I think I’ll leave it in until I’m either close or within a sinkable range to pull it ,unless it’s a tap in. I feel like I’m rushed if I don’t pull it when I’m in range

I have been leaving the pin in this year and have done quite a bit better with my putts

I leave it in. Some say it bothers them to leave it in. Most I play with are ok, but there is always that guy that wants you to go pull it for them. There goes the time savings

Since the rule change I have been leaving the pin in and really like it. If everyone is leaving the pin in it does speed up play.

Many variables will dictate my choice. Distance of the putt and green speed and slope for instance. Since the penalty rule for hitting an unattended pin came about in the early 60's, I still can't see why the USGA is going retro thinking this will speed up the game.

It does speed up our game .

I always leave it in--tend to be more firm with the putts from everywhere. Play twice a week with regulars and a few new members of our 400-member association in my foursome. Amazing how few of the guys who putt with the pin in or out even get it close to center of the cup. Have never seen a ball yet deflected or hurt by the pin in 7 months of play.

I've seen the ball bounce off the pin twice so far. One probably wouldn't have dropped but the other one would have gone in for sure. Can't really say I've seen that many people hole putts with the flag in, but that's probably down to the people I play with.

I like the new rule, there are times when people are away from the green where I feel I can speed things up by putting a long approach putt and do not worry about hitting the flag. Thanks.

I guess it will depend for me. For long putts, I will probably leave the pin in and try that. For short putts, I will probably take the pin out.

Out for anything inside 20’!
Old school, I guess.

If I'm playing alone i'll leave it in. When i'm with a group i'll take it out.

I am with Frank on this one!

Great quote from the original Oceans 11 movie. I also agree

I do the same thing

Practice leave in. Tournament pull it.

Unlike Bryson hitting a pin is not more likely to drop- at least for me. If the pin is leaning toward me - it almost certainly won’t help. For tricky downhill putts it may save me. I’m much closer to JT mentally.

When I walk 9 by myself in the evenings it’s much easier for me to just play with the flagstick in. I have actually been doing this already most of the time. I think it’s a good rule for those circumstances. Played a full 18 today with a buddy and we left it in on long putts that would have been attended but pulled it for shorter putts. Probably what we will do most of the time.

My group talked about and decided to leave the flag in for a while. But we are older and too lazy to bend over and pick the flag up.

In the interest of speed I will leave the pin. Putt, make it and then get the ball and walk away quickly.

We play most weekdays and always leave the pin in. You get used to it and I do believe it aids in focus on longer putts. It also definitely speeds up the game, which is a pet peeve of mine. Slow golf leads to no golf.

Only leaving in if a very long put where I would normally have tended and looking for a lag put, being a traditionalist playing over 30 years doesn't feel right on close puts

I'm looking forward to playing with the pin in and see if there's any difference. I believe it will have an impact in three ways...

1) speed of play - unless your group is split between pin-in and pin-out, then that seems like an annoying dance and time waster.

2) health of greens - I play muni's and see a lot of players dragging the pin across the green and the javelin-throw like heavy drop of the pin causing scratches and indentations.

3) improve scores - in two ways. First, it gives another frame of reference for depth perception, so putting speed will improve. Second, I've always left in it for chips, thinking "backboard" for any over-cooked shots, and thinking the same now on putts going long. There will be putts than clank off the pin and leave a short putt instead of naturally rolling further away.

Of course, this behavior will take time to change, so the benefits will not be seen immediately. I played a round yesterday with a friend who is a pin out guy, and when I asked him about his feeling of the new rule, he said he had not heard about it nor did he like it. The way he was putting, I thought about suggesting laying the pin down perpendicularly to his putt line six inches behind the hole...that would have improved speed of play!

Roger makes a good point not mentioned by others: damage to the greens from flag stick being dropped. I think the real damage is being done to the grass at the rim of the cup when the flag is in and players reach in (particularly with a glove on hand) to withdraw the ball. I see plenty of damage to crisply cut holes.

Leave the pin in on longer putts. If with 4 feet pick up and move on. Don't want to disturb hole... lol

There is some research out there that came to the conclusion that it is advantageous to leave in the flagstick on most putts so I'll be giving it a try. Here's a link. Interesting idea to ponder I think.

lowestscorewins.com/.../putting-with-the-flagstick-in

No one is mentioning what type of pin.. Fiberglass, metal, thick, thin, fits the hole perfectly or leans... Out for me. I’ve seen putts that hit a leaning pin and deflected off

Played today and we left pin in just to see how it felt,long putts great idea as speeds up play but from short distance felt weird and we felt hole looked smaller

Not sold on pin in as many now think it cupulsory or at the least a personal requirement slowing play down instead of what was the intention... pin in for me, pin out for me, pin held for me, I believe better before but could sort itself out.

I’ll pull it if I’m in a group, leave it if I’m solo. Just faster.

I leave it in anyway most of the time when I play alone, so I’ll just keep on keep’in on.

Whatever the situation calls for. I like just having the option.
Play Well,
Steve S.

I would see using this rule as a time-saver if everyone is lining up long putts: rather than wait for someone to tend, just go ahead and putt with the pin in the hole.

When I'm out by myself I always leave the pin in. I'm really interested in seeing what players want to do when playing in a group and during league play...some want it in, others want it out...just seems like it will slow down play.

Like most of you, I've been playing with it in when I play solo.

I agree with Deno when he said there are a lot of variables; we will see what happens.

Now is the time of year I will try these things
A good experience like holing a few long putts will sway my opinion!
Leaving the flag in seems to have benefits ie time saving but only if everyone does it
I think play when ready ( out of turn ) is more beneficial as is the 3 mins lost ball rule

Like most, I'll probably leave it in on long putts that would require the flag to be attended. When playing solo, I already leave the flag in most of the time, so probably no change there.

TH

Hey, you’re the Footjoy chat guy...

Leave it in, gives me a better read on long putts and a backstop on short putts

I'm finding a slight speed up of play because in a fourball everyone isn't waiting for someone to tend the pin. Personally on balance I prefer it out but will leave it on longer downhill putts. Have had a couple of putts that were too strong but hit the flag and dropped or stopped by the hole. Equally I have had some that might have dropped but hit the pin and stayed out.
It also depends on the flagstick. I play in Scotland where a lot of flagsticks are quite thick and heavy metal, although my home club have recently changed to thinner, lighter sticks.