Takomo Golf are a rising star in the equipment game, popular amongst the younger generation for their low price point and high take-up with some of golf’s biggest influencers. But does the performance match the hype with their latest wedges?
With the best wedges in golf, there’s more that comes into play than just how much height or distance you might be able to achieve, like with some of our other club categories. They need to offer good control, sure, but there’s also a big emphasis on looks and feel. The Takomo SF002 wedges have been designed with influence from an ex-PGA Tour professional to contend against the best clubs on offer from the mainline brands, and we’ve been out on the course to see how they match up to that goal.
Challenging the premium brands, without the premium price
Pros & Cons Ratings Specs Features
Pros Sub-$100 price point is greatSimplicity in options is helpful for inexperienced players Cons Distance control is okay, but not as consistent as mainline brandsI don’t like the feedback, but this is a personal choiceLooks and shape doesn’t suit my eye
Looks/Feel
Technology
Performance
Final Verdict
RRP $99 / £99 Left Handed Yes, selected lofts Lofts 46-60º Grinds F / V Finishes Brushed Chrome Stock Shaft KBS Tour Stock Grip Lamkin Crossline Customizable No Minimalist, Simplistic Nordic Design to hide deadly performanceProgressive CG Weighting for optimized flightNew Micro-Grooves provide all-weather consistencyTwo New Grinds to suit different styles of golf swing
Looks and Feel – 3/5
I understand this sub-category is entirely a personal opinion, so take this with as much of a pinch of salt as you feel you need: I really don’t like the look of the Takomo SF002 wedges.
The address position of these clubs is such a strong contrast to what I’m used to that I’ve struggled to set up comfortably to the ball when playing; it’s that jarring to my eyes.
Holding up my own SM9 wedges in comparison, the SF002 seem a lot longer from heel to toe and squatter from leading edge up to the topline. It’s a strange choice, considering the elite-player input that has been implemented by Takomo, to make the wedge line wider instead of taller – advanced players more often than not miss high-low on the face.
The ‘stretched out’ look is made worse by the addition of full-face grooves in every loft I tested (52º, 56º, 60º). I don’t dislike FF grooves at all, and from a performance perspective, they’re a plus point for the Takomo SF002 wedges. However, here, all the design does is pull my focus even more towards the toe than the shape already has done.
The overall shape is also very round, including the toe, the leading edge, and even the topline to an extent, which, for me, makes it hard to match the alignment of the face with my target.
With the above said, what I do like is the brushed chrome finish, and from the back and sole perspectives, the SF002 wedges are super clean. The comments from the brand on minimalist Nordic-inspired thought ring true, with clean and simple looks bringing great shelf and bag appeal.
Technology – 4/5
As I’ve already spoken about it, let’s quickly talk about the face technology being executed on the Takomo SF002 wedges.
The company has used a new cast design, alongside a micro-groove process, to help retain more spin in different conditions. The micro-grooves (miniature roughness cut into the face between the deeper grooves) are designed to channel moisture and debris away from where contact is made, helping improve consistency in various weather.
The Full Face grooves provide further space for that moisture to be dispersed as well, meaning the SF002 wedges can be beneficial for golfers who are finding more of the toe than they might want (this comes back to the choice of shape from the Takomo team as well).
Takomo also offer two grind options, the F-Grind and the V-Grind, to tailor the wedges more towards the individual golfer’s needs. Softer ground conditions or steep swings will benefit from the 12º bounce in the V-Grind, while the F-Grind has a lower bounce and suits slightly firmer ground.
It’s worth noting that the lob wedges (58º and 60º) are only available in the higher-bounce V-Grind, however.
Finally, the wedges feature a progressive CG (Center of Gravity), with that location being raised as the loft increases, peaking in the 60º model. This is meant to make reaching a ball flight apex more easily repeatable, matching heights from the Pitching Wedge to the Lob Wedge.
Performance – 4/5
The reality, however, of the technology in the Takomo SF002 wedges is that I’ve found the clubs to be varied in their quality.
Playing with the 56º and 60º wedges, I’ve seen solid performance from a wide selection of lies, enough that I’ve been pleasantly surprised, with spin numbers often within 1,000 rpm of what my own gamers achieve.
The sole design and rounded leading edge keep the club close to the ground, despite the high bounce, which is a genuinely great design setup when playing different shots from around the green. It’s not quite as easy to hit those ultra, Phil Mickelson-style flops on firm turf because of the bounce, but everything outside of that can still be achieved.
The small side point I would make is that shots with the SF002 do come off the face with more speed than I expected, with my early testing spent flying the ball beyond my target until I became accommodated to the difference in feel.
The Gap Wedge 52º has been a different story. This is a club I play both from distance, as well as for bump-and-run chips, but I’ve struggled to find consistency in most shots.
40-yard pitches have been releasing and rolling well beyond where I expect them to; chip shots sometimes check up and stop, sometimes they don’t; it’s been frustrating to deal with, and using the Takomo here has left me struggling for confidence in how I want to play.
However, from a full swing perspective, I have been able to put more trust in the SF002 wedges. There’s a surprising amount of forgiveness on mishits across the face, with little dropoff in carry distance despite a poor strike. I feel this is going to be the killer appeal to the section of golfers considering these wedges.
Is ordering the SF002 wedges as complete an offering as going for a Vokey fitting? No, but for the generally solid performance (52º pitches notwithstanding) at 60-ish % of the price point, this is by no means a bad offering.
Final Verdict – 4/5
On one hand, I feel like I’m being overly harsh with my scoring of the Takomo SF002 wedges. Ultimately, looks and feel play a large part in performance with something as delicate as hitting wedge shots, and I do think there’s something to be found here for plenty of golfers looking for stable wedges to complement their short game.
From the other side, though, I have struggled to fully replicate the premium performance I’m used to with the SF002, and the elongated, soft-edged clubhead, combined with the full-face grooves, is still jarring for me coming from a modern Callaway Opus SP, or TaylorMade MG5, or even my older Vokeys.
The best way to decide whether the Takomo wedges are the right choice for you is to consider your needs.
If you’re looking for cost-effective, forgiving short-game tools, then these are fantastic options to look at. If you want classic looks and industry-leading, top-of-the-line performance at any expense, I’d struggle to depart from the stalwarts of the game.
