Do You Pull the Flag?

[KMP]

I leave it in since there is a good chance when pulling it after making the putt I can pop the ball out.

Edited February 22, 2022 by KMP
Clarity

[Esox]

Uphill putts, its always pulled so the back of the hole can be a backstop. Downhill, it's seldom pulled.

[iacas]

  On 2/22/2022 at 11:11 AM, Esox said:

Uphill putts, its always pulled so the back of the hole can be a backstop. Downhill, it's seldom pulled.

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Uphill the hole can act as a backstop (the high side of the hole is the back side), and downhill the far side of the hole is lower, so you'd want the flagstick to help you there. Plus a ball at the same speed will roll out much farther downhill than uphill.

[Esox]

  On 2/22/2022 at 5:41 PM, iacas said:

Uphill the hole can act as a backstop (the high side of the hole is the back side), and downhill the far side of the hole is lower, so you'd want the flagstick to help you there. Plus a ball at the same speed will roll out much farther downhill than uphill.

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Isn't that simply a reiteration of my post you quoted?

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 2/22/2022 at 11:30 PM, Esox said:

Isn't that simply a reiteration of my post you quoted?

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I think Erik spelled it out a bit more...

[iacas]

  On 2/22/2022 at 11:30 PM, Esox said:

Isn't that simply a reiteration of my post you quoted?

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With a bit more detail for others, yeah.

Bear in mind, too, that you're talking about maybe a 1-2% slope, which is only 0.085" higher or lower. So…

In reality, it makes little sense to differ your strategy by whether the putt is uphill or downhill for "backstopping" reasons.

[Double Mocha Man]

Personally, with the flagstick in, I dislike the pick the ball out of the hole technique of two fingers or the finger and the thumb routine.  I prefer to just reach in the hole and use all my fingers and thumb to fetch the ball, with no flagstick getting in the way.

Edited February 23, 2022 by Double Mocha Man

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 2/23/2022 at 12:08 AM, Double Mocha Man said:

Personally, with the flagstick in, I dislike the pick the ball out of the hole technique of two fingers or the finger and the thumb routine.  I prefer to just reach in the hole and use all my fingers and thumb to fetch the ball, with no flagstick getting in the way.

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I forgot to mention this is from my new book, "The Minutiae of Ball Retrieval".  A quick read of 191 pages.  

[phillyk]

  On 2/23/2022 at 12:46 AM, Double Mocha Man said:

I forgot to mention this is from my new book, "The Minutiae of Ball Retrieval".  A quick read of 191 pages.  

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I thought 191 pages would be titled, “My Putters.” 😉

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 2/23/2022 at 1:10 AM, phillyk said:

I thought 191 pages would be titled, “My Putters.” 😉

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😀    That would be less than 8 pages per putter.

Edited February 23, 2022 by Double Mocha Man

[p1n9183]

I leave it in for long putts, like 25 feet plus. On the rest I just don't care, unless the pin is leaning towards me. Have to recognize that is nicer in the eye to hole a 6 footer with the flag out, also the sound of the bottom of the hole is a lot better than the sound of the ball hitting the flag and going in. 

Besides that.. having decent speed control, I've hardly remember a putt from long distance that I hit it way pass the hole and got lucky hitting the pin. I leave it in because I have a better reference for distance control. 

Funny enough, the other day a guy asked me to tend the flag for him. Boy it was awkward, and felt old. 

[Golfingdad]

  On 2/22/2022 at 2:21 AM, mdl said:

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!

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I agree.  I too imagine the pandemic helped quicken the crossover of many a player who might've preferred to keep pulling their flags.

[JPitts]

I leave the pin in because it gives me 5 definitive targets when putting. 

Left lip, left edge of flagstick, center of flagstick, right edge of flagstick, and right lip. It really helps me focus on entry point. 

[onthehunt526]

I leave it in on longer putts and inside of 10 feet or so I pull it out.