MGS Review Template – General Template

READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE. These reviews can be a lot of work but creativity within the format will help keep it fresh.  Have some fun with it and let your personality show through the writing.  The staff is here to help with any issues you may encounter along the way.

• Writing Focus:

• In the templates on the following pages, replace the writing prompts with your own words so it flows instead of feeling like a Q&A. Feel free to add or change sections as you see fit.
• The primary focus should be deciding whether the OEM claims are true and if it fits a player with your ability.
• Try to tell a story in your review. Your review should be entertaining as well as informative.
• Data is encouraged and recommended but not required. Test how you see fit.  
• Keep it under the word limit. You may have a lot to say, and that’s great, but long reviews get exhausting to the readers over the course of the summer.
• Avoid these overused buzz phrases like: Head to Head, Put it through its paces, Smooth as butter, And other hits keep on coming, etc

• Media Content:

• Media content is the lifeblood of these reviews.  If people don’t have time to read any of the words you write, they’ll certainly look at the pictures, videos, and animations.
• No less than 10 media entries.  Ideally, 10-15 provides the most depth. Resize your pictures to 800 pixels. 
• Make sure your photos are scattered throughout the review to break it up.  Photo placement should confirm statements you’re making in the surrounding text.
• Videos add serious depth to reviews whether it be footage of your swing or a self interview.
• Ask the MyGolfSpy Staff for help if you run into issues with media content.

• Scoring:

• Be as fair as you can and justify point deductions as you go along (9/10 and deducted 1 point because…..).
• Use whatever variables you feel are best suited to judge the product.
• Imagine yourself on the other end of the article considering this purchase. Your score may push someone over the edge (one way or the other), so make sure it is justified. We owe it to the members to ensure that their hard-earned money is well spent.

• Pre-review activity - Your Lead Forum Staff member will guide you for deadlines on the various stages. At this point in time your PLACEHOLDER post will be created at the beginning for the testing thread.
• Your PLACEHOLDER post should include ONLY the following - Introduction, Unboxing/First Impressions TLDR (too long didn't read), link to Unboxing/First Impressions and your FINAL REVIEW.
• We expect at minimum 3 posts prior to you receiving the product which includes your introduction.
• The PM thread should only be used for basic ordering and deadline execution...not banter and thoughts. Also: do not publish your review until directed by the staff.

• Future review opportunities have nothing to do with how highly you rate a product. If you love the product, say so. If not, say that too. Honesty is the number one quality in these reviews as long as you are fair in your evaluation. Your work will be graded by the staff and the score will play a factor into future selections.

• Photos, Media Content, Thread Participation

Photo Requirements

Photos from the Forum Member Test will be used as part of a main site Forum Recap Article. While photos should be resized in the thread. Some originals should be sent to the Forum Lead. These photos need to meet these requirements.

• Must be in Landscape NOT Portrait
• Must be in HD Quality
• Please no kitchen/living room shots, lets see them on the course, backyard or other backdrops.
• Think artistic and creative with the photos.
• Photos should feature the product you got. IE think about the photo prior to taking it. Remove dirty golf towels, avoid glare and see that the photo highlights the product you are reviewing.

• If this product does not work for you, we kindly request that you pass it to another MGS member at no charge (aside from shipping) in exchange for their comments to the review thread. Paying it forward increases the tester pool and the value we provide back to the OEM. Sure, a quick buck can be made on the sale, but that’s not what MGS is about. If you can’t find another trustworthy user, you may sell it after the product cycle has switched to the next generation.

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Placeholder Guide

Please only include the following in your placeholder

• Introduction
• Unboxing/First impressions (or link to that post)
• Final Review
  

That is all - important updates can be linked into the placeholder post. Reviews need to be readable and organized. Placing everything in the placeholder post makes reviews a slog to get through. Think about the other testers in your group as we want all reviews to be read.

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The Review {date}

(500 words or less)

[Product Name] – Official MGS Forum Review by [name]

Intro- Due 1 Week after Selection

Describe your game as much as necessary to help readers compare your needs to their own. This is also a good place to allow the membership to get to know you a little better, therefore feel free to share more than just your golf game.  

