The direct-to-consumer (DTC) market in irons is no longer just about budget alternatives; it’s about genuine market disruption through performance.
Takomo has been leading this charge, and its new 201 MKII irons are poised to make a massive statement in the players' distance category. Replacing the popular 101T, this new model arrives with a refined aesthetic and promises of tour-level feel.
I’ve been testing these irons for weeks now to see if they can truly compete with the best irons, not just on price, but on pure performance and desirability.
The 201 MKII should be thought of as a sleeker hollow-body iron, designed with less offset and a thinner topline than the previous 101 or the new 101 MKII iron. It combines this clean address look with a machine-milled VFT (Variable Face Thickness) face, engineered for high energy transfer and durability. This construction aims to deliver the best of both worlds: the look of a player's iron with the power of a distance club.
Visually, the 201 MKII is quite brilliant in terms of shelf appeal, featuring a superbly premium two-tone finish that screams sophistication. This finish mirrors the design found on the 101 MKII but in reverse within the cavity, with the slightly 'mottled' section coming closer to the top edge in the 201 MKII. It’s a subtle detail that adds to the cohesive, high-end look of the new family.
If I were being super fussy, I would weld over the toe hole just to neaten things up further. I never understand why this detail is left, as it’s not like a player will need access to the cavity at this stage, but it is hardly a terminal issue.
The playing profiles are superb. I prefer the overall shape more as I go up the bag into the mid and long irons, which are as good as anything on the market behind the ball. At that end of the bag, they sit neatly and squarely behind the ball and arguably look more ‘better player’ than ‘game improvement’.
Genuinely, the only thing I would tweak in the profiles would be the short iron shaping slightly - marginally softening the transition from hosel to top edge - but that is being very pedantic in the grand scheme of things.
The feel at impact is buttery soft, a testament to the hollow-body construction and internal damping. It provides a satisfying, dense sensation, which I really enjoyed.
Performance-wise, the 201 MKII is a beast. Strangely, despite being two degrees weaker than the 101 MKII (the 201 MKII 7-iron is 31°), I was seeing basically identical ball speed (if not a hair more) from the 201 MKII irons and identical carry numbers. This is a testament to the efficiency of the milled face and head design and was a pleasant surprise.
Crucially, this performance came with a little more spin and a touch more peak height. While still lower than I would need to make it playable for me personally, the additional 500 rpm over the 101 MKII was very welcome.
I am genuinely struggling to fault these irons in any significant way. The looks are outstanding, the feel is exceptional, and the performance stacks up against any of its players' distance competition from the major manufacturers. Allied to the fact that you can pick these up for less than half of what you may pay elsewhere, what more could you want?!
Custom fitting, I hear a few cry, is the obvious downfall of the DTC model, and critics would be right to point that out. But if you are comfortable with your specs, I can't for the life of me think why you'd be keen to part with an extra $600/£600 just to secure a more established brand name.
The Takomo 201 MKII irons are available for $649/£589. These irons, at this price, are a staggering proposition when it comes to value for money.
