Takomo Skyforger 002 Review: The £99 wedges that truly challenge the big boys

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Key features:

• Full-face micro-groove pattern for spin on all shots
• Choice of two versatile sole grinds
• Minimalist bladed design

While Takomo is now firmly established as one of the most disruptive equipment manufacturers to emerge this generation, the Finnish brand's offering outside of its irons tends to fly a little under the radar.

This may soon change, however, with Takomo investing significant manpower and money in recent years into expanding its range across the entire bag. It launched its first driver just last month, and now, with the release of the Skyforger 002 (or SF002), has a wedge line-up that boasts the looks, performance and affordability to give the majors of the best wedges in golf something to think about.

The Skyforger 002 is both a successor and a companion Takomo's original Skyforger 001 wedge—an offering focused more on versatility and forgiveness compared to the original, with a couple of quality of life improvements that, true to Takomo's DNA, will endear it to a wide range of golfers without compromising on the tour-inspired look and feel amateurs still want.

But how does it perform on the course? We took the SF002 out for the afternoon, alongside Mizuno's new Pro T-1 wedge for comparison, to find out.

Looks and feel

From both an aesthetic and performance standpoint, the Skyforger 002 shares much of its DNA with the brand's third wedge model: the limited-edition BB803 it designed in collaboration with the Bryan brothers. This is clear in the initial presentation of the Skyforger 002, which makes use of similar branding cues and shares its sleek, minimalist (Takomo use the word 'Nordic') design. 

The other major upgrade the Skyforger shares with the BB803 is its updated full-face groove design—a design choice that tends to be divisive among players passionate about their wedges, but has a devoted following in similar models like Cleveland's CBX full face and TaylorMade's Hi-Toe.

This combination makes for a look that's easy on the eye and confidence-inspiring behind the ball if you're used to more traditionally-profiled wedges. The SF002 is the first Takomo wedge to come in a choice of grinds: a fuller-soled F-grind for plenty of workability on full shots, and the V-grind, aimed more specifically towards the higher-lofted clubs. Both are geared towards versatility and forgiveness for a range of players, and the V-grind presented nicely behind the ball.

Takomo have also made some strides in dialling in the feel of the SF002 as opposed to its predecessor. Each degree is now progressively weighted to optimise CV and provide crisp contact on a wider range of shots. Each wedge comes stock with a KBS shaft and a Lamkin grip as well, rounding off what truly feels like a premium package.

Performance

The enduring question about Takomo's products has been whether or not their performance stands up to the brand's appealing aesthetics. In the case of the Skyforger 002, we can confirm it absolutely does. Indeed, we were blown away by the combination of forgiveness and feel the Skyforger 002 offered.

The full face micro groove pattern, expanded and revised from the 001 not only looks incredible it works too. The ample grooves provide you with fantastic grip and consistent spin on all types of shots, from full shots from 100-120 yards to those delicate finesse shots around the greens. Mishits stayed playable, while we also found it fairly easy to hit our distances consistently.

Given the bladed nature of the Skyforger, this is still very much a wedge better suited in the hands of a better ballstriker. However Takomo's decision to stick to more versatile grinds mean there's plenty of forgiveness on offer for developing players looking to dial in their short game while maintaining a clean look in the bag. We found the Takomo far more forgiving than the Mizuno Pro T-1 we also had in play on the day.

There's always going to be a slight compromise in play when dealing with a wedge from a direct-to-consumer brand like Takomo. In the case of the Skyforger it's that added feel of finesse and elegance that better players would expect from a wedge from a more premium brand. The overall feel of the Skyforgers is what we'd call responsive rather than buttery soft, and while we doubt most players will notice enough of a difference to pay an extra £70 for something like a Vokey or TaylorMade MG, more discerning players might miss that consistency of feel.

Should you buy the Takomo Skyforger 002 wedges?

At £99 per wedge, the Takomo Skyforger 002 wedges make an excellent value proposition for the everyday golfer wanting to put a complete set of wedges in their bag at a more affordable price. The look, feel and performance of the Takomos comes very close to that of premium wedges that cost far more, while the dual grind options make it easy to combine into a set of three that will provide versatility and forgiveness in every short game scenario.

Better players who have spent years fine tuning what they want in a wedge might find the SF002 limited when it comes to grind and bounce options, but if you're looking to build a set and grow into some new wedges as you progress, the SF002 will empower you to approach your short game with confidence—at a fantastic price.