I got this driver around June of 05 while i was desperately needing one. And i love this driver. I just came back from the golf course and was versing my golf instucture. he beat me by only 2 strokes. thats a great feat for me. but the greater feat is that i hit 14 OUT OF 14 FAIRWAYS. yes i just typed 14 OUT OF 14 FAIRWAYS. this driver has served me well. but words cant describe what i just did. and i only got it for just a Benjamin($100). and i got customed for free. with a aldila nv 65-s 350 shaft, and nothing has served me better. this a great driver for the price. please try it you woill not be dissapointed.

Customer Service

did not need

Similar Products Used:

nike titanium 350cc taylormade burner& burner bubble.

This is a decent driver for me, and a good sucessor to the Burner Bubble, which is a driver that I loved. My typical length with this club is around 260, but I've hit a 301 yard green twice this year (downwind). I bought this club to replace a R580XD that I just couldn't hit properly. I don't think it's my swing either. Hitting those two clubs side by side showed me that the 540 is more consistent than the 580XD, though the 540 is a bit shorter but much more accurate. I think the 540 is more of a player's club. I don't think it will reward a high handicapper or a low swing speed player. One thing that has made a very distinct difference in the performance of this driver is the shaft. I had my oem shaft analyzed and found that while the stiffness is appropriate, the torque value is too weak. This causes variations in the face position at impact. I switched to a Grafalloy Pro Launch shaft with equal stiffness but with much lower torque. More importantly, you can safely assume that the manufacturing of the oem shafts is much lower grade than those of higher end, after market shafts. Consistency of torque and stiffness does make a difference. Ask a professional custom club maker their opinion of oem shafts, you may be surprised! The 540 has a pretty standard sweet spot, and since swapping out the shaft, my impact disperson on the face has tightened up a surprising amount. This means my impact variation has dropped to less than 1/4" off center, and over 20-30 hits, the impact is one large mass of hits, and no strays on the heel or toe. Again, I don't think this is a swing indicator, I believe it is all in the shaft. I think the 540 is a fine club, far superior to the 580XD I played previously, if you are thinking of upgrading to a new club, seriously consider tweaking the shaft, and don't be cheap. Plan on spending close to a hundred bucks. I'd recommend to everyone to test their clubs closely, use a face impact sticker to see where you're hitting and to see the disperson. If you see a diagonal pattern such as low heel to upper toe, then more than likely the torque of the shaft is poor. It is absolutely worth checking out. Right now the 540 is hard to find, but is downright cheap when you do find one. Buy it for the head and get it spec'd with a proper shaft and you'll still have a really good deal. I've only had a few test whacks with the 540XD, so unfortunately I can't offer any comparison, other than you can assume that the shaft shortcomings will be the same.

Customer Service

have not needed any.

Similar Products Used:

540XD, 580XD, Burner BubbleTi.

This is a follow up review since I got this driver last year. All I can say it's just getting better. Yesterday I hit 10 of 14 fairways and couldn't count 2 drives because I drove THROUGH the fairway. Best combo I've found so far is this driver with Callaway HX TOUR and ORANGE BRUSH TEE. I use the BRUSH tee for the CONSISTENT height they provide. This driver is a keeper.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use.

Similar Products Used:

TaylorMade 200 Steel, Callaway GBB Tested many others

I have been using a TM 360XD 10.5 reg, which is OK, but I've been having some control issues and the ball flight is a bit high. When I was playing with a friend a few weeks ago, he demoed this club. It didn't go so well for him, but it was great for me. I was hitting the ball ALOT further than my 360, and had a much better trajectory with it. Lovely weight too. The 360xd was just far too light for me, but this club has a great fell. I also hit it alot straighter than most other drivers. Good size for me. At 350cc its a bit easier to square than some of the bigger clubs. (the 540xd is 400cc). I was going to buy one, but then I saw a great deal on a brand new TM r580. It's on it's way. I just hope it goes as well as the 540 did or I'll kick myself! With the XD's and now the R7's out, there's some great deals on the original r500 series. I'd say definitely pick one up while you can.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

