Affiliate Disclosure
Last updated: February 27, 2026
Amazon Associates Program
The Smarter Play is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
When you click on product links on this site and make a qualifying purchase on Amazon, we may earn a small commission — at no additional cost to you. The price you pay is exactly the same whether you use our link or navigate to Amazon directly.
How We Use Affiliate Revenue
Affiliate commissions help us maintain this site, fund hands-on equipment testing, and continue producing independent, engineering-grade sports equipment analysis. We are not sponsored by any manufacturer or brand. Our recommendations are based on research, data, and testing — not on who pays us.
FTC Compliance
In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines (16 CFR Part 255), we disclose that this site contains affiliate links. When editorial content recommends a product, that recommendation may be accompanied by an affiliate link. The existence of an affiliate relationship does not influence our editorial opinions or ratings.
We only recommend products we genuinely believe provide value to our readers. If we wouldn't buy it ourselves, we don't recommend it.
Other Affiliate Programs
In addition to Amazon Associates, we may occasionally participate in other affiliate programs with sports equipment retailers. All such relationships are disclosed in the same manner — affiliate links are clearly indicated, and we only participate in programs aligned with our editorial standards.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships or how we select products to recommend, please contact us. We believe in full transparency.