The big debate on whether the pin should be left in or take out during a golf shot is something that has fallen to personal preference. Most amateurs do not look at the stats of whether the pin is left in has a greater percentage of sinking. They judge their decision by feel. I have friends who are on the opposite side of the fence on this issue. Personally, I will do either, but prefer to have the pin removed. After all of this, putting is not what I am talking about when I suggest pulling the pin. Lets focus on chipping today.
But first, Google AI says that “scientific studies suggest that, in most situations, it is better to take the flagstick out to increase the percentage of successful putts. While the flagstick can help on rare, dead-center impacts, it more frequently causes off-center putts to bounce out”.
“Nebraska’s Chris Bilder, a statistician and avid golfer, analyses found that if a putt was moving slowly when reaching the hole, there was no meaningful difference between removing vs. leaving in the flagstick. At medium speed, though, the estimated odds of holing a putt were 3.45 times as large with the flagstick out. For a high-speed putt, the estimated odds were instead 10 times as large with the flagstick in — though that advantage seemed to arise mostly when a putt was dead-center.” (Nebraska Today)
Google AI states statistical analyses show conflicting results depending on the test methodology, but for most amateur chipping scenarios, leaving the pin in is statistically an advantage or has a neutral effect on the percentage of success. The flagstick can act as a backstop, preventing the ball from rolling farther away on a miss.
I am not surprised that the recommendation is to leave the pin in for chips, however I am not convinced. If I am only off the green by less that 3 yards and use a 7-iron to make my shot, I am comfortable removing the pin. Of course there are many other factors like down hill, being short sided, or the lie is terrible to consider. Yet, I am inclined to remove the pin because I am considering it a putt and like the pin out as my preference. I seem to concentrate more with the pin out and have a greater chance of success to sink this shot. Therefore, I would conclude that taking the pin out on a chip if you like the pin out if you are putting.
Taking the pin out or leaving it in during a putt or chip is completely a personal preference. Whichever gives me the greatest advantage for success is what I choose. The funny thing is that on some days I feel better with the pin in, but those are rare instances. Regardless of which you prefer, make sure you make your shot with the confidence that it is going in.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!