Flag stick out or in

Typhoon

It's interesting watching the TOC this weekend to see if there is a pattern to situations where the flag is left in.

I take out Bryson from the equation.

Typhoon

What do u guys do on a practice putting green? Leave the little flag in or out?

colej

Typhoon

In almost every time.

Spuzz

Typhoon What do u guys do on a practice putting green

no caddy to fish balls out of the hole, so in it is all the time.

sdandrea1

In while practicing. I have played 3 full rounds now with the stick in and I'm liking it. A lot of the guys in my groups are too and it's faster.

mulegolf

In, out, in, out... are we still talking about golf? 😉

DC300

I will be leaving it in most of the time. I do believe there are some places where there might be some disadvantages, but in general if it’s there, it’s going to allow more aggressive strokes rather than worrying about running it by. I’ll be keeping track early on in the year to see if it hurt on deflections that I feel would have fallen without the stick in. Truth be told, I’m much more likely to miss myself than have one that really could use a back stop, but we shall see.

candukid

I'll be leaving it in.

ZWExton

Leaving it in as a matter of convenience, but I don't think I'll make more putts. A ball going fast enough to need the flag to "stop" it should be pretty infrequent. In one of Stan Utley's books, either "The Art of Putting" or "TAO Chipping" he talks about the hole being effectively larger without the stick. Never thought much about it, but I believed him. He encouraged taking the flag out on any shot you feel you had a reasonable chance of making.

I don't have the courage to crush a 4-footer with 10ft speed to crack the stick and drop the ball in the hole. If I did try that a few times I think my fragile putting psyche would shatter.

ode

I've been leaving it during solo rounds for years. Glancing blows to the flag can knock the ball off the cup, but it's rare. Power lipouts, ball can be slowed down by the flag and stay on/in the cup, but it's rare.
And the speedy putt can hit the flag and go in too. Other than that I don't see much impact to leaving the flag in vs. out. It certainly is quicker, but will it matter on a jammed up course. Everyone would have to do it to experience that benefit. Traditionalists I don't think will. as for pace of play as whole, we are so far gone on that issue, that things like flag in, won't make much of a difference.

sdandrea1

ode Power lip-outs, can be slowed down by the flag and stay on/in the cup

YES!

ode

sdandrea1 you would not believe it until it happens!

johnnydoom

Doesn’t make any difference to me. If I’m the farthest away on the green I’d say leave it in, I’ll putt, and then I’ll walk up and tend the flag for anyone that wants it out. If I play by myself I will leave it in for sure.

Sneakylong

garyt1957 An advantage of one flagstick over another or an advantage of any flagstick versus no flagstick?

The USGA didn't realize there's different size (diameter) flag sticks. Don't be surprised at the U.S. Open you see them use the fatter flag sticks.

candukid

Sneakylong
Wouldn't that be cheating on the USGA's part?

Sparky

Can you bring your own flagstick with stick'em on it and swap out when you putt? I'm heading to the basement to work on a flagstick with a high power vacuum attached.

Spuzz

"The USGA didn't realize there's different size (diameter) flag sticks."

How clueless can they be?
Where's Scott to rip them another new one?
LOL

ptjn1201

In for me virtually all the time. When out by ourselves, my brother-in-law and I started playing by 2019 rules several months ago. We were first group out quite a few times and it did speed things up a little. And I felt we made more putts. Now part of it was likely due to firmer strokes and more aggressive line, especially on the shorter downhill putts. When playing alone, if the first putt was more than 15 feet or so, I usually kept it in anyway, then would take the flag out for the second (and third and fourth) putt. So far, there hasn't been a fifth putt yet.

Typhoon

I'd like to try leaving it in this year. Probably something our "group" will discuss this month over breakfast. It'd be great just to go to your ball. Although, tending the stick you get to see breaks whereas if you just go to your own ball u might not pay attention to anything else.

There goes our running joke...
do you know how much the flagstick weighs?
No
Try picking one up once in a while and let us know.

SVonhof

In general, I will leave it in. There are times during my twilight league where I will pull it as the wind will be pushing the stick toward me, making the hole smaller.

LBlack14

I leave it in when I play by myself, but not sure when I play with others, here on out. I know I like to read putts with it out.