MyGolfSpy Forum: How To Be A Tester Guide

[flyingwedges]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

A Sunday boost for what should be one of the most read threads on this forum. 

If you are serious about wanting to be a tester, read this thread. I made this new so you did not have to read through pages and pages of posts to get to know where, what and how and anything else is important. 

It is all right there! 

I will be completely transparent here - we need more active and engaged members. We have a TON of amazing testing opportunities lined up and available for our community. However we are still only going to select those who are engaged with the community and participate. If that means active and contributing members get multiple tests in a season, then so be it! 

People who just come to sign up, post in the testers wanted and then leave till the next week, that really is fine! We hope you stay and enjoy reading the content, but it is very hard for us to select someone with that history or profile for products that are valued at hundreds, even thousands of dollars. 

There needs to be a level of trust and history in order for us to have confidence in selections. These are not giveaways or prizes. The companies that we get to provide product, follow, watch and sometimes even participate in the testing opportunities and we need members who are going to dive head first into these reviews. Not just for the final review, but for the whole testing period. 

We have already done several selections this season and there are man great options, it makes it hard to choose at times, but there are also times where can see that someone hasn't logged in for the last 4 months till now and hasn't posted in 8 months. Hate to break it to that person, but we just aren't going to take that risk. 

 

 

The best way for you to get noticed and on our radar is by participating on the forum, doing a WIYB post with a little intro, take part in various areas on the forum that interest you and have fun with it! 

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday all and I hope that this guide will lead to many many many more of our members getting selected. 

Quality of post and not quantity of posts is of more importance, and I know we will always disagree on this reality.  Who we may know in the business should also be pertinent, but I'm not sure how that can get conveyed to you unless you read between the lines of various posts.

[Wheelieb]

5 minutes ago, flyingwedges said:

Who we may know in the business should also be pertinent, but I'm not sure how that can get conveyed to you unless you read between the lines of various posts.

Can you expand on this? 

[GolfSpy_APH]

4 minutes ago, flyingwedges said:

Quality of post and not quantity of posts is of more importance, and I know we will always disagree on this reality.  Who we may know in the business should also be pertinent, but I'm not sure how that can get conveyed to you unless you read between the lines of various posts.

How is who you know important? 

This is all about getting a wide variety of ppl to test products to be more relatable to more golfers.

Who you know truly doesn't make any difference to us. If anything it could cause various bias that could make a review lean one way or another.

[GolfSpy_BEN]

16 minutes ago, flyingwedges said:

Quality of post and not quantity of posts is of more importance, and I know we will always disagree on this reality.  Who we may know in the business should also be pertinent, but I'm not sure how that can get conveyed to you unless you read between the lines of various posts.

Quantity of posts has little to no bearing on who is chosen for testing. A far more important determinant would be the ability to follow simple instructions. Such as, if you want to be considered for testing, you need a profile pic. Absent that, there is nothing on our end to consider.

[William P]

38 minutes ago, flyingwedges said:

Quality of post and not quantity of posts is of more importance, and I know we will always disagree on this reality.  Who we may know in the business should also be pertinent, but I'm not sure how that can get conveyed to you unless you read between the lines of various posts.

Having recently reviewed and started following this thread, I believe the staff and others have laid out an equitable and truly transparent approach to selection of testers. Honest, fair, and to the point while spelling out ways to optimize your chances as well as ways to ensure that you will not be selected.

Please explain your reasoning behind the comment "who we may know in the business" should be a pertinent selection criteria? Without some context here this leaves me with the impression of presumptuous entitlement...

[TJ Hall]

I think it also can help to start small, doing a good review/test for a ball or glove is an easy way to prove yourself.  Another option is to do an “unofficial” review.

After doing a test, I have a whole new respect for the time and effort that goes into these.

The MGS team does a great job selecting the group for each test.

[buckpillar]

9 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

A Sunday boost for what should be one of the most read threads on this forum. 

If you are serious about wanting to be a tester, read this thread. I made this new so you did not have to read through pages and pages of posts to get to know where, what and how and anything else is important. 

It is all right there! 

I will be completely transparent here - we need more active and engaged members. We have a TON of amazing testing opportunities lined up and available for our community. However we are still only going to select those who are engaged with the community and participate. If that means active and contributing members get multiple tests in a season, then so be it! 

