What is Forum Member Testing?
MyGolfSpy offers a unique opportunity to all of its readers of all abilities, ages and handicaps to test, review and keep a variety of different golf equipment, apps, apparel and more. Successful candidates are selected by forum staff.
Members who are selected interact, engage and write a review on the specific product while enjoying the fun of trying new gear!
Member testing is vital because it gets gear in the hands of you, the golfer. Our members give honest feedback on how any product or service works for a variety of handicaps and abilities to ensure our readers are even more informed when making purchasing decisions.
To learn more about how testers are selected, go to this forum thread: Want to be a tester?
The Testing Opportunity
MyGolfSpy has often brought new and upcoming companies to the attention of consumers. The Forum Staff has taken this to heart and worked to bring newer or lesser known companies to member testing for 2023.
Takomo was one of our first calls and we were fortunate to get them on the schedule for four sets of irons. These irons included one set of their Takomo 301MB, a set of Takomo 301CB and two sets of the Takomo 101t Series Irons.
If you haven’t heard of Takomo, they are a Finnish brand that is relatively new to the DTC (direct-to-consumer) space. This is what they have to say about their products.
“Our products have been designed with the idea that the perfect performance at every level is created by the harmony between you and the club. Our philosophy is to design products that will grow with you. Performance, that is commensurate with your abilities. Elegant and streamlined design that inspires confidence.”
Takomo Iron Series Review
As these sets are typically aimed at certain handicaps we selected a 0.5 handicap for the 301MB, a 6 handicap for the 301CB and a 8 and 12 for the 101t series.
After our testers were selected, they were given the option to go with any of the stock options available within the Takomo lineup and had the option to have length, lofts and lies adjusted as needed.
Needless to say this was a highly anticipated member test as it received over 4000 signups so let’s get into it!
What Testers Said
We ask our testers to grade and rate various areas when doing a member test and to ensure they have the proper time to evaluate a product, testers were given six weeks to complete their member test on the Takomo irons.
First impressions and unboxings are often exciting, especially when it is a new set of irons.
How were our testers’ first impressions? Here’s what tester TylorJudd had this to say about the packaging and arrival of his clubs.
“They are packaged well, the grips are wrapped, the shafts are wrapped, the heads are shrink wrapped and bubble wrapped, with an elastic holding them down. The heads are placed in foam, and the clubs staggered for transport. Considering these came hard and fast from China, they are well packaged. The box doesn’t have pizazz but who cares!”
While tester Jim Shaw was a little more direct “Coming out of the box was very very exciting for me.”
However, there were a few notes where testers felt there could be improvements as tester Zack S said.
“That said when putting in my order, I was a little disappointed that I was not able to get grips with extra wraps for the bottom hand. It was not a huge deal and I understand the business model and so something will be cut but this seems like maybe something that could be done.”
“Having the clubs labeled as 1 degree flat makes me more confident they are build as ordered…however the only negative as I did notice that the PW was 1/4 inch long and it was apparently the same of for the others that got 101t’s as a well.”
With all the clubs unboxed, unwrapped and ready for the course, our testers hit the course and range to see how these irons played.
Takomo 301MB Review
We will cover the 301MB tested by Jim Shaw first.
“If you as a golfer need a lot of forgiveness the Takomo Muscle Back 301’s are not for you, there is very little forgiveness, these are players clubs and perform as such.”
”What the 301’s lack in forgiveness they make up in control, high shots, low shots, left to right, right to left, punch shots etc. if you know how to hit these shot these irons deliver. One of my constant comments is “golf is a game of constant adjustments” there is rarely a round that is perfect conditions, these irons help me get the most out of all the conditions golf throws at us”
When all is said and done, Jim will be gaming these in competition and the 301MB’s have replaced his current set.
Takomo 301CB Review
Next up was the 301CB tested by TylorJudd who loved their looks.
“The heads are milled beautifully! The paint fill is clean and top notch as well. These will produce glare, but I use Tour Chrome Vokeys so it won’t be a bother to me. The heads are shorter heel to toe than my TA7’s, but that is to be expected from a blade. They have a grind on the leading edge which is a feature I would only expect on the highest quality of irons to prevent excessive digging from new irons. The soles on the scoring clubs (PW-7) are wider than 6-4 to provide some more relief, getting more impressed every minute I look at them! The face shape is almost identical to a vokey as well where the heel is slightly taller where it meets the hosel, and the hosel is longer which is a nicer look. There is no micro-milling on the face but not going to matter much in the long run, especially with the longer irons.”
He has similar notes to Jim when it comes to forgiveness and “workability” saying.
“They live up to the workability claims, while maintaining “ENOUGH” forgiveness. These irons will let you know you hit the ball like s***. The balls still moves, but you won’t be smiling about it.”
TylorJudd had a lot of success with these irons, picking up some serious distance and finding some more subtle details of the Takomo 301CB.
“They take lovely divots, almost picture perfect. The pre-ground leading edge is so amazing. This is something you should really look at closer because a lot of companies won’t take this care for their production. They hit just as well in wet conditions, although I have a descending blow of a swing and if conditions are soggy, the Takomos will need a serious bath. Around the green they work great.”
The main negative noted by Tylor were the grips. They came standard with the Lamkin Crossline grips which were not his favorite and he will be changing them. This was not a knock on the irons but something which was mentioned a few times throughout his review.
Takomo 101t Review
Last, but certainly not least, was the Takomo 101t tested by KC Golf and Zack S .
Both of these testers were able to provide a lot of data and insights via Trackman numbers and Arccos data.
Zack S shared these insights about his experience with the 101t on course. “On the positive side of this I was able to test the forgiveness of the 101t’s and I was very impressed. I was getting minimal distance loss on heel or toe strikes. The turf interaction has been very good with these irons.”
“One of the common knocks on this style of club is hot spots and being prone to fliers. At this point I don’t have concern about this causing inconsistencies. Outside of the fact that I can’t consistently work the ball like I once could”
Tester KC Golf had a lot of positives to say about his 101t irons.
“These 101Ts are just great on the course. In the rain or on windy days the results were impressive. My strokes gained on approaches were substantially improved by the 101Ts. The 101Ts are just impressive. Under difficult course conditions, the 101Ts were consistently good. The stopping power was amazing and the flight / trajectories were just nice to watch. User error at times, but it was not the irons that were the problem.”
“As testing went on, my confidence in the 101Ts on difficult approach shots only grew. It was nice to see consistent flight and control.”
The Final Verdict
It isn’t often we have all of our testers continue with their tested equipment after the review is done. We want fair and honest reviews and if something doesn’t work for them so be it.
That being said, every tester in this group will be gaming their Takomo irons.
Tester Jim Shaw gave his Takomo 301MB a 88/100 with the biggest knock being in customization options with lofts.
Tester TylorJudd gave his Takomo 301CB irons a whopping 97/100!
Testers KC Golf and Zack S gave their Takomo 101t’s 89 and 91/100 respectively.
The biggest negative comment was about the lack of custom options and the inability to test or be custom fitted in-store.
The final word from TylorJudd says it all.
“The bottom line, my index dropped from a 6 to a 4.2 in roughly 7 weeks… That is a pronounced statement if I can make one.”
Peter von Stackelberg
9 months ago
I’ve gone from a 13 to a 9.8 this year with the 101’s. 2° upright perfect for me.