What if I move the flagstick because I think my ball won't hit it?
No penalty. If you move the flagstick because you genuinely believe your ball in motion won't reach it before stopping, that's allowed under Rule 13.2a(3). The general penalty only applies if you move it to deliberately influence where the ball comes to rest.
When moving the flagstick is fine
Rule 13.2a(3) draws a clear line: you and your caddie must not deliberately move or remove the flagstick to affect where your ball in motion might come to rest — for example, pulling it so the ball doesn't hit it. But the rule explicitly says there's no penalty if the flagstick is moved for any other reason, such as when you reasonably believe the ball won't hit the flagstick before coming to rest. That belief has to be genuine and reasonable in the moment; you can't use it as a cover for trying to help or hinder the ball.
What counts as "reasonably believe"
The standard is what a reasonable player would think in that situation. If your putt is clearly dying six feet short and you tap the flagstick out of the way, that's fine. If the ball is racing at the hole and you yank the flagstick claiming you thought it would stop, that's not reasonable — and you'd get the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play). The rule trusts players to act honestly; it doesn't require you to be right, only that the belief was reasonable at the time.
Your caddie and other players
The same limitation applies to your caddie — they can't move the flagstick to affect the outcome either. Other players have their own rule under 13.2a(4): they must not deliberately move an unattended flagstick to affect your ball, but they also get a pass if they reasonably believe your ball won't hit it, or if they simply didn't know you were playing or that your ball was in motion.
Exceptions that change the answer
- You move the flagstick to deliberately affect where the ball might come to rest (e.g., to avoid the ball hitting it) → General penalty — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play
- Your caddie moves the flagstick to affect where your ball might come to rest → Same general penalty applies to you
- Another player moves an unattended flagstick to affect your ball → That other player gets the general penalty
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove the flagstick after I've putted if I think the ball is going to miss?
Yes, if you genuinely and reasonably believe the ball won't hit the flagstick before it stops. That's explicitly allowed by Rule 13.2a(3). The penalty only applies if you're moving it to influence the outcome.
What if I'm wrong and the ball actually hits the spot where the flagstick was?
No penalty. The rule only requires that your belief was reasonable at the moment you moved it. You don't have to be correct — just honest and reasonable.
Does this apply if I'm off the green chipping?
Yes. Rule 13.2 applies to a ball played from anywhere on the course, not just the putting green. The same limitation on moving the flagstick while the ball is in motion applies everywhere.
What if my caddie pulls the flagstick without asking me?
If your caddie moves it to affect where your ball might come to rest, you get the general penalty. If they move it for any other reason — like reasonably believing the ball won't reach it — there's no penalty.
Can another player remove the flagstick while my ball is rolling?
Only if they reasonably believe your ball won't hit it, or if they didn't know you were playing or that your ball was in motion. If they do it to affect your ball's outcome, they get the general penalty under Rule 13.2a(4).