Takomo Ignis D2 Driver Review: Can A £300 DTC Driver Really Compete With My £800 Gamer?

The arrival of the Takomo Ignis D2 driver is a story of turning a negative into an overwhelming positive.

You may recall that its predecessor, the Ignis D1, unfortunately was subject to a product recall as it failed the USGA and R&A conformity test in certain configurations. While Takomo insists a second-generation driver was always in the pipeline, it’s hard not to suspect its release was slightly accelerated by the conformity issue.

Crucially, however, Takomo’s handling of the situation was a masterclass in customer service, proactively contacting all Ignis D1 purchasers to offer a replacement D2 completely free of charge. But that begs the question: are returning customers getting a similar product?

In short, no. The D2 represents a fairly dramatic shift in philosophy, which could be a problem for many of those who purchased the original driver.

In terms of the tech, gone are the three weight ports found on the sole of the D1 (unsurprising, as they seemed to be the root cause of the conformity issues), replaced by a simpler single rear weight port on the D2. This works in tandem with a new, lighter HST160C titanium alloy variable-thickness face and a carbon composite crown to push the center of gravity much further back.

Out of the box, it comes fitted with a 3g back weight, but Takomo includes an extra 8g weight with every purchase. This is a smart and thoughtful touch at any price point, let alone at sub £300.

It affords players the opportunity to cut the driver down to a shorter playing length and maintain swing weight, or to simply screw the heavier weight in to increase MOI and boost the overall head weight.

Aesthetically, there is very little not to like. The 460cc shape is beautifully rounded, finished in a stealthy, understated colourway with a barely-there alignment aid. Even the included headcover is top-tier.

Takomo has become synonymous with minimalist, no-fuss designs, and the D2 is right in their wheelhouse.

However, one thing that I found ridiculous about this new model is the new shaft adapter. For some reason, Takomo has decided to ditch the very intuitive -1˚, +1˚ style labelling to guide you on how to adjust your driver precisely and accurately, and, in one of the strangest and most unnecessary design moves in the history of golf, has instead replaced it with compass-style NE and NW labelling.

I cannot for the life of me think why a company would want to make your life more difficult and confusing, but Takomo has managed it with aplomb on this loft sleeve.

Much player feedback on the old D1 was that it didn’t spin enough for mere mortals - though as a 120mph swinger, I actually found the complete opposite.

The D2, however, is a different beast entirely. Thanks to that deep CG, the spin numbers interestingly remained broadly similar for me, but the head unquestionably feels significantly more stable through the hitting zone.

I did run into a minor setup hurdle.

In its standard configuration, the club felt very light. It sits at a D1 swing weight, and as someone who generally lives closer to D4, I initially struggled to feel the clubhead during the swing. The heavier 8g weight is a welcome inclusion here to help combat that.

Furthermore, while the weighting is designed to be neutral, I found myself turning it over with a pronounced draw. I suspect this is because my sample measured in at a very upright 63 degrees, which is a long way from the 58-degree lie angle stated in the specs online.

To see where it truly stands, I put it head-to-head against my current driver, a TaylorMade Qi4D (8° loft, fitted with a Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X shaft).

Testing them side-by-side at the same length, my TaylorMade was undoubtedly faster. I registered an average of 119mph of clubhead speed and 173mph of ball speed with my gamer, compared to 117mph and 170mph with the Takomo.

The D2 was spinning at 2700rpm compared to my gamer’s 2350rpm, culminating in a carry distance of 286 yards for the Takomo versus 300 yards for the TaylorMade.

A 14-yard gap sounds significant, but if you shrink those differences proportionally down the swing-speed scale, an average 100mph swinger might only see a 6- or 7-yard difference. At that point, you have a very real conversation to have with yourself about value.

My Qi4D/Ventus setup would retail for roughly £800. The Takomo Ignis D2 is just £300. For the price of my current big stick, you could basically buy the D2 driver and a full set of Takomo irons. Food for thought about what a reasonable pound-per-yard ratio really is…

Overall, this is an incredibly impressive driver regardless of the price tag. It is exceptionally easy to use, looks premium, and sounds and feels solid. You will definitely find other drivers that are slightly quicker, and if you are seeking a low-spin bomber, you should look elsewhere.

But when you consider the £300 price point in the context of today's market, I cannot think of another driver that provides this level of bang for your buck.

The Takomo Ignis D2 driver comes in both left and right-handed options of 9˚ and 10.5˚. It is available with Fujikura Ventus shaft options (although it must be noted that these are not Velocore Ventus options; it is a watered-down “made for” derivative of the tour-validated Ventus line) of blue and red profiles.