How to Repair Pitch Marks in Golf

Leaving a putting green smooth for the group behind you isn’t just good manners - it’s fundamental to the spirit and stewardship of the game. A great shot into the green is a fantastic feeling, but it almost always leaves behind a small crater, known as a pitch mark or ball mark. This guide provides a clear, correct, and supportive tutorial on how to repair that mark properly, ensuring our beautiful courses stay healthy and their putting surfaces remain true for everyone to enjoy.

Why Repairing Pitch Marks is So Important

As a coach, I can tell you that understanding the “why” behind any golf technique makes the “how” stick. Repairing a pitch mark is about much more than just tidiness, it's about the very health of the most delicate and important playing surface on the course: the green.

When your ball lands on the green from a height, it doesn’t just create a depression. It forcefully displaces the turf and soil, stretching and tearing the delicate roots of the grass. Think of it less like a dent and more like an open wound for the turf system.

Here’s the stark reality:

• A pitch mark that is repaired correctly within a few minutes will fully recover in as little as 24-48 hours.
• An unrepaired pitch mark leaves the grass roots exposed to the air. The turf in that spot begins to die. It can take several weeks for the area to regrow, if it ever does. During that time, it creates an ugly brown spot and a bumpy, unpredictable surface.

Every unrepaired mark degrades the quality of the green. It can knock well-struck putts offline, creating frustration for you and every single golfer who plays after you. Taking ten seconds to properly fix your mark is a sign of respect for the game, for the tireless work of the course-maintenance staff, and for your fellow players. It’s a small act of ownership that maintains the integrity of the game for the entire community.

Choosing Your Weapon: The Divot Repair Tool

Before you can become a green-repairing expert, you need the right tool. While a golf tee might seem like a handy substitute in a pinch, it's a poor replacement for a proper divot repair tool. Why? Tees are often too sharp and thin, leading to more root damage, and they can easily snap when you apply pressure.

A dedicated divot tool is designed specifically for the job. You'll generally find two main styles:

• The Classic Two-Prong Fork: This is the most common and, in my opinion, most effective design. The two prongs provide the perfect width and strength to gather the surrounding turf without causing further damage. They are sturdy, reliable, and give you excellent control.
• Single-Prong Tools: These are also effective, often featuring a button that allows the prong to retract like a switchblade. They work on the same principle but require a bit more precision. They are wonderfully compact and a brilliant modern alternative.

Whichever style you choose, make sure you have one. Keep it in your pocket at all times on the course so it's as automatic to reach for as your putter when you walk onto a green. It is an essential piece of golf equipment, not an accessory.

The Correct Method: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Pitch Mark Repair

Here is where golf course etiquette meets simple, effective action. Forget everything you thought you knew about prying the soil up from the bottom of the mark - that is the single biggest mistake a golfer can make. The correct technique is all about pushing from the outside in.

Follow these four simple steps every single time, and you’ll leave behind a surface that’s nearly perfect.

1. Insert Your Tool at the Edge of the Mark

Examine the pitch mark. You’ll see a central depression and a "wall" of raised turf around it. Do not insert your tool into the depression itself. Instead, insert the prongs into the turf on the high side or edge of the mark, just outside the crater.

2. Push Everything Toward the Center

This is the most crucial part. Angle your repair tool slightly forward and gently push the turf toward the center of the pitch mark. Do not lift up! The motion is not an upward prying action, it is a forward pushing or "tucking" action. Lifting tears the grass roots that are already strained, effectively killing the plant. By pushing the surrounding turf forward, you are gently closing the gap and covering the exposed soil with healthy grass.

3. Work Your Way Around the Mark

Pull your tool out and repeat this forward-pushing motion from three or four different points around the edge of the pitch mark. As you do this, you will see the crater close up. You're essentially "stitching" the wound shut by gently coaxing the surrounding healthy turf back into place. Your goal is to get all the sides of the mark to meet in the middle, leaving no exposed soil.

4. Gently Tamp It Down

Once you’ve successfully closed the gap, the final step is to smooth out the surface. Gently tap the repaired area with the flat bottom of your putter or the sole of your shoe. This flattens the area, making it smooth for putting and helping the roots reconnect with the soil below. Don't stomp on it, a few gentle taps are all that’s needed. The result should be a flat, mostly uniform green surface.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Fixing Ball Marks

Part of being a good coach is pointing out common pitfalls. When it comes to green repair, I see the same well-intentioned mistakes over and over again. Avoiding these is just as important as knowing the correct technique.

The Cardinal Sin: Lifting From the Bottom

As mentioned, this deserves repeating. The most common and damaging mistake is inserting the tool a-okngle and then using it as a lever to pry the bottom of the mark upwards. Golfers think they are "fluffing up" the compacted soil, but what they are actually doing is ripping the grass roots through the sand and soil base. This severs them from their source of water and nutrients, resulting in a dead circle of brown grass, every time. Remember the mantra: push from the side, never lift from the bottom.

Twisting the Soil

Another common error, especially among those using a golf tee, is to stick the tool into the center of the mark and twist it. This doesn't repair the turf, it just churns the soil and further damages the surrounding roots, creating a muddy, unstable mess that inhibits recovery.

Relying Only on the "Putter Tap"

Some golfers will see their ball mark and simply tap it flat with their putter without doing any work with a repair tool. This does not fix the problem. Tamping an unrepaired mark only compacts the soil further and flattens the injured blades of grass, making it even harder for the roots to get air and water. The pushing motion with a proper tool must happen first.

Frequently Asked Golf Etiquette Questions

A few questions always come up about this topic, so let’s clear them up.

• What if I can't find my own pitch mark?
  First, give it a good look. Marks can sometimes be hard to spot. If you genuinely can't find yours after a good search, invoke the "plus one" rule. Find and repair another visible mark on the green. The goal is to leave the surface in better condition than you found it.
• Is it really okay to repair someone else’s mark?
  Absolutely! It's one of the best habits you can get into. Fixing your mark plus one other can have a massive cumulative effect on the health of the greens over a season. It’s a quiet way of showing you care about the course.
• Can I really not use a tee if I forgot my tool?
  If it’s a last resort and the choice is between using a tee or doing nothing, use the tee... but use it correctly. Hold it carefully and use its point to execute the same outside-in pushing motion. Do not use it as a lever. It's a far from ideal substitute, but performing the correct motion is what matters most.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the simple, inward-pushing motion to repair a pitch mark is a small action with a truly massive impact. It reflects your character as a golfer and contributes directly to the health of the course and the playing experience for everyone who shares it with you. Take pride in this small ritual, it’s one of the hallmarks of a considerate and knowledgeable player.

Being a more confident and prepared golfer goes far beyond specific etiquette rules like this, it's about having clear answers when you need them. Here at Caddie AI, we help you get that expert-level guidance instantly, right in your pocket. Whether you're standing over a tricky shot with an odd lie or curious about pro-level course strategy, our AI-powered golf coach is available 24/7 to help you understand the next best step. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of the game so you can play smarter and with more confidence on every part of the course.