we don't owe nobody nuthin'!

[Slingblade61]

Product reviews.

I quit.

All across the internet there are golf sites that get free gear for the purposes of reviews on their pages. Shot Talk is no exception. the problem is that the reviewer, being the recipient of free gear, almost feels compelled to do a positive review which makes the supplier happy but tends to color the review in a way that leaves the end user in the lurch.

Ebay is loaded with crap that people thought was the be all and end all in golf equipment, quickly found out the opposite is true and dumped the junk at a loss.

My personal experience here has been that I encounter whining and a general bad taste in my mouth if a review did not meet expectations. The review can even be positive but in one case did not go far enough, I suppose scientific calculations should have been included.

In another case the party in question was aghast that I did not love is bit of kit as much as he did even though the review was generally positive.

Therefore, it is in the best interests of the readers here that I no longer accept equipment for review. Instead I will rely on you, the end user. the every day Joe who has worked hard for his money and spent it on his own stuff.....who, I ask you, will give you the most reliable information?

Sure, a club one guy loves may not suit another but at least the opinion will be honest and without the slightest hint of "paid expectation".

You want the paid for reviews? Opinions on the most current gear?
....you can probably figure out where to find it....

[SilverUberXeno]

Good post, Sling. I might add (what an odd phrase, since I'm obviously going to in this very statement) that USGA regulations have made most equipment advances a farce. Driver heads don't offer anything new. Wedges are being reigned in. Irons are irons; a big cavity back is forgiving, a smaller one is a bit more workable, blades are the sexe. Perhaps we should just review the basic design and aesthetics of clubs, as that's the major difference between then nowadays...

I mean, really, a putter review...

"Felt soft compared to by wife's scaley underbelly. Maimed the neighbor's dog without killing it. Threw it through the window of a Jeep that passed by the 8th tee and honked; distance control was excellent. It is not invisible."

There's only so much you can say...

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

Good post, Sling. I might add (what an odd phrase, since I'm obviously going to in this very statement) that USGA regulations have made most equipment advances a farce. Driver heads don't offer anything new. Wedges are being reigned in. Irons are irons; a big cavity back is forgiving, a smaller one is a bit more workable, blades are the sexe. Perhaps we should just review the basic design and aesthetics of clubs, as that's the major difference between then nowadays...

I mean, really, a putter review...

"Felt soft compared to by wife's scaley underbelly. Maimed the neighbor's dog without killing it. Threw it through the window of a Jeep that passed by the 8th tee and honked; distance control was excellent. It is not invisible."

There's only so much you can say...

Damn straight on the putter aspect, basically those come down asthetics. Either you like the looks or you don't. There is not a single one out there that will magically turn anyone into a good putter.


I pay zero attention to reviews of any type as I am aware of far too many companies basically paying for a good review.

[SilverUberXeno]

Definitely. I want design specs, dimensions, maybe the materials used... REAL information. Not. "I really liked this."

But that's why they WON'T tell anybody that stuff. Because you'd realize there ain't a diffunts! Taylormade's driver from 12 cycles ago (last april?) is virtually identical to their newest stuff, except for the FCT.

THAT is actually something you could review. It's a tangible change. Can't imagine what they're going to do next, honestly.

[BigJim13]

I personally LOVE reviews. But not the kind you read in a magazine or the ones where somebody bought a driver, instantly added 40 yds and hit every fairway.

I like to ask alot of questions to people that have played the equipment I am looking into. Most of you on this board know that the majority of my posts are "has anyone ever played...", I like feedback from other golfers who like Sling said, paid their hard earned cash and took the club on the course.

Matter of fact, as soon as Golf Digest stopped doing their "hot List" this way, I stopped reading it. I liked the fact that they had a bunch of guys hit a bunch of clubs and then tell us what they thought. Now its just a blurb from the manufacturer and you know what, they all sound pretty much the same.

[N.V.M.]

i'd rather this site focus on how to play golf, rather than what you play golf with.

[SilverUberXeno]

Originally Posted by N.V.M.

i'd rather this site focus on how to play golf, rather than what you play golf with.

But we all know what we're playing WITH. None of us actually know how to play

[xamilo]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

But we all know what we're playing WITH. None of us actually know how to play

Off course!!! I know more about you guys changing gear than about your handicaps or real golf stuff

I like reviews, specially in WEIRD products. There are stuff like TEE, KZG, Nakashima that you will NEVER find in a magazine, but you find in forums, specially OUR FORUM.

I actually made myself the promise to change my whole equipment on "non-commercial" brands, or at least not THAT commercial (Like Mizuno, Wilson Staff);

[LeftyHoges]

+1 for every single post in this thread.

I now know more about the little guys in the game & new and upcoming stuff and its definitely not due to a paid review.

I've actually discovered a few guys here that I've tried to align myself with equipment wise as I feel from their posts that we play a similar sort of game, or have a similar swing. If they find something nice then chances are it'll probably work for me because we play similarly.

Now, unfortunately, the player that I most seem to be like is Rock. Take away his love for that ugly I-trax putter, the cally hybrids (will never play a damn hybrid) and allow myself to use a LITTLE TM gear and we're basically the same. Yes I play Titleist too but thats just because it works for me, and I'm sure if his Naks came in left-handed I could bag those just as easily aswell.

And our shaft preferences are pretty damn close too. Now if only I had the contacts he has to get all this stuff dirt cheap, I'd be set instead of broke every damn week!!!!

[slickpitt]

Great thread! I've said it before... golf equipment is like women... one man's Jessica Alba might be another man's Hillary Clinton

[MCDavis]

With the club/equipment ho's we've got around here, there's probably not a golf product made that hasn't been "tested" by a Shot Talk member. All anyone has to do is read the site or ask the question "Has anyone used/played a..." and most of the time they can get a good review.

You got my vote, Sling!

[N.V.M.]

new law in the US:

U.S. bloggers must disclose payments for reviews, Federal Trade Commission says | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

U.S. bloggers must now disclose if they have been paid to review a product—or they could face the wrath of the Federal Trade Commission.
Today (October 5), the regulatory agency announced that it had updated its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising for the first time since 1980.

[TheTrueReview]

Originally Posted by Wi-Golfer

....

I pay zero attention to reviews of any type as I am aware of far too many companies basically paying for a good review.

.... there must be little to pay attention to at that 'other site' b/c it's all about reviews (of his freebies).

Originally Posted by N.V.M.

new law in the US:

U.S. bloggers must disclose payments for reviews, Federal Trade Commission says | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

Gee NVM, looks like there will need to be a large footnote disclosing payments at that 'other site' if this is enforced.

Footnote: Kudos to Sling for his policy.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by TheTrueReview

.... there must be little to pay attention to at that 'other site' b/c it's all about reviews (of his freebies).



Gee NVM, looks like there will need to be a large footnote disclosing payments at that 'other site' if this is enforced.

Footnote: Kudos to Sling for his policy.

I suppose that will happen, maybe??? And would free gear constitute payment for a review?? I think it does.

[Slingblade61]

Originally Posted by Wi-Golfer

I suppose that will happen, maybe??? And would free gear constitute payment for a review?? I think it does.

It should.

This is the problem I have always had with reviews.....how can you trust them? If someone sends me a set of irons to keep, they likely expect a positive review.

While I have never given a bad review I have received some level of "disappointment" if I didn't love the thing as much as the person who supplied it and that is what lead me to where we are now.

I feel reviews of stuff we own is the most honest of all possible scenarios.