in outstanding condition is extremely rare.  Anyone would probably have a better chance to win PowerBall than find a set of immaculate WW Specials.  While the amount is mind boggling keep in mind were talking collectors here.  They operate in a different atmosphere than I do, that's for sure.

[BIG STU]

6 minutes ago, RobotDoctor said:

 

I found out who purchased the woods.  I look forward to seeing pictures of them.  I am sure they're outstanding.

 

@scomac2002, MacGregor WW Specials were made only one year (1954) and were a custom order.  These were a huge departure from the conventional finish most people were accustomed to and weren't as popular as I believed MacGregor had hoped.  It is rumored that a little more than 100 sets of the WW Specials were ever ordered making these as rare of a set as there is.  To find any WW Special wood is rare, a full set even more rare.  To find a set in outstanding condition is extremely rare.  Anyone would probably have a better chance to win PowerBall than find a set of immaculate WW Specials.  While the amount is mind boggling keep in mind were talking collectors here.  They operate in a different atmosphere than I do, that's for sure.

I will also add this. In the vintage world there have been some attempts to attempt to counterfeit standard Mac Pennas into WW Specials too. A few years back there were some attempts to counterfeit Toney Penna Company Bicentennial editions too. Serious collectors like Robot Doctor know their stuff and it is hard to fool those guys. I will also add as Robot pointed out that the color was not popular at the time and I heard some were redone and refinished in like black color. If that is true as I was told from another Macgregor collector then it makes a real WW in pristine condition really rare. As much respect as I have for the rarity of those if I was to find one at like a yard sale I would never attempt to keep or play it. Nor would I try to flip it for a profit because one does not know. I would send it to someone like Robot to display for free. If in the same situation with a Bicentennial Penna I may keep it but not hit it. Now if I was lucky enough to find a LFF and it not pristine I would keep and hit it

[Stephen8802]

7 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

... Now if I was lucky enough to find a LFF and it not pristine I would keep and hit it

I recently acquired an LFF that was described to me as "the worst LFF on the planet," and it didn't disappoint. The insert was probably replaced along the way and there is a crack line on the toe that looks like the entire toe broke off at one point and was epoxied back on. But the shape is still there and I'll refinish it to playing condition and hit the crap out of it some day. When the queue rolls around to that driver and it's in playing shape again, I'll be glad that I don't have to worry about value. 

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

I will also add this. In the vintage world there have been some attempts to attempt to counterfeit standard Mac Pennas into WW Specials too. A few years back there were some attempts to counterfeit Toney Penna Company Bicentennial editions too. Serious collectors like Robot Doctor know their stuff and it is hard to fool those guys. I will also add as Robot pointed out that the color was not popular at the time and I heard some were redone and refinished in like black color. If that is true as I was told from another Macgregor collector then it makes a real WW in pristine condition really rare. As much respect as I have for the rarity of those if I was to find one at like a yard sale I would never attempt to keep or play it. Nor would I try to flip it for a profit because one does not know. I would send it to someone like Robot to display for free. If in the same situation with a Bicentennial Penna I may keep it but not hit it. Now if I was lucky enough to find a LFF and it not pristine I would keep and hit it

Thanks for the kind words Stu!  I know a lot about a certain segment of MacGregor woods and have a little with some other brands, notably WB and some Cleveland Classic models.  However the 1950s MacGregor pro line equipment is where my passion is.  I have learned a lot from other collectors who preceded me imparting their knowledge onto me.  I can only hope that I do the same for collectors wanting to learn.