Flagstick in or out

[AAA]

https://youtu.be/Mc90UbpJbuM

[spackler]

I am 100% on team 'in'. A lot quicker too.

[jeffc]

I am 100% on team 'in'. A lot quicker too.

Not necessarily. If you are playing by yourself it is. But if half the group want it in and the other half out, it will be slower

[em69]

Sure...if you are ramming putts excessively hard like on the video. I don't think this video reflects reality, therefore the results are skewed. The new rule was implemented to speed up play...not to make putting easier. This rule will slow down play.

[gbower]

I've been leaving it in most of the time and prefer that but if someone has taken it out I'll just leave it out. This morning with it in I made a few that didn't get deflected and so far in 2019 I haven't had it hurt me with it in. For tap ins it's a no brainer to leave it in and will speed the play up.

[jlaidley]

Dave Pelz did testing in 1990 and determined that your odds are better with the flagstick in.
https://www.golf.com/Instruction/201...le-change-2018

Would not be surprised if they reverse course on this rule since it seems to be provably advantageous to have the flagstick in. Although it is hard to imagine that they didn't know this in advance.

[Gobble_It]

In all the way. Amateurs tend to be 80% short of their putts so it's doesn't mater really but in the cases they really have too much weight and hit the flagstick, it doesn't matter where it bounces , it will help stopping the ball so it's a bonus .

The unpredictability is what the pros worry about and the PGA admitted that they have not thought or looked into this (deflection depending on the stick's material).

[em69]

The unpredictability is what the pros worry about and the PGA admitted that they have not thought or looked into this (deflection depending on the stick's material).

It was stated this past weekend that all PGA Tour events use the exact same type of flagstick.

[AAA]

It was stated this past weekend that all PGA Tour events use the exact same flagstick.

Do they really move it from course to course?
And hole to hole? It must waste a lot of time.

[BullDog]

It was stated this past weekend that all PGA Tour events use the exact same type of flagstick.

I could see that... I know it wasn't a PGA event if it was a US Open, but remember the iron spikes that Merion had? Balls bounced off them like nothing I'd ever seen before! Consistency could be a good idea.

[jlaidley]

MyGolfSpy tested with both low-COR and high-COR flagsticks and the results were always better with the flagstick in (although not as favourable with the high-COR flagstick)
https://mygolfspy.com/flagstick-in-f...ew-golf-rules/

[gbower]

I like the flagstick left in and when I get the chance to putt first I leave it in but most of the guys I'm golfing with say it looks weird and want it in. Yesterday the other guys actually started leaving it in except on really short putts and not one of them had a problem with the flagstick rejecting a ball.

[jlaidley]

Last couple of rounds I've played we left the flag in almost all the time and it is quickly feeling normal. The only time I removed it was was when the shadow was on my line and I found that distraction.

Definitely saves time on the green AND allows the group behind us to get exact yardages with their rangefinder while we're on the green.

[Andy4Par]

I watched my first PGA round since rules changed. It's weird to see golfers putting with the flagsticks in. Almost seems amateurish to me. I guess it will take getting used to it.

[SnazzyD]

Is this a recent rule change? I was watching the Farmer's Open this weekend and wondered why so many players were leaving the flagstick in...thought it might have been because of strong winds, but even that didn't make sense (a windsock in the fairway or near the tee would help with tee shots, though)

[AAA]

Is this a recent rule change?

You are joking of course! Where have you been?

https://rulesgeeks.com/2018/12/30-da...rules-changes/

http://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga...nges-chart.pdf

[SnazzyD]

I've been shoveling snow hourly and not paying close attention

[1800Duffers]

One problem that could be eliminated is when the group in front forgets to put the flag back in before they move to the next hole.

[Sakuraba]

I'm looking forward to never removing a flagstick again.

[Mr. Chi]

I'm looking forward to trying flagstick in this season. Doesn't seem do any harm on the practice green anyways.

[THUNDAH]

Apparently the flagstick out was a rule change in 1952.