Flag Stick In or Out?

It has been proven over and over that the flag stick should be left in for all putts. Any shot that is hit too hard has a better chance of going in or finishing closer to the hole while using the flag stick as a back-stop. A perfectly struck putt will go in the sides or against the stick.
 
The only problem with leaving the flag stick in is for short putts.  The flag stick may actually make the hole look smaller. You want the hole itself to look as big as possible. With the flag stick taking up half of the cup and looking larger because you are so close it is actually a mental and visual deterrent.
 
The further you are from the hole the smaller the hole will look. This is when the flag stick itself will help with distance control. The more information your brain can take in the better. The flag stick is a great indicator of your distance to the hole.
 
The best part of this new ruling is to help with the speed of play. Leaving the flag stick in until you get relatively close to the hole should be your goal. If you are a beginner with not much touch or a player that has an occasional miss fire leaving the flag stick in will help at all times.
 
For medium length putts, take everything into your decision. If the putt is downhill and with the grain, you may want a backstop to stop or slow down the ball. If speed is not an issue take the flag stick out.
 
Remember that leaving the flag stick in gives you better odds of making any putt that is struck too hard. On short putts where distance is not a major factor your mental and visual awareness should come into play as much as the physics of leaving the flag stick in. Make the hole look as big as possible on short putts where a backstop is not needed.