People who just come to sign up, post in the testers wanted and then leave till the next week, that really is fine! We hope you stay and enjoy reading the content, but it is very hard for us to select someone with that history or profile for products that are valued at hundreds, even thousands of dollars. 

There needs to be a level of trust and history in order for us to have confidence in selections. These are not giveaways or prizes. The companies that we get to provide product, follow, watch and sometimes even participate in the testing opportunities and we need members who are going to dive head first into these reviews. Not just for the final review, but for the whole testing period. 

We have already done several selections this season and there are man great options, it makes it hard to choose at times, but there are also times where can see that someone hasn't logged in for the last 4 months till now and hasn't posted in 8 months. Hate to break it to that person, but we just aren't going to take that risk. 

 

 

The best way for you to get noticed and on our radar is by participating on the forum, doing a WIYB post with a little intro, take part in various areas on the forum that interest you and have fun with it! 

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday all and I hope that this guide will lead to many many many more of our members getting selected. 

I agree, I found that since joining MGS that the community has a lot to offer on golf topics but also some general life conversations that might relate to you. When you do have a chance to test makes the experience that much better, during your testing and even after you can interact with anyone and everyone. Like @GolfSpy_APH said pick a few topics or reviews to follow comment ask questions and especially HAVE FUN and enjoy. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

A more more coming this season! Be sure to give this thread a read to better your chances at being selected!

[Rob Person]

On 2/11/2024 at 11:40 AM, TJ Hall said:

I think it also can help to start small, doing a good review/test for a ball or glove is an easy way to prove yourself.  Another option is to do an “unofficial” review.

After doing a test, I have a whole new respect for the time and effort that goes into these.

The MGS team does a great job selecting the group for each test.

100% agree!

  I will add that even if someone has already reviewed a particular brand/product, (official or unofficial) , it would be beneficial to others to add your own in depth personal review of that item. It's more than words and pictures,  it's details that may prove useful within different perspectives. Not everyone connects with a data driven report. Others may be comfortable reading simplified breakdowns. 

A helpful tip: read through all the other reviews to gain a true perspective!

I am still learning what it takes to produce a solid review that can really connect to as many as possible. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Another weekend booster for this thread. 

As a PSA we have so many truly incredible experiences for testing this season and we want you to be a part of it! Check out the thread above and get involved for your best chance at being a tester for MyGolfSpy!

[GolfSpy_APH]

I did a rough count and we will be looking at needing 200 ish testers this season.

That's a lot of opportunities! 

Head over to the first page and you'll see what we are looking for and how to guarantee your place as a MyGolfSpy Forum Tester!

Doesn't take much... Just a little!

[GolfSpy_APH]

As this has come up in a few emails we have received I think it's okay to address or make a point about testing a bit more clear.

Testing is not a prize or a contest.

If someone is reading this and they have never posted before the likelihood of being chosen is essentially zero.

Why? 

Simple, we don't know you or have any history of what you can do or provide. This is not to say that person would not be an excellent tester, but how could we possibly know? 

Look at it from an admin side - we have an obligation to provide excellent reviews to our community, it's members and of course the OEM involved. When someone does a poor job or ghosts it looks bad on us as we did the selections. 

We are responsible for providing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to members online - most if not all we have not met in person. There needs to be done history or activity that can at least give us a glimpse of potential. And trust me we work really hard to provide new member opportunities! 

However if we see a sign up and someone has no posts, or maybe 10 posts but all saying pick me type posts it's simply hard to trust. 

Of course if you have questions let us know,!

[Cfhandyman]

16 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

As this has come up in a few emails we have received I think it's okay to address or make a point about testing a bit more clear.

Testing is not a prize or a contest.

If someone is reading this and they have never posted before the likelihood of being chosen is essentially zero.

Why? 

Simple, we don't know you or have any history of what you can do or provide. This is not to say that person would not be an excellent tester, but how could we possibly know? 

Look at it from an admin side - we have an obligation to provide excellent reviews to our community, it's members and of course the OEM involved. When someone does a poor job or ghosts it looks bad on us as we did the selections. 

