MyGolfSpy Forum: How To Be A Tester Guide

[JG23]

Thank you for clarifying this!! This helps significantly in understanding what it takes to get my hands on some test equipment!

[Medfloat]

Just re-read the information posted here and wanted to say I appreciate the updates.  Previously, would I have been selected for a product review after blindly signing up, I’d be shocked by the standards you expect.  I find it refreshing that MGS maintains high standards and hold their testers accountable (both for the good and not-so good) to them and the community.  

[GolfSpy_APH]

31 minutes ago, Medfloat said:

Just re-read the information posted here and wanted to say I appreciate the updates.  Previously, would I have been selected for a product review after blindly signing up, I’d be shocked by the standards you expect.  I find it refreshing that MGS maintains high standards and hold their testers accountable (both for the good and not-so good) to them and the community.  

Appreciate you reading the posts.

In truth as we move forward our expectations are only growing larger. We are going to ask a lot, but when those members are getting hundreds or even thousands in equipment I think it's a fair ask.

[Medfloat]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Appreciate you reading the posts.

In truth as we move forward our expectations are only growing larger. We are going to ask a lot, but when those members are getting hundreds or even thousands in equipment I think it's a fair ask.

I agree.  Question…how involved are the equipment companies with the MGS forum reviews?

[GolfSpy_APH]

3 minutes ago, Medfloat said:

I agree.  Question…how involved are the equipment companies with the MGS forum reviews?

What do you mean? With selections or?

[Medfloat]

Are there certain criteria they require during the review with products sent to MGS for testing that dictates or influences your review standards?  

[GolfSpy_APH]

5 minutes ago, Medfloat said:

Are there certain criteria they require during the review with products sent to MGS for testing that dictates or influences your review standards?  

The only real input they have in part of the reviews can be fittings or locations. Titleist for examples books fittings for the testers. Then we encourage them to provide feedback on what type of golfer they want - handicap, swing speed that type of thing. We want the products to be in the hands of the right type of golfer to make a fair assessment. 

Other than that we have a platform they find beneficial and influential. 

It should also be noted we have not accepted all products that have come for member testing. We have learned certain ones just don't fit our platform and don't provide the value to our members or those companies.

[Medfloat]

Thanks, I appreciate the immediate replies.  

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, Medfloat said:

Thanks, I appreciate the immediate replies.  

We do what we can! 

[Rob Person]

On 8/20/2024 at 9:06 AM, JG23 said:

Thank you for clarifying this!! This helps significantly in understanding what it takes to get my hands on some test equipment!

Just understand that you are being vetted against thousands of applicants 

 Be patient,  be involved with the community,  and keep a positive outlook!

[Grip]

Once selected, do your best to provide what is asked of you as a reviewer plus continue to provide updates and respond to feedback. Eventually, you'll receive your tester badge and maybe be selected for another testing opportunity. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Please give this a glance if you are new. 

Member testing is taking off and we want more than ever to select new members for testing. However we need you to meet the most basic requirements. 

Just for a small example I pulled the short list for the current TM test after 24 hours. There are over 2700 registrations and do you want to give a guess at how many have over 20 posts? (Yes, for this type of test that is the baseline we look at). Only 133 have more more than that. 

Get involved, get a profile photo and you will get selected! 

[Quigleyd]

On 8/25/2024 at 12:08 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please give this a glance if you are new. 

Member testing is taking off and we want more than ever to select new members for testing. However we need you to meet the most basic requirements. 

Just for a small example I pulled the short list for the current TM test after 24 hours. There are over 2700 registrations and do you want to give a guess at how many have over 20 posts? (Yes, for this type of test that is the baseline we look at). Only 133 have more more than that. 

Get involved, get a profile photo and you will get selected! 

Check, check and check. lol. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

One more thing - Where our traditional testing season has kinda gone out the window and we effectively have a wrap around season now members can sign up for any and all opps regardless of if you have tested this season. If you are currently involved in a test, don't sign up, you won't be picked. However there will be those that potentially get a small opp at some point as well if they had a bigger one prior. It is inevitable with the sheer number of opportunities that we have. 

[Shapotomous]

On 8/25/2024 at 3:08 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Please give this a glance if you are new. 

Member testing is taking off and we want more than ever to select new members for testing. However we need you to meet the most basic requirements. 

Just for a small example I pulled the short list for the current TM test after 24 hours. There are over 2700 registrations and do you want to give a guess at how many have over 20 posts? (Yes, for this type of test that is the baseline we look at). Only 133 have more more than that. 

