TEST PILOTS WANTED

I think we should leverage the forum as a way to test rubbers/equipment.
I think we should elect a few TEST PILOTS who give awesome reviews, are knowledgeable, skilled, and trustworthy.

Here is how it could work. Everyone interested in a certain rubber/blade could paypal a dollar to the TEST PILOT who would then purchase the rubber and glue it to one of his blades (or blade with a certain rubber). He/She could then provide a detailed review and then out of the list of folks who put in the $$ a raffle could be drawn up and a winner announced to use the slightly used rubber/blade.

I know the financial thing could get a little weird and we would have to think of checks and balances, that is why I thought electing TEST PILOTS who are reputable and knowledgeable would be the way to go.

Any comments?

Not a bad idea - but the test pilots must realize that people will ask them to do all sorts of testing and it can require them to spend some amount of time to satisfy reasonable requests.

JimT wrote: Not a bad idea - but the test pilots must realize that people will ask them to do all sorts of testing and it can require them to spend some amount of time to satisfy reasonable requests.

Maybe we could mash together a form -- like the OOAK pro forma review, of course with permission.

I think having three reviewers with varying degrees of skills would be perfect.
Like an under 1500 player, a 1800, and a 2000+ player.

I nominate speedy...

dauntless wrote: I think we should leverage the forum as a way to test rubbers/equipment. I think we should elect a few TEST PILOTS who give awesome reviews, are knowledgeable, skilled, and trustworthy. Here is how it could work. Everyone interested in a certain rubber/blade could paypal a dollar to the TEST PILOT who would then purchase the rubber and glue it to one of his blades (or blade with a certain rubber). He/She could then provide a detailed review and then out of the list of folks who put in the $$ a raffle could be drawn up and a winner announced to use the slightly used rubber/blade. I know the financial thing could get a little weird and we would have to think of checks and balances, that is why I thought electing TEST PILOTS who are reputable and knowledgeable would be the way to go. Any comments?

Test Pilot?  Good idea.  Well, you guys need to come up with a set of requirements/qualifications of a "TEST PILOT".  Well, I would like to apply for that job myself.  I tested over 150 blades and more than 100 rubbers.  Also, my highest USATT rating is 2294.  I have been coaching many students (about 40-50)... So, I don't know if I qualified or not... but I would love to apply for the job...

Can I pick em or what ? 2294 Holy smokes...

tiehwen wrote: speedy wrote: dauntless wrote: I nominate speedy... Thanks for trusting me... Speedy doesn't need to be nominated as he's, IMO, already a Test-pilot in his own right for ALL of his collection of rbrs and blades...All he has to do from now on is to find time to compile his reviews of all the rbrs/blades he has used over the years/months n that's a HUGE undertaking....

Well, I did most the reviews for my collection.  However, I don't think it's good anymore since the rules has change in the last couple of years, especially the "speed glue ban".  That changed everything because I used to speed glue a lot.  Now, I have to do the reviews ALL over again

I just saw this topic and actually I have been thinking of the similar idea for a while. My idea is to elect some experienced and knowledgable reviewers with different playing style, we can call it MyTableTennis.NET Certified Reviewers. Their review will be reliable for our members' reference. But it is costly for the reviewers to get the rubbers or blades for testing, so Mytt will supply some free or discounted rubbers and blades, or reimburse partial cost for the certified reviewers to get the equipment to test and write reviews on this forum. I think it is doable. Any suggestions please input here.

roger, roger!

ill try the us navy's new stealth carrier based fighter and do a dogfight...

errr, on the serious side, id like to be one too

jrscatman wrote: Alex, It would be quite easy for you to implement this because you have a store in a large TT club. You could have certain players give you feedback on particular equipment and then have this equipment available to club members as demo equipment - where they can pay say $5 per hour to demo the setup. You can offer the demo equipment for sale at a reduced price or if they purchase new version - refund their rental cost off the new product. The main issues would be to make sure people renting the equipment won't damage it and making sure demo rubbers are replaced in a timely manner - so it does not degrade too much Good luck JRS PS: I'm thinking rental income plus the reduced price sale would cover the cost of the equipment being used for testing

I think TTPioneers has a program like this for Andro equipment.

Its easy to handle damage.  Just take a credit card for deposit and for the rental fee with the agreement that if the equipment was damaged beyond normal wear & tear, then the renter will agree in advance to either pay damages or the cost of the equipment.  Then the renter gets to keep the equipment.  The damage should be fairly significant, more than a chip on a blade edge of a hard scuff on the outer 1/4" of the rubber.

I might be interested in being an equipment tester.   For ALL to slower OFF+ equipment evaluation, I could be a decent reviewer.  When my comments are combined with others (no single reviewer), a shopper should be able to determine how a certain piece of equipment performs, its playing characteristics, its strengths and weaknesses.

But being chosen for this kind of work is at the pleasure of those requesting the test. 

My opinion of how to establish a vallid test of equipment....

A team should be selected.  From that team, individuals should be used to evaluate equipment.  Some members of the evaluation team should be defensive players, some allround, blockers, close-in attackers, mid-court looping, etc.  It doesn't make sense for a chopper to evaluate the latest high-speed rubber or carbon blade nor a close-in attacker test a new long pips rubber.  This way a given piece of equipment can be reviewed by players having different predominant playing skills matching the kind of equipment under evaluation.  They can comment on the equipment in the context of their playing style and skills.

Anyway, that's my thought, for what its worth. 

I think the moderators should start another category other than "Equipment" so that testers can be "registered" and have a special place to post their reviews.

Its up to the manufacturers, distributors or dealers to select their testers from the recommended ones or others at large.