We are responsible for providing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to members online - most if not all we have not met in person. There needs to be done history or activity that can at least give us a glimpse of potential. And trust me we work really hard to provide new member opportunities! 

However if we see a sign up and someone has no posts, or maybe 10 posts but all saying pick me type posts it's simply hard to trust. 

Of course if you have questions let us know,!

Well stated and said.  This thread should be highly recommended reading (and re reading) if you want to be a tester. You want to ensure the best possible outcomes for both readers and the OEM’s. 

[buckpillar]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

As this has come up in a few emails we have received I think it's okay to address or make a point about testing a bit more clear.

Testing is not a prize or a contest.

If someone is reading this and they have never posted before the likelihood of being chosen is essentially zero.

Why? 

Simple, we don't know you or have any history of what you can do or provide. This is not to say that person would not be an excellent tester, but how could we possibly know? 

Look at it from an admin side - we have an obligation to provide excellent reviews to our community, it's members and of course the OEM involved. When someone does a poor job or ghosts it looks bad on us as we did the selections. 

We are responsible for providing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to members online - most if not all we have not met in person. There needs to be done history or activity that can at least give us a glimpse of potential. And trust me we work really hard to provide new member opportunities! 

However if we see a sign up and someone has no posts, or maybe 10 posts but all saying pick me type posts it's simply hard to trust. 

Of course if you have questions let us know,!

Well said @GolfSpy_APH, The OEM's rely/depend on MGS and its members to be honest and detail their reviews, as @Cfhandyman stated about reading and re-reading the guidelines is a must for complete accurate reviews and to give members guidelines as to what is expected before, during and after testing.

Since MGS has really no face to face interactions with a member, they must rely on the members posts and interactions with other MGS members so a comfort level can be reach to make a decision and then possibly grant a product for testing. 

I know its a very hard line when choosing a tester and thankfully we have the ADMIN staff to sort through everything. MGS administrators are the best and always are out to do the right thing to help the members and OEM's.  Well Done.

I'm glad I stumbled across the MGS website in 2022... Now that was a GREAT DAY OF GOLF!! 

Thank you MGS you are a vital part of the golf world, keep it rockin' 

[TJ Hall]

37 minutes ago, buckpillar said:

Well said @GolfSpy_APH, The OEM's rely/depend on MGS and its members to be honest and detail their reviews, as @Cfhandyman stated about reading and re-reading the guidelines is a must for complete accurate reviews and to give members guidelines as to what is expected before, during and after testing.

Since MGS has really no face to face interactions with a member, they must rely on the members posts and interactions with other MGS members so a comfort level can be reach to make a decision and then possibly grant a product for testing. 

I know its a very hard line when choosing a tester and thankfully we have the ADMIN staff to sort through everything. MGS administrators are the best and always are out to do the right thing to help the members and OEM's.  Well Done.

I'm glad I stumbled across the MGS website in 2022... Now that was a GREAT DAY OF GOLF!! 

Thank you MGS you are a vital part of the golf world, keep it rockin' 

I agree, the guide is fantastic…thank you to @GolfSpy_APH and the MGS team for putting it together!  Appreciate all of the hard work and effort the team puts in to make these tests possible.

Being selected for a test is just the beginning, it takes a lot of time and effort to put the equipment through a thorough test and provide the type of feedback the community is looking for.

[Rob Person]

Beyond the selection process admins/mods go thru, the ability to follow directions is also important.  Each test has its own parameters and requirements.  What is needed for one test,  may not be the same for other tests. Even if it's with similar equipment. 

Edited February 21 by Rob Person

[GolfSpy_APH]

 Attention All 

Must Read Thread!

[Boldgolf]

This thread and guide is fantastic and really drives home the fact that testing is serious business - which is awesome! When I first joined earlier this year, I looked at the testing opportunities much more casually and after digging in, it's obviously anything but casual. Thanks for the work y'all put towards the testing process for both the manufacturers and the community, and thanks for laying out all this great information on how to get involved.

[GolfSpy_APH]

4 hours ago, Boldgolf said:

This thread and guide is fantastic and really drives home the fact that testing is serious business - which is awesome! When I first joined earlier this year, I looked at the testing opportunities much more casually and after digging in, it's obviously anything but casual. Thanks for the work y'all put towards the testing process for both the manufacturers and the community, and thanks for laying out all this great information on how to get involved.