The Personal Questions

• What region do you play out of?
• How long have you been golfing?
• What kind of golfer are you?

The Golf Questions

• How do you want to test this product?
• What are your plans for the review and comparisons?
• What will make this product stay with you after testing?
• Why are you excited about testing this product?
• What do you know about the product already?
• What are your expectations?

In this section you should also share any preconceived notions you may have had about the company or product line. Describe why you chose the options you did (loft/lie angle/shaft, etc.) and what you think it’ll do for your game.  If you have a story about your fitting, this is a good place to share it.

Talk about what performance you’re seeking and how you think it’ll help your game.  Clearly define what performance standards must be met for this product to earn a spot in your bag.   

Remember, you’ve got a large audience,  you were one of hundreds or even thousands of applicants, and many are counting on your feedback for future purchases.

Provide some brief comments on how you tested.  How much time you spent in practice (in general), with a launch monitor (if applicable), on-course rounds, and special experiments will give readers an idea of the scope of work you put into this review.

Grading

Be fair but firm; do not feel obligated in any way to give a high score simply because you were selected as a tester.  It is critical to be objective in your grading. Also, honest reviews don’t have to be negative. You can be honest and positive if that’s how you truly feel.

First Impressions (500 Words) (Out of 10)

Pictures are critical – be as creative as you’d like. Show all angles of the PRODUCT like you’re prepping for a magazine.  Try to take as many unique photos as you can that showcase the PRODUCT in environments besides a golf course.  

Spend a little time talking about whatever technological advances the OEM is claiming.  Try to explain things in layman’s terms to help readers grasp what they are trying to accomplish with this release.  This will be one of your primary comparisons to identify whether this “breakthrough” actually does what it says it does for players of your skill level.

Aesthetics (## out of 20) 

Describe the following:

• The Numbers (## out of 20)

Dive deep into the data if you can using LM or Arccos/Shotscope. Statistically how did this product improve your game and in what areas?

• On The Course (## out of 20)

Here is where you will evaluate the overall use of the product.

• The Good, the bad, the inbetween (## out of 10)

This is what would normally be our misc section. However we want to see you highlight your favorite parts about this PRODUCT, highlight any issues you had with them, the fit, the process of receiving or anything in between. No detail is too small. Highlight a few main points you find are really important for our readers, consumers or the OEM to consider, whether it be good, bad or other.

Play it or Trade it? (## out of 20)

For this section, consider that all things are equal and you’re choosing whether or not you would put this PRODUCT in play for a big tournament or money game.  Do they help you play your best? Or are they just nice to have?  Do you think the asking price is fair for the product?  Finally, what type of golfer do you think this product would fit the best?  If it’s not you, explain why and try to identify the type of golfer that can benefit the most from it.  

Conclusion

Consider this your TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read).  If a member reads nothing but this paragraph, they should be able to get an idea of your overall thoughts.  Summarize your review in a storytelling style. Touch on those aspects of the product you find significant (both good and bad).

Final Score (## out of 100)

POST REVIEW UPDATES

1-2 times per month

After you post your review, you get the Tester badge for this year. Once complete and you are in the process of using the product check in to the review thread at least  once a month to talk about the product, interact with the members, and answer any questions that may arise.  

These updates should be brief and are meant as a way to provide ongoing feedback to the other members on the forum.  Don’t worry if there aren’t any/many questions, your job is to jump in and post an update and wait for the other members to comment. (Note: as questions/comments are submitted you are expected to respond as best you can)  It’s OK to talk openly and candidly throughout the testing.  If you’ve stopped using the product give a brief description why but still do your best to answer the questions as they come. In case you can’t tell, the Q&A is equally as important as the review itself.

Lastly, social media is important.  If you have social media accounts (twitter/instagram/facebook/youtube, etc.) be sure to link to your review or post photos/videos you may have used in the process. This isn’t a hard-and-fast requirement but whenever possible it is a great way to share your thoughts.

Content for the Updates

• General thoughts/impressions

• Product durability, etc
• Likes/dislikes/things you find interesting

• Course Dividends

• Noticing anything yet on the course?

• Tell a story from testing you did during the week

Add a picture, video, or Tweet about the product