Takomo Ignis D1 Driver Review: An affordable, beginner-friendly winner

Key features

• Larger face with variable thickness for consistent performance on off-centre strikes
• Three included weights (3g, 3g, and 13g) can be configured for draw bias, fade bias, or max MOI
• Tungsten weights and carbon crown give it a premium finish
• Choice of Fujikura Ventus shafts

It's probably fair to say that few brands have proven as consequential in the way we approach buying new golf clubs as Takomo have in recent years.

Beginning life as a plucky upstart making affordable, premium irons that left golfers as intrigued as they were skeptical, Takomo in 2025 is an entirely different beast. It remains steadfast to its ethos of affordable clubs that rival the look and feel of the biggest brands around, of course, but now does so with a genuine air of mainstream recognition. Tour pro Wesley Bryan and YouTuber Grant Horvat are just two of the Finnish brand's most famous ambassadors and investors.

Takomo's range has grown in recent times to match its rapidly ballooning status. The brand now boasts multiple iron ranges catering to just about every type of player out there, along with wedges and fairway woods.

Now, after much anticipation and development, the company's first driver is here.

Dubbed the Ignis D1, Takomo's maiden driver is a development of the Ignis D1 Prototype that the brand floated in extremely limited numbers last year, and is moulded in the mindset that influenced the brand's very first irons. But does the performance match the marketing, and how does it stack up against the most forgiving drivers we've tested this year? We took it out on the course to find out.

Features & looks

Targeted towards the developing player who wants a premium experience at a reasonable price, the Ignis D1 sits firmly in the beginner-friendly driver category, aiming to give as many golfers as possible an experience off the tee that feels powerful, predictable and repeatable.

To do so, the Ignis D1 has a simple, yet effective weighting system that allows the driver to be adjusted to produce a slight fade, draw or a high MOI bias. It also has a 25% larger sweet spot compared to the D1 Prototype, reducing dispersion on off-centre strikes and properly rewarding good hits, while the weight distribution keeps the centre of gravity low for easy launch.

While most affordable driver brands tend to skimp on materials and looks in the name of value, the Ignis D1 is a far more complete package. The sole is sleek and modern with a combination of glossy and matt finishes, while Takomo have also ensured the Ignis places an emphasis on adjustability. The three tungsten sole come weighted at 3g, 3g, and 13g, and can adjusted to favour a draw bias, a fade bias or maximum MOI. The hosel can also be tweaked to offer +2 / -2 degrees of loft, along with a 1 degree upright setting.

The crown is a more understated affair, made with a simple matte black carbon that might present a bit plain for those used to hitting big brand drivers, but at the same time won't be too busy or off putting for less confident swingers.

Completing the package in a truly premium manner, the Ignis D1 comes as stock with a choice of Fujikura Ventus Blue or Red shafts – both of which are designed with varying mid-to-high launch and spin profiles to help a wide range of golfers get the ball in the air and flying straight more often – as well as a great-looking vegan leather head cover and a Lamkin grip.

Performance

Takomo's number one goal when producing the Ignis was to produce a driver golfers of any levels could hit with regularity and consistency, and we feel they've delivered in a big way. The Ignis D1 is maximally-sized with a 460cc head, and uses every millimetre of it to pack in tech that will produce more consistent drives for golfers of all levels.

In testing, we found the large carbon crown and variable thickness face delivered plenty of forgiveness, tightening dispersion significantly compared to other budget drivers in its class. The sweet spot feels large and meaty, with Takomo claiming they've increased its overall size by over 25% from the prototype. 

The choice to include Fujikura's Ventus shafts in the package has been an excellent one as well, with both the Blue and the Red delivering elite-level control and club head speed while offering a pair of choices that'll suit mid-to-high handicappers seeking launch and spin.

The Ignis D1 is by no means the longest driver out there, but you can make a strong argument that more golfers would benefit from control and consistency off the tee rather than raw distance anyway. The only bugbear we had with the Takomo was its sound, which felt a little lacking compared with the heavily-tuned acoustics big brands spend vast sums of money engineering into their driver heads.

Should you buy the Takomo Ignis D1?

The defining question when testing any Takomo club lies as to whether the reduced cost means compromising on quality or feel. To address the first point, the the Ignis D1 retails for £299—about £200 less than a new-model driver from the likes of TaylorMade, Callaway or Titleist. Does it perform as such? Absolutely not.

The Ignis D1 is forgiving, premium looking and well made, equipped with a choice of shafts that, when bought alone, would retail by themselves for almost the entire cost of the club. That's a fantastic value proposition any way you look at it.

Takomo have made an extremely smart move with the Ignis D1 by making it appeal as much as possible for the entry-level golfer. While beginner golfers often look at prior models or unsuitable second-hand drivers in an effort to cut costs, the Ignis D1 offers a genuinely good-looking, high-performing option at a budget-friendly price point. That's unquestionably something to celebrate, and we suspect it's going to be immensely popular as a result.

You can grab one for yourself now at Takomo.