Do You Pull the Flag?

[dagolfer18]

I’ll sometimes pull the flag out once I get inside around 15 feet, but 90% of the time I’ll leave it in. The pandemic has converted me from an always-out player to an almost-always-in player.

[Double Mocha Man]

13 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

I think it has to, even if minimally. It is very minimally. 

 

My thinking is that with the in-out, in-out, in-out routine in some foursomes it slows things down.

[saevel25]

3 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

My thinking is that with the in-out, in-out, in-out routine in some foursomes it slows things down.

Ideally, the person who putts last, takes the pin out, and the person who gets the ball in the hole first picks up the flag. That way, there is no wasted time because you have to wait for the others to finish putting. 

 

[TourSpoon]

Long range, I keep it in. Uphill from 10 feet and in, I pull it. Downhill or big breaker, keep it in. Tap in (2 feet and in) for money, pull it. If the flag is excessively flapping or causing a distracting shadow, pull it. 

Lately, at the local, I have noticed the pins seem thicker than normal. I thought it was my imagination until one guy had 2 birdie putts get bumped out (great speed but taps the stick and sits on the edge). So I pull the pin for him and notice the flag seems really stout and ask. Someone says they are all the same size, but on the back, I swear they are thinner. So now I make sure it isn't one of the thick poles used in windy areas because they leave less room in the cup.  

[Double Mocha Man]

Without the pin out where are you going to lay the grip of your chipping club to keep it off the dewey wetness?  😁

[phillyk]

I pull it nearly every time unless I’m playing a practice/lazy round. Only long putts or really speedy putts do I leave it in. I personally hate the look/feeling when the flagstick is in. It throws me off, so that’s really the main reason I pull it. I also prefer the sound of a ball rattling the cup versus hitting the stick. Most people I play with don’t care either way. 

[colin007]

18 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

I believe, three years ago, when the rule went into effect there were studies done showing there was a miniscule (very miniscule) advantage to leaving the flag in.  

Miniscule? It's certainly more than miniscule

 

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Dewey Wetness?  😁

This is my pornstar name....

[phan52]

I take it out inside 15 feet. It is visual to me. When I am close enough to see the whole hole, the hole just looks bigger and I see the pin as a distraction. I have no interest in "studies" that say it is an advantage to leave the pin. I have had very good putts at a decent speed bounce off the pin and not drop. I assume there were other times when I lipped out that the pin may have caught the ball, but that is speculation and I will never know. I just like to see the whole hole. 

Edited February 21, 2022 by phan52

[iacas]

3 hours ago, phan52 said:

I assume there were other times when I lipped out that the pin may have caught the ball

Geometry does not support that conclusion.

Unless maybe the flagstick is leaning a bunch.

How can a ball that isn't entirely inside the hole (to lip out) touch a flagstick that's 1.875" from the edge of the hole? It can't.

[ChetlovesMer]

8 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Without the pin out where are you going to lay the grip of your chipping club to keep it off the dewey wetness?  😁

I have to tell you that I was lucky enough to learn that trick from an ancient old dude during one of my very first rounds of golf. He showed me that laying your "extra" clubs on the flagstick not only kept your grips dry, but also prevented you from losing a club. To this day I have never left a club behind, I credit that habit for most of it. Now-a-days the flag is usually left in and I'm somewhat nervous that I will be that guy in the parking lot. "Oh shit, I left my sand wedge on number 15!" 

[Denny Bang Bang]

If the flag is leaning, or it’s windy and flapping back and forth, I’ll definitely pull it.  Otherwise I’ll just leave it in, unless someone else wants it pulled.

[Double Mocha Man]

9 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I have to tell you that I was lucky enough to learn that trick from an ancient old dude during one of my very first rounds of golf. He showed me that laying your "extra" clubs on the flagstick not only kept your grips dry, but also prevented you from losing a club. To this day I have never left a club behind, I credit that habit for most of it. Now-a-days the flag is usually left in and I'm somewhat nervous that I will be that guy in the parking lot. "Oh shit, I left my sand wedge on number 15!" 

That is true when you play power cart golf, because you're carrying extra clubs with you when you approach the green.  When the flag doesn't come out of the hole I lay my club(s) between the hole and the cart so I'll trip over them on the way back to  the cart.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

That is true when you play power cart golf, because you're carrying extra clubs with you when you approach the green.  When the flag doesn't come out of the hole I lay my club(s) between the hole and the cart so I'll trip over them on the way back to  the cart.

That's what I try to do as well. When I have 3 extras, I'll even lean them against each other in a little pyramid. That makes them even easier to see. So far so good. I've never left a club behind. 

[mdl]

I switched to leaving it in the moment the rule changed. Definite pandemic silver lining for me that it's shifted tons of golfers who probably would've kept pulling it into pin-in players!

[billchao]

14 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I don’t pull it unless my playing partners want to. 

I have my own preference but this is what I go with. I don’t feel strongly enough about it to impose it on others.

[dennyjones]

I prefer to leave it in but won't bat an eye if somebody decides to pull the pin.   If I have a putt over 20' I prefer the pin in 100%.  

[Edsland]

11 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Do you think it has sped up the game?  That was the original intention, if I'm correct.

I think it depends, if it’s myself or a group that’ll leave it alone it could save a little time. If the group is mixed in and out I think it causes more time on the green. 

[NM Golf]

I pull the pin 95% of the time. I just don't like it in, and the pins at my course are very often leaning one way or the other.