Takomo, the Finland-based direct-to-consumer golf model, is asserting the acquisition of one other Finnish golf firm, Otso Golf, Ltd.
Form of.
In an announcement launched yesterday, Takomo says it’s buying Otso Golf’s proprietary low-torque design, expertise and enterprise operations. What’s extra, Otso founder and CEO Miika Farin is becoming a member of Takomo as its new senior product designer.
So why the “kind of?”
It’s difficult however the acquisition represents an enormous step ahead for Takomo.
Let’s dive in.
Takomo Golf + Otso = One step nearer to full-bag
Takomo was based in 2020 in Tuku, Finland by CEO Sebastian Haapahovi. It shortly gained traction as a maverick DTC model providing sub-$500 iron units. Takomo has earned a rising legion of followers and has expanded its choices to incorporate wedges and this yr’s Ignis D1 driver.
The addition of Otso Golf’s low-torque putter expertise is the logical subsequent step within the model’s progress plans.
“This acquisition represents a pure evolution of our mission to offer technologically superior, fantastically designed gear that golfers can truly afford,” mentioned Haapahovi in a press assertion. “As we proceed our speedy progress, including Otso’s modern low-torque putters and design capabilities to our lineup permits us to ship world-class Finnish craftsmanship and the putter expertise golfers in every single place are asking for.”
The plan transferring ahead is for Farin to steer the event of a brand new, multi-model line of low-torque putters for Takomo. There’s no agency launch date set. All Takomo is saying is that it is going to be “in 2026.”
Why the “kind of?”
The explanation we are saying Takomo Golf “kind of” acquired Otso is that Otso, on its web site, says what Takomo is saying: Takomo has acquired the putter design and expertise and Farin will likely be becoming a member of Takomo.
It additionally says Otso Golf will “proceed by itself unbiased path, with new concepts already taking form.”
If we will interpret, Takomo purchased the expertise and low-torque design, together with Farin and his know-how. Otso itself will proceed as an unbiased entity.
Within the huge image, that’s in all probability nothing greater than semantics, however it’s fascinating.
Earlier this yr, Otso launched its first small-batch, low-torque putter, the D1. It’s a compact mid-mallet CNC-milled from chrome steel. Curiously, it’s additionally heel-shafted with a single-bend shaft.
Interviewed final July by the Finnish golf web site Golfpiste, Farin mentioned he went heel-shafted for one easy motive: he appreciated the seems higher.
“Heart shaft hosel is just not a pure mannequin for me,” he informed Golfpiste. “The identical end result may be achieved when the shaft factors to the middle of gravity of the blade.”
Primarily based on the imagery we discovered on Instagram, Otso has created a low-torque putter that, to our eyes anyway, seems fairly good. On the very least, it’s rather a lot much less hinky-looking than many of the low-torque/zero-torque fashions already in the marketplace.
What this implies for Takomo Golf
Final summer season, Takomo informed MyGolfSpy its final purpose is to turn into a full-bag firm. This acquisition is a big step in that course.
“We’re simply now beginning to get our toes into proprietary R&D, doing our personal factor and inventing one thing new,” Takomo Golf Chief Advertising and marketing Officer Sean McCullum informed us on the time. “That’s our future, and it’s one thing we hope to attain right here within the subsequent yr.”
It’s straightforward (and in lots of instances, not inaccurate) to dismiss lower-priced DTC manufacturers as merely “open mould sellers.” Takomo will let you know it doesn’t have a military of engineers on workers however it does have an inside design workforce that does the preliminary designs and creates the cosmetics. They’ll then work with their producer in Taiwan on supplies, face designs and different performance-related points.
What, if something, that evolution will imply to client pricing going ahead is an open query. We’ll be taught extra as soon as Takomo launches its new putter line in addition to another 2026 product launches which may be within the works.
The publish Takomo Golf Acquires Finnish Low-Torque Firm Otso: Right here’s What It Means appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