Really glad you found this guide useful. I think I boost it or send it along about 20 times per week to different people. 

We really don't ask for a lot (at least I don't think so) considering we provide well over $100,000 in equipment each year. With that we have certain expectations we have for testers, but also expectations that are put on us from the membership, companies and HQ to ensure we are doing this properly and not just a spot to get free equipment. Simply put we won't let it come to that, if we feel we don't have enough good to great testers then we will cut back on testing to an extent. 

Thankfully we always select new people for each test which means every test there is an opportunity for someone to show out and become an awesome trusted tester!

[NUTTY2003]

The great thing is that everyone who tests something is like me just an average golfer trying to play my best golf. 
       I have not been a member long but thanks to MyGolfSpy for not just the support from them but all member members around the world  

[Rob17452]

I've only recently joined this forum and I have enjoyed the product reviews. This information is valuable to know on the expectations and selection method. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Lots of new names out here past week.

Remember to review the how to be a tester at the beginning of this thread! Can’t wait to see some new names around regularly!

[meteorinnov8]

that cleared a lot up in terms of criteria and process. thanks, MGS for transparency and ongoing efforts to make our community sustainable 

[GolfSpy_APH]

20 minutes ago, meteorinnov8 said:

that cleared a lot up in terms of criteria and process. thanks, MGS for transparency and ongoing efforts to make our community sustainable 

We do what we can! 

[Willie T]

On 2/11/2024 at 8:48 AM, Rob Person said:

Well written, and very to the point, posts  by all above.

I don't stick around just waiting for the next testing opportunity,  I actually enjoy coming here daily (ok, multiple times daily, ) and reading,  learning, and enjoying all there is available. And boy, is there ALOT! I know you will find a multitude of healthy discussions or insightful topics to become engaged in.

 

Rereading this thread has proven very beneficial to understanding how to be a tester and a solid one that provides insights from added points of view.  As @Rob Person said above, I tend to visit the MGS site  at least twice a day, and having a committed thread or threads that I regularly post/follow helps me stay in the loop.  Also those new to testing (my first test was last year with the Indi Wedges (still doing follow-up posts)) and the Odyssey AI-One Milled putter (aka “Millie”),  I highly recommend searching earlier tests and see how the testers did their thing (the Intros, the initial reviews, the finals and follow-ups). I’ve learned much about solid writing and media posts by just taking time to read and letting that data marinate.  
Looking forward to the opportunities presented in 2024! 
 

 

 

 

 

[Dukhook52]

Well, this was certainly an eye opener!  I have tested for other golf sites, but they had no where near the requirements of MGS.  But, neither did those other sites provide the scientific insights that MGS does!  During Covid shutdown I used MGS for a driver fitting.  Let me just say that I am still using that particular driver!  So, from personal experience I appreciate what MGS requires of their testers.  Thanks for the insights into the process!  I haven’t been chosen to test by MGS, but plan to up my game and keep applying when a product fits my profile.

[RVAJIM]

Thanks to all for the insights and recommendations.

[RVAJIM]

Just now, RVAJIM said:

Thanks to all for the insights and recommendations.

"90% of all short putts, don't go in" - Hubert Green

[Proimpactclubworx]

On 1/4/2024 at 3:10 PM, GolfSpy_BEN said:

Also important to keep these 3 things in mind as we enter the 2024 testing season:

• no profile pic = no test. 
   
• Carefully consider the opportunity before you sign up. If you are selected to test an item, it will likely be the only test you will be selected for this season. 
• Testing equipment does not in any way equate to a free giveaway. By agreeing to test something you will be agreeing to give a good portion of your time and attention over a 4-6 week period. Testing is a lot of fun, but it is also work and should be considered as such.

With that being said, good luck this season and I can’t wait to share all the good things we are working on with you all!

Have you considered allowing bigger file sizes for pictures? Every profile picture I try to upload is too big for allowable size

[GolfSpy_APH]

54 minutes ago, Proimpactclubworx said:

Have you considered allowing bigger file sizes for pictures? Every profile picture I try to upload is too big for allowable size

It's a system limitation. There are a bunch of resizing apps or even websites you can use to make any photo meet the size requirements.