Get involved, get a profile photo and you will get selected! 

Wow!  I had no idea the ratio of involved members to sign ups would be so low.  I guess one way to look at it is the social media advertising must be bringing in a lot of traffic.

Edited August 28 by Shapotomous
spelllling corrrrection

[Wheelieb]

When reading some of the testing opps, like the Bridgestone ball test, there were items I didn't have to be able to do the testing. Another one I am hesitant on is the Launch monitor testings. Do I have the space to do them in now? Yes. Am I close to having a finished project for a mat, net, screen to do the testing? In no way am I close. We are getting the detached garage reorganized to see if it would be a possibility to get one, but I'm not counting those eggs before they are hatched.

[GolfSpy_BEN]

45 minutes ago, Wheelieb said:

When reading some of the testing opps, like the Bridgestone ball test, there were items I didn't have to be able to do the testing. Another one I am hesitant on is the Launch monitor testings. Do I have the space to do them in now? Yes. Am I close to having a finished project for a mat, net, screen to do the testing? In no way am I close. We are getting the detached garage reorganized to see if it would be a possibility to get one, but I'm not counting those eggs before they are hatched.

This gets at, what I feel is, a critical factor in deciding to sign up for a testing opportunity. The first 2 questions that everyone should ask themselves prior to signing up are:

1) Will I be available during the 4-6 weeks that this test will occur?

2) How will I test this product and what will be required of me to test it?

If you have the availability and a good plan in place, then feel free to sign up and good luck!

 

[Shapotomous]

52 minutes ago, Wheelieb said:

When reading some of the testing opps, like the Bridgestone ball test, there were items I didn't have to be able to do the testing. Another one I am hesitant on is the Launch monitor testings. Do I have the space to do them in now? Yes. Am I close to having a finished project for a mat, net, screen to do the testing? In no way am I close. We are getting the detached garage reorganized to see if it would be a possibility to get one, but I'm not counting those eggs before they are hatched.

 

1 minute ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

This gets at, what I feel is, a critical factor in deciding to sign up for a testing opportunity. The first 2 questions that everyone should ask themselves prior to signing up are:

1) Will I be available during the 4-6 weeks that this test will occur?

2) How will I test this product and what will be required of me to test it?

If you have the availability and a good plan in place, then feel free to sign up and good luck!

 

Or.....

You sign up for launch monitor testing, get chosen, and tell the spousal unit that you have been drafted to test this device and NEED to get the peripheral equipment to be able to do it!  Use the old think about how much money we saved just having to get a few accessory items to support the testing of the launch monitor!!  

You're welcome!!  

[Wheelieb]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

This gets at, what I feel is, a critical factor in deciding to sign up for a testing opportunity. The first 2 questions that everyone should ask themselves prior to signing up are:

1) Will I be available during the 4-6 weeks that this test will occur?

2) How will I test this product and what will be required of me to test it?

If you have the availability and a good plan in place, then feel free to sign up and good luck!

 

If memory serves me correctly, and you can tell me if I’m way off on this, there are some opportunities that ask of you have certain things in order to be considered to be a tester of the product. For me, the most logical one was the shoes. I knew I could get out every morning in the dew drenched course to really see if the claims were true about being waterproof and not slipping. The best thing, I had fun. 

[mynerds]

Fantastic info in here for new members and old hats alike!

Throwing this out into the universe for a future April fools (or legit) test - with the amount of DIY tools being used for non-intended golf purposes, it feels like we could have a test sponsored by Home Depot. Regrip your golf clubs with a Ryobi air compressor, see whats in your golf balls with a Milwaukee compact pipe cutter, or repurpose some EMT conduit as a hitting net frame.

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, mynerds said:

Fantastic info in here for new members and old hats alike!

Throwing this out into the universe for a future April fools (or legit) test - with the amount of DIY tools being used for non-intended golf purposes, it feels like we could have a test sponsored by Home Depot. Regrip your golf clubs with a Ryobi air compressor, see whats in your golf balls with a Milwaukee compact pipe cutter, or repurpose some EMT conduit as a hitting net frame.

I think I would go with Tees that guarantee straight shots and 15 more yards, the anti-rollback tees!

[GolfWithWes]

On 10/31/2023 at 5:22 PM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Figured it is worth providing another update here as we have tweaked things a bit. 

We recognize there is an inherent bias towards the products that are given to members for testing. We have seen higher grades than ever before and while we do feel some products warrant that, we wanted to make sure we are fair. People often make purchasing decisions on this so here is a quick guide on how we will do grades moving forward. 

