2023: Want To Be a MGS Forum Tester? Read Here!

[Rtracymog]

So I've been fortunate enough to have had 2 testing opportunities for MGS and both have worked out really well. I saw that you mention the "star" rankings on the reviews. Is this something new? Is there a way to see what ranking our reviews got? I checked my profile and older threads, but couldn't find anything. Having feedback from the MODs on what they would like to see or what they think we can improve upon as testers would be great!

[glenmore5]

Thanks Jamie...always good for a refresher.

[GolfSpy_APH]

2 hours ago, Rtracymog said:

So I've been fortunate enough to have had 2 testing opportunities for MGS and both have worked out really well. I saw that you mention the "star" rankings on the reviews. Is this something new? Is there a way to see what ranking our reviews got? I checked my profile and older threads, but couldn't find anything. Having feedback from the MODs on what they would like to see or what they think we can improve upon as testers would be great!

The star ratings have to do with the reviews system itself which we changed to this last year. As for you personal review scores, as mentioned they won't be public for a variety of reasons. That being said, as mentioned before, we do grade reviews and can give some feedback via PM. Again it is hard for me to get into specifics without reading your prior reviews. I don't mind letting anyone know what they were scored, but can only provide limited insight at this time unless they were working on a review where I was the lead mod last season. 

I think it should also be noted that it isn't necessarily what we want to see as a Mod. Our template lays it all out and the previous mods who had created it and even though it has been tweaked or adapted over the years the core of it is the same. The review is part of it, the discussion in the threads is a big part, the follow up after is noted and so on. Review grades aren't a personal I liked that review or I didn't like this one as much we cover off our basics and score them. It doesn't have to have perfect english. It is nice when it does, but we aren't journalists or writers and some have strengths in other areas, such as photos or media or just engagement with other members. 

Finally we have adapted the review templates a bit (still needing to add in player profiles now) and we are striving to create ways for members to be more creative and add a bit of their own twist to reviews. 

[Clayton]

I think my dream test would be the Arccos/Cobra challenge.  ESPECIALLY this season with the new drivers.  I also really want to try the One Length out.  I don't know how to make suggestions other than posting here so my suggestion after the sort of disaster of 2021 is to get the Arccos/Cobra challenge started now (I'm not saying the reviews were a disaster as I enjoyed them very much, just getting the equipment to the people was tough with shortages, etc). I know it seems so early but getting the equipment going now so they can hit the ground running when courses around the world start opening up again would make so much sense. And of course pick me... I already bought my father a "knockoff set" of them and he LOVES how the system works.

The other one that I'd like to see is the Bushnell GC3.  Maybe testers could pay for the base unit and get the FULL upgrade for testing and reporting on the unit.  I would pay that $3500 right now today to test and report on the unit, and I'd be happy to buy all the other stuff like a mat and net or projector etc. for testing.  I'm thinking that I need to buy a Bushnell or GC3 unit in the next year or so - I have a 2 and 4 year old and A) want to teach them how to golf and B)  I can't justify going to the course and playing for 5-6 hours (with warm up and travel time) vs. spending time with the family more than maybe once a week or two weeks.

[GolfSpy_APH]

6 minutes ago, Clayton said:

I think my dream test would be the Arccos/Cobra challenge.  ESPECIALLY this season with the new drivers.  I also really want to try the One Length out.  I don't know how to make suggestions other than posting here so my suggestion after the sort of disaster of 2021 is to get the Arccos/Cobra challenge started now (I'm not saying the reviews were a disaster as I enjoyed them very much, just getting the equipment to the people was tough with shortages, etc). I know it seems so early but getting the equipment going now so they can hit the ground running when courses around the world start opening up again would make so much sense. And of course pick me... I already bought my father a "knockoff set" of them and he LOVES how the system works.

The other one that I'd like to see is the Bushnell GC3.  Maybe testers could pay for the base unit and get the FULL upgrade for testing and reporting on the unit.  I would pay that $3500 right now today to test and report on the unit, and I'd be happy to buy all the other stuff like a mat and net or projector etc. for testing.  I'm thinking that I need to buy a Bushnell or GC3 unit in the next year or so - I have a 2 and 4 year old and A) want to teach them how to golf and B)  I can't justify going to the course and playing for 5-6 hours (with warm up and travel time) vs. spending time with the family more than maybe once a week or two weeks.

So in short there was a LOT going on with CC5 and we did our best on our end, but unfortunately it sadly didn't pan out. Nothing to do with MGS or the testers, sadly we had several that didn't end up with their clubs. As mods we worked really hard behind the scenes, created a full competition and more.

As for the suggestion of getting it started early, I think that leads to another topic. As mods we run the tests, we select the testers, however we do not decide on what items or products are tested or when. This is up to MGS main site and their contacts with OEMs. As mods and a community we can try and have certain products tested (there is a whole thread on what you want to see tested), but outside of that we follow our direction from MGS Main site and do our work!

As far as I know the testing schedule is still being worked on and completed sometime in the next month or so. After that we (mods and community) await to see what item hits first for testing and let the season begin. 

So yes we would love to see another Cobra Connect we at this time do not know if it will happen again. We hope it will as it is a huge draw to the site and a lot of fun for the membership, but who knows? As for Bushnell GC3, yeah that is on the wish list, however I think it is a long shot to see this as a tested item... but you never know. 

