It's 2019, you leaving the pin in?

Ive been leaving it in unless the wind is blowing hard enough to move the pin. I think it makes play faster to some degree.

I'm no sold on it either yet. No offense to Mr. Pelz. There are a lot of factors, we all know, so for now I'll play it by ear. I've always taken the pin out when chipping from just off the green or on the collar or fringe, and had reasonable success. I get yelled at by many for chipping from such locales when most are putting. But I've done it this way since a video lesson by Ray Floyd years ago who did it that way, putting stance, putting grip, putting stroke with anything from a PW to a 7 iron depending on the distance and loft needed just to get it onto the green. Like I said reasonably good success over the years with no pin, so for now, I'll keep it that way.

I would like to commit to leaving it in all the time, but I am sure as the putter heats up and cools down that will be one of my first adjustments.

My foursome has played a couple rounds with the flag in unless the flag stick is leaning. I think it saves time if all agree to leave the flag stick in place. On the other hand if one player or two want in out and
The other player wants the flag stick in, then it
Slows play down. So for the most our foursome plays with the flag stick in.

Bryson is smart than me, so I’ll trust the homework and physics he’s done in preparation lol

I think having the option now will only benefit you as a player. I do not see anything wrong with it. Its a risk reward type situation.

It will all depend on how far I am from the hole if I'm with in 12 ft I'm pulling the flag every time outside 12 ft I will leave the pin in.

It’s a situational choice for me, but I do like having the option.

If alone I will be leaving it in. When with a group if it is pulled then I will leave it pulled.

What ever speeds up play, since my group plays ready-golf were leaving it in.

I actually did some playing around with the physics lab in my current uni about the ball speed in relation to flag stick recoil, i found below:

short distance leave stick in, med distance leave flag out long distance leave in (based on the hypothesis that amateur golfers mostly leave putts short on long distance, therefore should one hit one too long a flag stick can stop the ball in its tracks however if someone is a hard hitter of the ball leave out.

hope its of help!

for what it is worth, i feel like leaving the flagstick cuts into my confidence. Personally, when im looking at the cup i feel like i have much more room for error when i can see the whole cup instead if having a rod sticking up from the middle of it. Dont know why but it shakes my nerves when im over a putt???

I 've heard that the decision on the new rule will be looked into as the year progresses. May be changed back to pin out.

Think I’ll only pull it for short putts and leave it for anything else unless it’s windy and leaning towards me....

I have 6 or 7 rounds in for 2019 and can definitely say this is slowing us down. Some guys want it in while others want it out. I don’t care either way so I just putt when it’s my turn regardless of where the flagstick is.

Not sure how this will speed up play. The USGA is out of touch as usual. In a normal round the pin is taken out and placed on the fringe and put back in 18 times. NOW lets say your foursome is playing and player 1 is away and wants it out, player 2 is now up and wants it in, players 3 turn, he wants it out, player 4's turn he wants it in. Let's say they now all have to putt again and follow the same routine .. that's 8 time in and out per hole.

Great first post. Welcome to TT.

On longer putts, yes

I think I am in the same boat as you, 'Sauce. I plan to leave it in for speedy putts, short putts and anywhere where I believe it will speed up play. Looking forward to a great 2019!!

I plan on leaving it in for long puts and pull it for short puts. I have been pretty much doing that when I have played alone for some time now.

All in all the time for me.