And while we are at it, same thing goes for posting during reviews. It is clear and you will be able to see our expectations right from the start. 

For those who tested prior to us sending this out, we are continuing with the prior model. But all testing moving forward will go under this layout. 

Only sign up for the reviews you are excited for. Getting placed on one you wish you hadn't been could lead to low activity and then potentially no future tests. 

 

A long read but well worth it by the end! Seems like testers are guided and supported well through the process, can't wait to get my first opportunity

[GolfSpy_APH]

6 hours ago, GolfWithWes said:

A long read but well worth it by the end! Seems like testers are guided and supported well through the process, can't wait to get my first opportunity

Imagine having to write all of it!

I think most people or members knew how it worked prior to these threads, but at least this gives a true clear outline of what someone should be doing if they really want to become a tester. 

Not everyone will want to put in that time or effort, which is fine. We get 2k plus applications for most member tests now and when we run the short lists we will typically sift through and only include those with 10/15/20 posts or more. From there we take a look at a bit of everything. 

How good of a fit are they for the test?
How active have they been recently?
What is their ratio?
How are logins?
Where have they been posting?
Have they tested already this year?
Is this someone who we think can get a little boost by being involved in a member test?

And a whole lot more. 

However when we do that, of the 2k that were in the ghost gt-14 bag and I sifted for 20 or more posts only 130 or so names came up. If we can find 4 names among that 130 then we are set, if we need to go down the list a little more so be it, but for the most part on many tests we look at 20 or more posts for the initial short list run. 

[buckpillar]

56 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Imagine having to write all of it!

I think most people or members knew how it worked prior to these threads, but at least this gives a true clear outline of what someone should be doing if they really want to become a tester. 

Not everyone will want to put in that time or effort, which is fine. We get 2k plus applications for most member tests now and when we run the short lists we will typically sift through and only include those with 10/15/20 posts or more. From there we take a look at a bit of everything. 

How good of a fit are they for the test?
How active have they been recently?
What is their ratio?
How are logins?
Where have they been posting?
Have they tested already this year?
Is this someone who we think can get a little boost by being involved in a member test?

And a whole lot more. 

However when we do that, of the 2k that were in the ghost gt-14 bag and I sifted for 20 or more posts only 130 or so names came up. If we can find 4 names among that 130 then we are set, if we need to go down the list a little more so be it, but for the most part on many tests we look at 20 or more posts for the initial short list run. 

If you read it.. testing will come , as long as you follow some simple guidelines. It is a great read so you can get a grasp of what is expected and what you can do to help your chances.

[GolfWithWes]

Imagine having to write all of it!
I think most people or members knew how it worked prior to these threads, but at least this gives a true clear outline of what someone should be doing if they really want to become a tester. 
Not everyone will want to put in that time or effort, which is fine. We get 2k plus applications for most member tests now and when we run the short lists we will typically sift through and only include those with 10/15/20 posts or more. From there we take a look at a bit of everything. 
How good of a fit are they for the test?
How active have they been recently?
What is their ratio?
How are logins?
Where have they been posting?
Have they tested already this year?
Is this someone who we think can get a little boost by being involved in a member test?
And a whole lot more. 

However when we do that, of the 2k that were in the ghost gt-14 bag and I sifted for 20 or more posts only 130 or so names came up. If we can find 4 names among that 130 then we are set, if we need to go down the list a little more so be it, but for the most part on many tests we look at 20 or more posts for the initial short list run. 

The numbers really are insane! It must be great to see so much interest in what you're doing and providing. I do not envy you guys going through the shortlisting proccess but the quality of the reviews that do come from it is telling! I'll admit I had applied for a test after reading only the initial post in this thread but having read alot further along I know I'll be holding off until I feel a bit more involved with the forum!

Sent from my SM-S928B using Tapatalk

[GolfSpy_APH]

2 hours ago, GolfWithWes said:

The numbers really are insane! It must be great to see so much interest in what you're doing and providing. I do not envy you guys going through the shortlisting proccess but the quality of the reviews that do come from it is telling! I'll admit I had applied for a test after reading only the initial post in this thread but having read alot further along I know I'll be holding off until I feel a bit more involved with the forum!

Sent from my SM-S928B using Tapatalk
 

 

Truly the more people that read this the more people we would have involved and part of testing which makes it better for everyone. Doesn't take much!

[Rob Person]

They come for the tests, they stay for the community!

 

(With any luck anyway!)