In my twosome, we still pull the flag every Sunday morning. It's part of our rhythm on the course. After 20 years of playing together, pulling the flag is no different than playing honors on the tee and who ever is away hits first. All that in under 3 hours, without a gimme! Pace of play has very little to do with the flagstick, in my opinion. Besides, there's more room in the hole for my ProV without the flagstick in there taking up space!
Fairways and Greens and NO3JAX

Leave it in all the time. My group, even the traditionalist leaves it in all the time. It does speed up play and it gives me a more finite aim point.

Ricky G

I like the pin out. The hole seems smaller to me when its in. We have one green at my course that can be treacherous if your above it.I'll leave it in on a downhill putt there,and also on really long putts where I can't see the cup.

I've found that being old school, I like to take the pin out shorter putts and in on longer putts in the effort to keep things moving.

However, I should add that when I'm in a foursome, everybody is different and it can actually take longer when everyone is queried whether they want the pin in or out. Was easier before because you all walked to the green and someone either tended the pin for a competitor, or merely took the pin out.

I've hit the pin on a couple of occasion and found that it actually caused the ball to not go in. It bounced off the pin. I think it also makes the hole look visually smaller.

Bottom line is I still like the pin out..............

Most of us practice on the practice green, and those greens have the flag in the cup and we do NOT pull the flag when we practice. So that means we are more USED to seeing the flag IN when we practice. So my thinkin is that if I leave the flag in on the course, it will be more like what I see on the practice greens. To me, this makes me believe I would be more consistent with my putting if I leave the flag in and I see the SAME thing When I practice putting, I AIM at the stick, so if I leave the flag in, I can do the same thing on the course. Makes sense to me to leave the flag in for this reason alone. By removing this one variable I should be more consistent and putt better.

There are not too many good reasons to take the pin out. When PGA Tour pros are putting for short (10') eagles and birdies with the pin in, I think most us amateurs will be ok if you leave it in.

I see all the "Traditionalists" non-sense talk about taking it out,....well drop the ball over your shoulder next time you are getting relief from a "hazard" (now penalty area.) Leave the spike mark s and scuffs on the green too, don't fix them (even though the new rule allows it) if you are such a traditionalists. The game of golf has had many rule changes over the years, don't pick choose which ones you like based on tradition.

Too many egos out there on the golf course. Leave the pin in! On rare occasions take it out, if necessary.....otherwise hit your ball, take your ego out of the game and keep moving....the group behind you is waiting!

I play 4-5 times a week. Almost everyone I play with (including myself) leaves the flag in for all putts.

Flagstick in on all putts.

The group which whom I play leave the stick in most of the time. It does speed up play and leaves less chance of damaging the cup or the green with one dropping the stick on the green.

Whatever works for you stick with it!

It can help and also hinder certain types of putts.

Just decide on the day

I still take it out unless it is a very fast downhill putt.

I was pin-out 100% of the time up until this past week. I kind of like the idea of aiming for hitting the pin and the wider hole leaving me some margin for error.

The only reason it even came to that though is trying to appease everyones preference. I get paired up a lot and I think people just try to be agreeable which seems to makes the pin-in the default option. Ultimately it comes down to feel for the specific putt but most likely out.

I recently read an article about the effect of leaving in the pin from different putting distances. They did all this research about when and how the ball hits the flag stick but I'm still not convinced! I certainly see the benefit of the "backstop" on long putts but I'm just not sure I can leave it in for the 4-6 footers.

Out,out,out. It just looks right to me.

I leave it in on longer putts and take it our for 20ft and in. I know its in my head, but the hole looks bigger with the pin out. I have missed at least 2 putts this year that hit the pin and bounced out instead of going in

I leave it in new favourite sound is the ball hitting the pole

I will leave the pin in on down hill chips and putts, as a backstop, but it comes out on uphill chips and putts. The bullseye LOOKS bigger!

yes I feel like it helps speed up play and I putt better with it in!!!

I have played all year with the pin in when all are in agreement. If one player wants it out we all play with it out. It has never been a problem.

I only leave it in when I have a down hill put so the pin can stop the ball if its going to quickly.