How do you try out new recipes?

Since my competition year is pretty much done, I'm now looking at tweaking my existing recipes and trying out new ones. But to do A/B testing with new vs. old recipes can get pretty expensive, especially when it comes to brisket.

I thought about trying the changes for my brisket and pork butts by cutting the meat up into smaller pieces and then cook it, but isn't that not a real test since smaller cuts of meat take shorter times to cook so you won't get the effect of a full cook?

Maybe I'm over thinking things. Anyone got any advice?

Thanks