[Clayton]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

So in short there was a LOT going on with CC5 and we did our best on our end, but unfortunately it sadly didn't pan out. Nothing to do with MGS or the testers, sadly we had several that didn't end up with their clubs. As mods we worked really hard behind the scenes, created a full competition and more.

As for the suggestion of getting it started early, I think that leads to another topic. As mods we run the tests, we select the testers, however we do not decide on what items or products are tested or when. This is up to MGS main site and their contacts with OEMs. As mods and a community we can try and have certain products tested (there is a whole thread on what you want to see tested), but outside of that we follow our direction from MGS Main site and do our work!

As far as I know the testing schedule is still being worked on and completed sometime in the next month or so. After that we (mods and community) await to see what item hits first for testing and let the season begin. 

So yes we would love to see another Cobra Connect we at this time do not know if it will happen again. We hope it will as it is a huge draw to the site and a lot of fun for the membership, but who knows? As for Bushnell GC3, yeah that is on the wish list, however I think it is a long shot to see this as a tested item... but you never know. 

Just to be clear, I was not complaining and I followed the whole CC5 with great interest. I was only making a suggestion, and expressing interest if MGS does it again. They did their big release already so the new stuff is out.

I think there are so many people out there that would like to see home testing of the Bushnell/GC3 setup, even if we had to pay for part of it (it's quite an expensive item to "give away") while unlocking the unit is "free" for them.  I'll just say that I'd instantly pay for the unit and buy a gaming laptop if they did that and post a comparison to Trackman simulation, and I bet there's others that would as well.  But I totally understand it's a long shot as you say.  Seems like with the MGS "partnership" or loyal use of the GC4 units for their giant test efforts that something could happen.  I'll go look for the thread you mentioned and post something on there, as I'd love to see a few people test and review them.

[RDel90]

Can you please send me the the review template? I'm working on a few unofficial reviews I'd like to post in the near future (5 star hitting mat, Mizuno T22 wedges, and some golf ball testing compared to the MGS ball test). 

[GolfSpy_APH]

5 minutes ago, RDel90 said:

Can you please send me the the review template? I'm working on a few unofficial reviews I'd like to post in the near future (5 star hitting mat, Mizuno T22 wedges, and some golf ball testing compared to the MGS ball test). 

Send me a PM

[tucker_jct]

Thanks for posting the behind the curtain details.   I hope to be playing more this year and may apply for some of the tests.

[Quigleyd]

Nice stuff. I was lucky to test some product a few years ago. Still use it every time I play. 

[Bob Pegram]

If I became a tester would I be allowed to alter the club(s) to fit me before testing? If so, great! If not, I couldn't be a tester. I use longer clubs. My waist is 45 inches off the ground with relatively short arms and torso which raises my hands farther off the ground than most people, especially those my height (6'1/2").

[Mick Close]

Really good info. Makes me think I should comment and post more often instead of just reading. How did we get access to the testing template?

[cnosil]

32 minutes ago, Bob Pegram said:

If I became a tester would I be allowed to alter the club(s) to fit me before testing? If so, great! If not, I couldn't be a tester. I use longer clubs. My waist is 45 inches off the ground with relatively short arms and torso which raises my hands farther off the ground than most people, especially those my height (6'1/2").

Typically you are able to get fit prior to submitting how you want the clubs built.  No upcharge shafts are generally available.  

[GolfSpy_APH]

23 minutes ago, Mick Close said:

Really good info. Makes me think I should comment and post more often instead of just reading. How did we get access to the testing template?

Send me a PM

[HeathS16]

Good thread, love getting to see the nitty gritty of testing selection. Not a enviable job imo

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, HeathS16 said:

Good thread, love getting to see the nitty gritty of testing selection. Not a enviable job imo

I'll be honest it isn't that bad. Of course you would love to select more then the allotted amount, but the appropriate names usually stick out and after the mods have all put in their notes or selections for the short list there is often enough overlap that it only takes a short discussion to fill in. 

It also helps that we want to get new members involved.

One small thing (well maybe not so small) that we are hoping to accomplish is year round testing. It may mean that smaller items/training items get pushed closer to the offseason (think putting matts, putout, spornia, exoputt, superspeed and the likes) so not only can we get more reviews, but more members involved in the testing process. Still more to be done on this front, but something we are certainly hoping to achieve.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Want to make your own review on a product and follow our testing template? This is a generic template to follow, however uses the same star rating system that any of the "official reviews" will have for this season and moving forward. (half stars are okay as well). The generic template gives you the opportunity to be a little more creative while following the same general template we will use for any and all official tests.
Here it is: Member Review Testing Template

Please please use the search function before creating a new thread as many of these products/reviews can be posted into existing threads. We can add in a front end message like this one to the top of the thread linking your review to make it more visible on request as well. This helps us keep the forum cleaner and without too many repeating threads. 

Have more questions? Reach out to myself @GolfSpy_APH or any of the other mods. 

[tchat07]

Testing is always a wonderful opportunity and will say that it often gives you an opportunity to work on certain areas of your game based off what you're testing. Really lean on your other testers because they become your "teammates" during testing.

[Stanrock22]

Thanks for the info.

[jpw221]

Very helpful, thank you. Looking forward to trying this out!