How to Repair Ball Marks and Handle Divots

Ball Marks and Divots Are Different

A ball mark—also called a pitch mark—is the dent a ball can make when it lands on a putting green. A divot is the piece of turf displaced by a club on a full or partial swing, usually from a teeing area, fairway, or closely mown practice area. They need different repairs because the damage is different.

On a green, the goal is to move the surrounding turf back toward the center without tearing roots. In a divot, the goal is either to return an intact piece of turf to good soil contact or to fill the scar with the mix the course provides.

Course Care: Expected Etiquette, Not Always a Stroke Penalty

Rule 1.2a says players are expected to act in the spirit of the game, including taking good care of the course by replacing divots and repairing ball marks. The Rules do not normally add a penalty simply because someone fails to do this. Serious misconduct can lead to disqualification, and a committee can adopt a Code of Conduct with its own penalties.

For an everyday round, the practical message is simple: make course care part of your routine, but do not invent a penalty for another player. In a competition, check the event's Code of Conduct and any instructions from the committee.

How to Repair a Ball Mark

Carry a ball-mark repair tool in an easy-to-reach pocket. A golf tee can work in a pinch, but good technique matters more than the exact tool.

1. Locate the rim. Look for the raised edge of the indentation, especially on the side facing the shot's direction of travel.
2. Insert the tool at the edge. Place the prongs into healthy turf just outside the depression—not deep into the center.
3. Push inward gently. Nudge the surrounding turf toward the middle. Work around the mark from several positions rather than forcing everything from one side.
4. Keep the roots down. Do not use the tool as a lever to lift the bottom of the crater. Prying upward can tear roots and leave more damage.
5. Finish the surface. Lightly tap the repaired area with the flat sole of your putter until it is smooth and level.

Replace the Turf or Use Divot Mix?

The condition of the displaced turf should guide your first choice. Course instructions still come first because grass type, weather, and maintenance practices differ across the United States.

More mix is not better. A mound above the turf can affect play and interfere with mowing equipment. Too little can leave a deep depression. Aim for a firm, even repair that sits just below the adjacent grass, as the USGA recommends.

Why Course-Specific Instructions Matter

A bottle on the cart may contain sand, a sand-and-seed blend, or another material selected for that course. Some facilities want divots replaced; others prefer that certain grass types be filled. Seasonal conditions can also change the instruction.

Check the cart sign, starter's message, scorecard, or golf shop before you begin. If two sources conflict, ask a staff member rather than guessing. Never bring your own seed or soil mix: introducing the wrong grass or material creates a maintenance problem rather than solving one.

A Simple Routine During the Round

• After an approach: take your putter and repair tool to the green, then look for your landing mark before reading the putt.
• After a turf-taking swing: assess the displaced piece immediately, replace it if it is intact and permitted, or use the supplied mix.
• Before leaving: make sure the repair is level, collect your tool or mix bottle, and move on with the group.

This should be quick and quiet. Repair your mark while others are preparing to play, without standing on anyone's putting line or distracting a stroke. The same awareness that supports ready golf can make course care feel automatic rather than like an extra task.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Digging under a ball mark and lifting the center upward.
• Twisting aggressively or repeatedly stabbing the green.
• Replacing a dry, rootless tuft that cannot make useful soil contact.
• Overfilling a divot until the mix forms a hump.
• Assuming every course wants the same divot method.
• Walking away because the damage is not directly on your putting line.

A careful repair takes only a short moment. Done consistently, it protects the playing surface for the groups behind you and helps the maintenance team deliver a smoother course.