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what's the over under . . .

• gippertime 38 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 4:45 PM

  . . . on pulling the flag stick when taking approach shots?  I've now hit the stick in two consecutive rounds where it bounced back and off the green, or almost off as the second one was at St. Andrews number 1 - fortunately it didn't go in the water.  I can't remember the last time the flag stick actually helped me.  Any opinions on the matter from those of you who have been here for awhile?  

  Thanks!

  The Gip 

• 9,041 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 5:14 PM

  Always take the pin out around the green and on every approach shot too if you can remember !!

  Exceptions to the rule are holes like #13 Oly in the rough above the flag, where leaving it in can stop the ball from going 6 yrds down the hill.

  Andy

• MBaggese 15,367 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 6:11 PM

  Well...I now always take it out on approach shots, why?

   

  Playing SA...eagled 5, holed out on 6 for an eagle, and on 7 rolled into the pin dead on and came back for a 3inch birdie putt...could have been a Hat-Trick/Trifecta.

   

  Pull the danged thing!

• GlassMan27 573 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 6:56 PM

  Saw a highlight today where Keegan Bradley hit a pitch that hit the pin and dropped right in. Crazy...

• bypass07 1,360 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 8:14 PM

  6 of one or a half a dozen of the other. every hole is unique. i've had good and bad luck doing both. i generally leave it in though. short chip in's i will take it out.

• TarheelsRule 5,557 Posts

  Tue, Jan 8 2013 9:56 PM

  I tend to leave it in except when I am around the green or within 30 yards.  While I have had a few ding the pin and spin back off the green, I'm sure I have had just as many hit the pin and stop within a few inches.

  It's just a matter of what you are comfortable with.  I don't know that there is any real advantage in taking it out.  My reference would be the PGA tour guys, they could have the pin pulled on every approach shot if they wanted and they don't do it.

• gippertime 38 Posts

  Wed, Jan 9 2013 3:05 AM

  hyena64:

  I say leave it. If you hit it hard enough to bounce back off the green, it would have gone past probably as far or more had the stick not been there to redirect it. I'd say it's saved me more distance by stopping the flyers than it has cost be bouncing off by far.

  Actually, neither of the shots I'm talking about would have gone off the green. I've got them both saved on profile. The shot at SA was particularly bad since it was at a steep angle coming down right at the flag and would have hit about a foot beyond the hole and might have spun in, but kick in birdie anyway.  I'm not sure about the one on Royals #3, but I did hit it perfect with full spin so it would have been at least a good birdie putt from the top tier, whereas I ended up taking a bogey from the rough in front of the green.  

• gippertime 38 Posts

  Wed, Jan 9 2013 3:13 AM

  Thanks for the replies everyone!  I'm thinking it's best to pull it on approaches, particularly any wedge approach - unless I'm having problems pulling the string a little too much, but my wedges are really good enough for that yet.  Probably the only times to leave it are when trying to run the ball in and unsure of speed, or on downhill chips when the pin might help stop the ball from going way beyond the hole.  

• gippertime 38 Posts

  Wed, Jan 9 2013 3:17 AM

  MBaggese:

  Playing SA...eagled 5, holed out on 6 for an eagle, and on 7 rolled into the pin dead on and came back for a 3inch birdie putt...could have been a Hat-Trick/Trifecta.

  That's a bummer.  You a Niners fan?  Can't wait for this weekend.