Rules · Tip
Flagstick In or Out When You Putt?
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Under Rule 13.2a, it's your choice. Leave the flagstick in, take it out, or have someone tend it. If your putt hits a flagstick you left in, there's no penalty. Just decide before you putt. Many golfers leave it in on long putts. It's faster and gives you something to aim at. Some like it out on short ones. Neither is wrong. Pick what helps you and tell your group, so no one grabs it while your ball is rolling.
Step by step
- Decide before each putt.
- Tell your group.
- Leave it in on long putts if it helps.
- Take it out on short ones if you like.
- Don't change your mind mid-roll.
Why it works
The rules let you putt with the flagstick in or out, and hitting it by accident from the green carries no penalty. That means the choice is only about what helps you see the target and hold your pace. On long putts the flagstick gives you a clear aiming point and shows the distance. On short putts, some golfers like an empty cup because it looks bigger and gives them a clean picture of the hole.
Common mistakes
- Deciding after you have already started your stroke routine.Make the call while you read the putt, then tell your group before you take your stance.
- Not telling anyone, so a playing partner pulls the flagstick while the ball is rolling.Say out loud whether it stays in, comes out, or will be tended, and wait for a nod.
- Changing your mind halfway through the putt and asking for it to be pulled or replaced.Stick with your choice once the ball is moving, and use the result to inform your next putt.
How you'll know it's working
- You make the flagstick decision in the same place in your routine on every green.
- Your group never touches the flagstick while your ball is moving.
- You can tell which choice gives you a firmer, more confident stroke on long and short putts.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start by leaving the flagstick in for every putt and tell your group once at the start of the round.
Harder: Switch your choice by distance on purpose, and note how many putts you hole or leave close with each option over a full round.
Common questions
Is there a penalty if my putt hits the flagstick?
No. If you putt from the green and your ball hits the flagstick you left in, there is no penalty under Rule 13.2a.
Should I leave the flagstick in when I putt?
It is your choice. Many golfers leave it in on long putts for an aiming point and take it out on short ones, but neither option is wrong.
