Negative Reader Reviews

[EchtLoon]

Re: Reader Reviews in the Magazine.

Having read these for a few months now, I'm beginning to wonder if there is any point to them? Every time something is reviewed it's "staying in the bag". With the exception of the one that I did early in the year, I can;t recall a single negative comment.

Now surely some of you must get stuff that you don't like?

Is it that you're scared to give an honest review for fear of not being asked again, or of causing offence to the manufacturer concerned?

 

[Handycap]

Re: Reader Reviews in the Magazine.

Having read these for a few months now, I'm beginning to wonder if there is any point to them? Every time something is reviewed it's "staying in the bag". With the exception of the one that I did early in the year, I can;t recall a single negative comment.

Now surely some of you must get stuff that you don't like?

Is it that you're scared to give an honest review for fear of not being asked again, or of causing offence to the manufacturer concerned?

In the main I tend to agree with what you say, but I think there's another element to it. For example, custom fitting is a great way to try clubs before you buy, but when you are "performing" in front of the fitter, you naturally want to put on a good show. That's why a lot of people have questioned whether custom fitting is a good idea because you may have just been "grooving" your swing well that day. I dispute that: if you are prepared to spend a lot of money on new clubs and like the look of the clubs you think you may buy, you want them to work well for you. So the swing slows down, the pressure of competition is off and inevitably the results look good because they are good.
For the better more consistent player this probably doesn't apply as much as for the mid to high handicappers.
When testing new equipment I'm suggesting that element of wanting the equipment to perform well makes the average golfer play within their capability and not over swing.

 

[Redwood]

I won't be giving a negative review of my recent item, but it won't be staying in the bag.

Yonex VMX driver. Don't like the acoustics, or the look. Doesn't perform too bad, as most modern drivers do, but nothing outstanding to oust my G5.

 

[janmolby]

If you get something for free & it's at least as good as what you had in your bag already then most/all people are going to keep using it.

I'd suspect that most people, well me anyway, who review stuff wouldn't have brand new stuff in their bag so just having a new piece of kit is enough for them to keep using whatever they got. Also the timeframe for testing isn't very long so I found it hard to say for certain whether what I got was better or worse that what I already had.

 

[haplesshacker]

Re: Reader Reviews in the Magazine.

Having read these for a few months now, I'm beginning to wonder if there is any point to them? Every time something is reviewed it's "staying in the bag". With the exception of the one that I did early in the year, I can;t recall a single negative comment.

Now surely some of you must get stuff that you don't like?

Is it that you're scared to give an honest review for fear of not being asked again, or of causing offence to the manufacturer concerned?

You gave a negative comment. You surprise me!

Certainly the reason why I gave a positive comment was that the product was genuinely better than my existing club. I also got the impression that some thought had also gone into what I was sent. Especially after talking with Paul OH at Ascot afterwards.

So credit's due where it's due.

I really don't pander to the mag or manufactuers. I'll just remind you of my 'debate' with Jezz and Mike, on 'when is a putt not a putt', and my cynicsium of mag reviews and advertising revenue.

I'd not go so far to say that I share your outlook completely on this one. But I do understand where you're coming from.

Anyway. Don't rock the boat too much as I'd hate to see this part of the mag not happening! After-all, regardless of the reviews, we all love a freebie once in a while!

 

[USER1999]

I think most people will try to be fair. It may be a nice piece of kit, but just not for you. Branding it as not staying in the bag implies it is rubbish.

I have read quite a few reviews that have said not sure, or still under trial, or some such non comittal comment.

 

[Herbie]

Most people make a judgement the moment they clap eyes on something, often the wrong one in my opinion.

You have to give something equal attention that you give to your personal choices and preferences to be a fair judge. Most people sadly dont have that time, effort or commitment.

 

[GB72]

I think that part of the problem is that shiny new kit always has a honeymoon period and by that time the review has been done. Certainyly was the case with me with the Burner Irons I tried. For a few months they seemed great and they were particularly forgiving at a time when my swing had gone to pieces. it was only later on that I started having issues with the over large cavity and the graphite shafts. My review was honest at the time but my opinion changed.

I was only thinking the other week that it may be an idea to revist the reviewers after a few months for a second opinon and make an article based on those.

 

[Imurg]

I'd love to be able to give a good or bad reader review...........

I'd be honest though. if it's better than what's already in the bag then it'll stay, if not, then it won't. Simples

 

[EchtLoon]

Re: Reader Reviews in the Magazine.

Having read these for a few months now, I'm beginning to wonder if there is any point to them? Every time something is reviewed it's "staying in the bag". With the exception of the one that I did early in the year, I can;t recall a single negative comment.

Now surely some of you must get stuff that you don't like?

Is it that you're scared to give an honest review for fear of not being asked again, or of causing offence to the manufacturer concerned?

