Or Data standing right in front of the path of the phaser beam right behind whatever device is supposed to stop it.
It would be like holding a new piece of armour plating technology that has never been tested before, holding it over your chest and asking your buddy to shoot a rifle bullet at it to see if works.
It would be like holding a new piece of armour plating technology that has never been tested before, holding it over your chest and asking your buddy to shoot a rifle bullet at it to see if works.