Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Brandel Chamblee: Every player should leave the flagstick in the hole while putting”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day was submitted by RMGC_NV and concerns a hot take from Golf Channel analyst, Brandel Chamblee. Whether you love him or hate him, Chamblee is never one to hold back from speaking his mind, and in this particular case, the former pro is confident that it’s in every player’s best interest to leave the flagstick in the hole while putting. Our members discuss.
Here are a few posts from the thread but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- jll62: “Looking forward to doing some of my own testing on this with my Perfect Putter, but I am firmly in the camp of leaving the flagstick in as the default state based on all of the evidence we have to date. The key will be knowing when it’s advantageous to take it out, but I think those situations will be rare.”
- HoosierMizuno: “I don’t think leaving the pin in will hurt anyone’s score. I do think its debatable on how much it will help….especially when it comes to putting. I get leaving it in on chips. I’m predicting that in 3 years there will be only a few if any guys still removing the pins to putt. there just isn’t any reason to take it out other than you think it looks weird.”
- Gautama: “Help or not I can’t say, wind is the big variable in my mind. Regardless, though, personally I hate the way it looks after thirty-plus years of pulling pins, and I’m sticking to my shallow and subjective opinion, lol. Anyone else find it just ugly to see a putt made with the pin in the hole?”
- sbjinx: “Played today with my group and we decided to keep the flag in for all our putts. It was weird at first, but by the 3rd hole, we all agreed that we’ll play with the flag in from now on. We didn’t have any instance where having the flag in helped or damaged a putt, but it’s nice not to have to walk to the hole and pull the flag once we’re on the green. We would just walk to our balls, hit our putts and move on to the next tee. I agree with the above poster that in a few years most people will be playing with the flag in.”
GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore was at Riviera Country Club this last week in Los Angeles for the U.S. Women’s Open. While browsing the photos, I spotted a recent major trend in headcovers. That is, the Titleist GTS headcover line expands the majors theme.
Seen on the bag of Natalia Guseva were the red, white, and blue Titleist GTS covers. This is the third time we have seen limited-edition Titleist major covers, the others being at the Masters and the PGA Championship. But with the launch of the GTS line back at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March, this is the first time we have seen Titleist come out with major themed head covers for the season (driver headcovers through hybrids).
Check out some photos below.
At the Masters, we saw the familiar Masters green, white, and yellow. While the PGA Championship design was colors synonymous with the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team. This shows the season major drops continue full steam ahead for major OEMs. New opportunities for each major for designs and themes, and who knows, maybe a lucky spark for a player and a major championship for their resume. It gets the wheels turning for what major theme headcover you would keep on your bag for the whole season!
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 5 S
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 S
Hybrids: TaylorMade Qi4D (19 degrees, 22 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid 85 S 
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (5-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus 3 Tour 105
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (50-SB 09, 54-SB 12, 60-SB 10)
Shafts: Nippon Modus 3 Tour 105
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour V
Grip: SuperStroke Flatso 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
Check out more in-hand photos of Melanie Green’s clubs here.
In our forums, one user has announced himself as a believer in the powers of Titleist’s GT280 Mini Driver, and is sharing the good news with other members.
User @dgarland chronicled:
“As the title states I have played 3 rounds with a Titleist GT280 mini driver and here are the results… If you have been contemplating trying one, definitely do. Stock Tensei Blue and set at standard loft and it’s legitimately hard to not put the ball in play with this. It is incredibly straight and even bad swings result in a usable shot. You will give up some distance but you will be in play. I have not attempted to hit it off the fairway yet but I rarely hit my 3 wood off the fairway either. At my home course there are two holes on the front 9 that are a really uncomfortable shot with the driver. One is a slight dogleg right where a draw (my normal shot) can run out of room fast and the other is a dogleg left with trees about 250ish straight off the tee, where a driver that doesn’t draw will get me into trouble. The mini driver has been perfect for both of them. I always step onto those tee boxes uncomfortable about the shot I need to play, but with this it makes it far easier to get the ball in play.
“Update: 2 for 2 again this morning in a 9 hole round.”
Members in the forum shared their thoughts on mini drivers, offering up their favorite models and whether or not they’re a proper fit for their home course/style of play. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- NorthMNgolfer: “I’m curious between this and the new TEC mini that was just released. But I’m waiting a mini that can be used from the fairway as well from time to time. Both look like great options.”
- jLMN: “I played the GT280 last year and it’s a great club. My problem this year is I couldn’t justify keeping it in the bag when I would only use it 2-3 times per round. Perfect club for short par 4 tee shots. I didn’t trust it as well off the deck compared to the tee box.”
- GolferPerson1: “I can only speak to the 280 but I’ve had no issues with it from the fairway. ”
Entire Thread: “Titleist GT280 mini driver after 3 rounds”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Details on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
Nelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
Melanie Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 5 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour...
Sungjae Im WITB 2026 (June)
Sungjae Im had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist TSi2 (8 degrees, B1...
Lucas Glover WITB 2026 (June)
Lucas Glover had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (10 degrees, B2 SureFit...
Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)
Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping...
-
News5 days agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoAaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
-
Equipment15 hours agoMemorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
-
Equipment3 days agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
-
Tour Photo Galleries3 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
-
News1 week agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
Leo Vincent
Feb 19, 2019 at 11:29 am
I usually disagree with everything Brandel Chamblee says but he is correct on this one.Leaving the flag in helps the player and this is an old rule being brought back.A rule requiring the flag be taken out was adopted in the 1950’s i believe.Prior to that the flag could be left in
John
Jan 16, 2019 at 2:09 pm
We are witnessing the dumbing down of golf. Personally, I’d give up the game before I’d leave the pin in to putt. Stupid rule introduced by people trying to justify their existence.
dave
Jan 15, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Its a joke of a rule!!! UsGa is a joke , they are clueless!
Take the flag out, one guy says out next guy putting wants it in. Come on!!!
Agree it will slow play down.
Lastly, drop at knee height. Really? uSgA joke of an organization…
Hamish
Jan 13, 2019 at 1:32 pm
How about local rule.. if it hits the pin its in!
Most Flag pole’s are too fat reducing the width of the cup, ejecting putts that don’t hit the pole dead center. Bring back the thinner old school fiberglass flag pole.
Glftips
Jan 11, 2019 at 5:46 pm
This rule was adapted in order to speed up play. However, in my first five rounds of 2019. it seems to make play slower. One guy wants in out and then the next guy wants it in. Putting the pin in and out a few times on each green adds more time to the game. Maybe it will get better with time but right now it is not good.