Pitons: tie off or clip?

[yakimuchacho]

I scrambled up to the Talon this summer intending to climb the 5.7 route. The two FP's at the start of the climb have welded rings through the eyes. What is the best way to clip in? Should one sling (girth hitch) the pin close to the rock, clip in to the ring, or both?

[Drederek]

If its sticking out far enuf to sling it I would.

[ken4ord]

Doesn't really matter, though most of the time I will girth hitch the pin if I am in a good stance. The only reason I do that is because, I have eliminated using one biner (1 less item that could fail in the complete system), also you don't have to think about which way the gate is facing or whether or not the biner would be loaded wrong in the event of a fall.

[Dru]

clip the ring

with a Screamer!