Leaving it in if i dont have to walk by it to get to my ball! LOL which is what walkers usually did before it was "legal"!

I agree. I love leaving it in and it has helped to speed up play in my experience so far.

This is tough. The traditionalist in me wants to take it out every single time. I am a creature of habit. However, I have played 4 rounds now with some buddies who are leaving it in. I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried it. I am 4 rounds deep, and leaving it in has helped me 2 times, and hurt me 0 times. I am struggling to find a reason to take the stick out anymore. My mind has been swayed. The only times I will take it out, is on the 4 footers and in, when I want to hit the "burry it in the back of the cup" type putt.

It definitely speeds up play 90% of the time, but I’m seeing more and more weekend golfers thinking they are pros lining up there puts from every angle on the green slowing the play down

100% in unless I'm in a Thursday night blind draw scramble and some teammates prefer it out.

Agree, it does if everyone in the group agrees to leave it in, but what about when half the guys want it in and the others don't?

All in all the time

Im finding that the discussion as to in or out between players on the green is cancelling out any potential time saving, some take it out only for the next to putt wanting it put back in.


Madhatter

I prefer to leave it in.

Outside of 10 feet or down hill/grain in. Otherwise, out.

It saves tending the pin for those who are putting from 30-40 feet or more. But I've seen groups of traditionalists who want it out, with those who want it in based on Pelz's article, so it comes out, goes in, and out again. I started reading about another study saying it hurt more times than it helped. Haven't read it all yet from another "scientist". So it basically like you all basically said, have to coordinate it best and let those who want it in, put first, and then the others regardless of position. Otherwise I don't see it speeding up anything. My take is that the jury will be out on this for quite a while going forward.

I have been taking it out on most putts of which I feel like I should make or have a good chance to make. There is no chance for the ball to ricochet off the pin if the pin isn't in. To me, the hole is bigger when the pin is out. On long putts/lags, I usually leave it in. Basically, I go with my gut. Whatever feels right for each particular putt. And most of the time, pin out feels right to me.

I leave it in. Speeds up play and I also find that on longer putts have a better concept of distance and break.

I normally leave it in. But it really depends on what going on. If it’s windy I’ll take it out or if the flag looks like it is leaning towards me I’ll take it out as well.

In for me and even if my best buddy play still in but if we play with others and they want it out that's okay but we can flie around a track just me and him ready golf flag in

I’m a flag out guy. But if I chip it close than I will tap it in with the flag in.

Definitely "in." Everyone in my regular group has readily adapted.

My group and I have been leaving the flag in. I think it has been saving a little time on each hole. Now that no one has to tend the flag, everyone can use this time to fix their divots, line up their putts and putt.

As others have mentioned in this and other blogs, as a single, I always left the flag in anyway. I would rarely take it out when I was out there playing golf by myself.

After the times this spring that the pin has helped me I see no reason to take it out. Perhaps it's just false confidence but it seems to help my putting...

As a 55 year old man, with failing vision, I like having the stick in on long putts to give me added perspective for length and hole location.