Pin Out - The Players Have Spoken

Most players seem to be putting with the flagstick out...even Bryson. If it was truly an advantage as Pelz claimed, more players would keep it in. Guess he was incorrect.

I find it way better out. I enjoy playing with anybody but now I’m starting to not like playing in groups who want it out as it’ll just slow it down going back and forth.

We find it faster leaving it in. No missed puts so far.

My observations and I don't care about it myself. Whatever the group wants is fine by me.
At my club, almost everyone is leaving it in.

• I have seen some putts that would have gone in rejected by the pin.
  - Stats say it is more helpful than not so it goes both ways I suppose.
• It is definitely faster to leave it in, which is only helpful if everyone does and rounds are faster for everyone, otherwise it's just more waiting on the tee.
• It's a bit of a pain getting the ball from the hole with the flag in.
  - Even harder for people with a cup on the putter to get the ball out so they don't have to bend - now useless

For some players I'm sure it is more of a mental issue to leave the flag in regardless of what the stats might say.


I was watching the LPGA tournament today and Lexi Thompson sometimes left the flagstick in and sometimes she took it out.


Personally I think it helps to leave the flag in on downhill putts but take it out on uphill putts.

I tried leaving the flagstick in but visually it makes the hole look smaller. A few in our group prefer it in so it becomes an issue pulling the flag then replacing it again. I did not find that it was a huge time waster taking out the stick when putting under the old rules. Seems to be an issue now when some of want it in and others out.

For longer putts I don't care. If it's inside 5 feet and if I am playing for score or $ I'd prefer it out. For casual games though it rarely comes out.

This study claims the flag should be pulled 99% of the time, but even after reading this I'm not totally convinced.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the...nt-of-the-time

I wonder if the edges of the holes get a bit "frayed" with more people reaching in between the flagstick and the edges to retrieve their balls. From the fellas with sausage fingers to those wearing wristwatches, it's probably something that the groundskeepers notice over time. As for playing with others, I'd hope people decide "in or out" at the beginning of rounds so it doesn't become a song and dance on every hole...which'd be ironic considering the spirit of the rule change was to speed up the game.

Yah, after seeing that I decided I'd like the pin out. Now it seems I'm a pain in the ass to some.
I have decided not to be a fan of this new rule... lol

I find it easier to gauge distance on long putts and lag putts with it in...(same as when they were tended I guess). On inside 5 feet or so I find it easier to narrow focus with it out. But, on casual rounds we keep it in generally as it is undoubtedly quicker.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the...nt-of-the-time

Not much use to pros who rarely miss 8-9 ft past the hole.....now for me unfortunately.........

On the first hole of the season we took the flagstick out, but we haven't touch it since. For all the rounds played, having it in has neither helped nor hurt anyone but it sure saves time.

Yes a real time saver....lost or ob ball rule also speeds things up.

The new rule just makes it another thing to talk about when you get to the green; thereby taking more time. Leave it in and get on with the game :-) None of us here are that good that it really makes a difference---it's probably more mental than anything else.