You gave a negative comment. You surprise me!

Ah I see, having a different opinion to you makes me negative? I'll bear that in mind.

Anyway back on topic, I think janmolby (and also GB72) may have hit on why I did, and why most others don't? I was given a set of Wilson irons to test, having a set of Mizuno's in the bag, that were less than a year old, and my newest piece of kit, meant they had very stiff competition.

He is probably correct that had I been on the end of new anything else, I'd have gone down the 'staying in the bag' route too, but in my case they had stiff and virtually equally new competition to beat, and therefore got a good side by side analysis, and of course ultimately meant they were not even close to going in the bag.

 

[haplesshacker]

Is it that you're scared to give an honest review for fear of not being asked again, or of causing offence to the manufacturer concerned?

Yep. That'll be why!!

 

[birdieman]

I haven't had the chance to review anything yet despite applying some time ago but I would like to think I'd be honest about it......Hint hint nudge nudge

On a slight tangent I often look to the golf review website for opinion on various products but get frustrated with just about everyone leaving extremely positive reviews on every bit of kit there is. Some honesty and waiting a while for the 'shiny new gear' excitement to wear off before leaving a review would be helpful.

 

[haplesshacker]

Birdieman. I'd go along with that.

I'd like to think that the 2 reviews I've done were done with a 'delay' for this very reason. The Freecaddie one was written in as balanced way as possible. Giving the pros and cons of such a system.

The MD wedge was a 'reader review' and is genuinely a better club to use than my standard MX19 chunky SW.

If however I was in Echtloons shoes and had decent Mizuno irons and was sent a different brand of irons. I suspect that they would have to be not just good, but very good, to stay in the bag.

You also have to bear in mind the ability level of the 'testers'. I suspect that Echtloon was sent a set of Wilson irons was because of his lower h'cap, and therefore probably better and more consistent with his shots than a higher h'capper. It's just he didn't like them as much as his own clubs. Fair enough.

There is no right or wrong answer. It's a personnal preferance.

But a 're-visit' would be a good idea. Good suggestion.

 

[vig]

I should have one in this month's mag.
Benross wedges. They look a lot more expensive than they actually are. I'll not say anymore until after the mag has come out next week.
TBH I hadn't had them long enough to give them a "proper" try out(cock up with the delivery) so gave my views on how they had been in the 4 outings that I used them in.

 

[Twire]

Looks like I need to wait before I review my shiny new sticks then....I'll give it another couple of weeks.

 

[jammydodger]

The putter I reviewed was a nice piece of kit BUT a change of putter mid season during a period of nearly constant comps just wasn't a wise move imo. It may end up in the bag after i've been able to give it a lengthy trial (months not days) or give it a bash through the winter. However for the time being I will stick to giving it the occasional outing on the practice green and leave it at that.

I gave it a positive review because I liked it but it wasnt going to stay in the bag , it may get in there in the future however.

 

[RGDave]

I think folk are not keen on slagging off something they've been asked to test. I have read a few reviews where the reviewer has been unconvinced, I'm sure.

I like new shiny kit and tend to get on with most makes/types. If I was reviewing, I reckon I'd say "keeping in the bag" even if that wasn't strictly true!

 

[EchtLoon]

I think folk are not keen on slagging off something they've been asked to test. I have read a few reviews where the reviewer has been unconvinced, I'm sure.

I like new shiny kit and tend to get on with most makes/types. If I was reviewing, I reckon I'd say "keeping in the bag" even if that wasn't strictly true!

Which is where I'm coming from really, I believe initially these were brought in almost at 'customer demand' becasue it was felt by readers that equipment tests would always be favourable due to a worry about ad revenue if reviews were poor.

Ironically, it's ended up with readers reviews seemingly more gushing than any editorial review could ever be.

 

[EchtLoon]

But a 're-visit' would be a good idea. Good suggestion.

I have to agree, or simply give longer to review initially. When I did my review, it was start of the year, and even for then, it was excessively wet, so much so that just getting on the course was difficult and I had to hit a lot of balls on the range.

While I can hand on heart say I gave a conscientious review, it was also rushed due to lack of real time to play, and whether that could have ended positively or negatively, a longer time to review might be good.

If readers are just going to put 'staying in the bag' for eevry bit of kit, the poitn of reader's reviews becomes pretty pointless.

 

[andycap]

I tested a Bridgestone hybrid for this months mag, and it is a nice club that has stayed in the bag .However , not having a 3 or 5 wood there is room to keep it, having 2 hybrids already the Bridgestone is about the same as a 5 iron and it does go against the grain a bit for me, as i feel i should be playing my irons more and not being too dependant on the hybrids.
Perhaps GM could send out some K1 drivers or a chipper to see how they are rated