jabonic is quite correct. For the pin to not actually be there, it MUST be removed before you hit the ball. You can pull the pin, hit the ball, and then put the pin back in, and it will still not actually be in the hole, even tho it shows up.
Kinda like putting. If on the green(not fringe), even tho it shows, the lower portion of the pin is not there. That is why you never hear the ball hit the pin when putting.
Anytime off the green and you don't want to take the chance of the ball hitting the pin, it must be removed before hitting the ball.