Takomo Launches New 101U Utility Irons at Unrivaled Price
Takomo Golf, the Scandinavian direct-to-consumer club-maker known for its beautiful-looking, incredibly playable and refreshingly-priced irons, has expanded its offerings with its release of the 101U utility iron.
Takomo 101U First Look
The graphite-shafted utility iron, also known as a driving iron, is available in three different lofts, aiming to replace your hybrid or most-lofted fairway wood.
On the outside, it carries the lineage of its namesake, the Iron 101, but with some unmistakable characteristics of a utility iron, like a thick sole and increased perimeter weighting. These elements are designed to make the 101U as long and as forgiving as possible.
Despite featuring premium components, including a KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid shaft and Lamkin grip, the 101U checks in at just $119, less than half the price of driving irons from the big names. The latest utility irons from Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, PING and Cobra hover around the $250-$275 ballpark.
Takomo Golf Iron 101 Review
Takomo 101U Utility Iron Specs
|
Utility Iron |
Loft |
Lie |
Swing Weight |
Length |
|
2 |
18 |
60 |
D2 |
39.75 |
|
3 |
20 |
60.5 |
D2 |
39.25 |
|
4 |
22 |
61 |
D2 |
38.75 |
Takomo’s new utility iron is available in 2, 3, and 4-iron options, with lofts of 18, 20, and 22 degrees, respectively. Each is equipped with a KBS Tour Graphite hybrid shaft.
The line of utility irons is targeted toward players with medium to fast swing speeds who want to replace a hybrid or high-lofted wood with a shorter-shafted iron.
The Takomo 101U utility iron was released in September of 2023 and is currently only available as a complete club in right-handed heads. However, Takomo indicated that a left-handed version is on the way, and a head-only option – which Takomo has had success with in its other iron offerings – may be in the future as well. However, part of what makes the driving iron successful is the proper pairing with the right graphite shaft, so that head-only option may not be as pressing as it is for Takomo’s iron sets.
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How Do the 4-Irons Compare?
If you’re currently gaming a set of Takomo irons, specifically the Iron 101, you might be wondering if the 4-iron at the bottom end of that set differs from the 101U 4-iron. Here’s how they stack up head-to-head
|
Iron |
Loft |
Lie |
Length |
Stock Shaft |
|
101U 4-Iron |
22 |
61 |
38.75 |
Graphite (KBS Tour) |
|
101 4-Iron |
20.5 |
61 |
38.5 |
Steel (KBS Tour Light) |
The two main differences between the 101U 4-iron and the 4-iron from the Iron 101 set are the graphite shaft and an extra degree and a half of loft on the utility iron, not to mention the thicker sole and additional perimeter weighting in the utility iron.
The Utility Iron’s extra quarter-inch of length, combined with that lighter shaft (leading to faster clubhead speed) should offset any distance lost from its extra loft.
Unless you’re looking to replace the 4-iron in your set of Iron 101s – or a similarly spec’d 4-iron – the Utility 3-iron is a more complimentary, less repetitive option.
Meanwhile, the 18-degree 2-iron has roughly the same standard loft as a 5-wood, but at about three inches shorter, is a great option for skilled players who like the control that a shorter shaft offers.
The Founding & Future of Takomo Golf
Find the Fairway
Given the unmatched value of Takomo’s 101U driving iron, any golfer who is considering adding a utility iron to the bag should strongly consider this one. The low price makes it a low-risk opportunity, and the upside can be bombs that fly as far or farther than your hybrid with better accuracy. Between the 2, 3, and 4-iron, there’s an option for just about every bag.