TM 360xd, Nike Ignite

This driver smokes the competition by a mile. I had a 580 that just never fit my game, I went to the 540 and never looked back. This driver is 10-20 yards longer than any other driver I've used. It has a perfect ball flight, and it is easily workable. Mis hits are still very much in play, forgiveness is unbelievable with this club. I went with a 9.5*, and it seems perfect for my game. Taylor Made hit the jackpot with these drivers, buy one any you won't be disapointed!! Plus, now that the R7 is out, these are around $149.00

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

Callaway, Titelist, Ping, Taylor Made

I've tried lots of drivers in m golfing carreer but I have to say this is one of the best forgiveness, sound, explosive distance the whole thing. I love it on a 300 yds hole i can easily have a putter in my hands after i bagged my R540!

Customer Service

talor was really nice when i asked for a reshaft to XS, they accepted that i send a shaft in!

Similar Products Used:

callaway, ping, cleveland, taylor 360, a lot of product none of which compare

Good driver though it took me a while to get the most out of it. Put an Aldila NV S75 (Stiff) shaft in, which brings out the best in the club. More than anything this club is forgiving on off-centre hits. Don't expect it to automatically increase your distance by any great amount though (unless you are using a really old driver at the moment). When I catch one right out of the middle it flies maybe 15 yards further than my old Wilson driver. I think this driver is more about control and accuracy rather than distance and power. And great value now that R7 is out - bought this on ebay for less than US$200

Customer Service

TM are excellent - something came loose in the head in my first trip down to the range - they replaced it within one week with a brand new club

Similar Products Used:

Most other OEM drivers

I am 13 years old so i don't have alot of power. I had demoed this club and decided to buy one. At first i was hitting a really bad slice off the face and thought about going back to using my Mizuno Blue Rage. After about 5 times on the driving range and a lesson from our local pro i hit it straight as an arrow. I increased my drives by 20 yards and can now hit the ball 220 yards. I recommend this club to anyone who shoots under 95. if u shoot over that get the r580 because it is a little more forgiving altho all the drivers in the r5 series are forgiving in my opionion. I think this club helps u hit a draw once u no how to hit it. My only complaint is that the regular shaft is a little too whippy and balloons the ball so that it loses a little bit of distance. With that said this is the best driver i have ever used and will be in my bag along time

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Cleveland Launcher, Ping si3, Nike 350cc, Mizuno Blue Rage, Titleist 975J, Titleist 975LFE

Wow what an amazing club. I purchased it on e-bay and my game has turned around. It is amazingly forgiving and easy to hit. I have never hit the ball so long. It has added a good twenty yards to my drives and I am incredibly straighter off the tee. This is the best driver I have ever played. I would recommend this club to anyone, it could be my single most important golf purchase ever.

Moved up to the R540 10.5 with Grafalloy ProLite R-45 shaft from the 200 Steel 10.5 S-90 Graphite. Tested different models of the 500 series to get the right head, loft and shaft in a simulator. It's taken a good 10 rounds to get used to the larger head, but the forgiveness and distance were well worth the effort. Biggest boost was when I FINALLY started teeing the ball high enough. With the added distance I need to be cautious on doglegs to NOT hit through the fairway. The higher trajectory has added an average of 15 yards of carry to my drives. Reduced my hook tendency as well. When I'm on with this driver I'm hitting either long straight bombs or beuatiful high draws. It's nice to be in a scoring positin rather than a recovery position. I love being the smallest guy in a four some, but being the farthest one down the fairway! I highly recommend this driver as long as you take the time to test and get the correct loft and shaft for your swing. Make sure they check your launch angle & speed. GREAT VALUE now that the XD's are out!

Customer Service

Haven't used but love TaylorMade woods. 2nd TaylorMade driver and 2nd set of TaylorMade fairway woods.

Similar Products Used:

TaylorMade 200 Steel, Callaway GBB