Golf Glossary
Pitch mark
In short
A pitch mark is the dent a golf ball leaves when it lands on a soft green. You should repair it with a repair tool so that the grass recovers quickly and the next putt is not disturbed. Under Rule 13.1c you may repair pitch marks on the putting green without penalty, even on your line of putt.
What is a pitch mark?
A pitch mark forms when a ball drops onto the green after a high shot and presses into the soft surface. A dent remains, often with a raised edge. It is also called a ball mark. It is easy to spot on a well-kept green because the grass is cut short.
How deep the mark is depends on several things. A high-flying ball with a steep landing angle and plenty of spin presses in more than a ball that arrives low and rolls. A wet green is also softer than a dry one, so there are more and deeper pitch marks after rain.
Why it matters: a pitch mark disturbs putting because the ball can be deflected by the dent. If it is not repaired, the grass takes much longer to recover. The green becomes uneven there and may turn bare.
How to repair a pitch mark, step by step
You need a repair tool. This is a small two-pronged device found in almost every golf bag. A tee or a club is allowed as normal equipment but works less well. Here is how to do it:
- Insert the tool at the edge of the dent at an angle, not in the middle.
- Push the turf from the outside towards the centre without lifting the grass.
- Repeat from all sides until the dent has closed.
- Tap the area gently flat with the sole of your putter.
Avoid levering up from below. That tears the grass roots and the spot recovers more slowly. A well-repaired pitch mark is barely visible after a short time. The repair tool belongs in your pocket, not left on the green.
What the Rules allow: Rule 13.1c
The Rules are generous here. Under Rule 13.1c you may repair damage on the putting green without penalty. According to the Rule this includes ball marks, shoe damage, old hole plugs, seams of turf, animal tracks and embedded objects such as stones or tees. You may use your hand, foot or normal equipment such as a repair tool, a tee or a club.
This also applies if the pitch mark lies on your line of putt, between your ball and the hole. Since 2019 you may also repair almost any other damage on the green, such as shoe marks, without having to worry about the line of putt.
You may not repair holes made by the greenkeeping team for course maintenance, such as aeration holes or grooves from vertical mowing. Natural surface imperfections such as weeds or diseased areas also stay as they are.
There are limits on time and extent: taking unreasonably long or doing more than needed, for example pressing a channel towards the hole, results in the general penalty of two strokes.
Practical example: an approach to the green
Picture a par-3 hole of 140 metres. You play a 7-iron, the ball lands four metres short of the flag and comes to rest after a short roll. The green is soft and the ball has left a deep dent about three metres from your ball.
You walk to the ball, mark its position with a ball marker and lift it. Before you putt, you repair your pitch mark. You insert the tool at the edge at an angle and push from several sides towards the centre. Then you tap the spot flat with your putter. Then you replace the ball and putt.
You make the repair while the others prepare their strokes, so it costs no time. You also repair a second, older mark on the way to the hole that nobody had fixed. That is good manners.
Pitch marks and etiquette
On the green one simple rule applies: repair your own pitch mark and, if you have time, one more. It shows respect for the course and for the players after you. Pitch marks are among the most common kinds of damage on greens, and without help from the players the greenkeeping team could hardly keep up.
More advice:
- Repair pitch marks as early as possible, ideally right after your approach. A fresh mark is easier to close than an old one.
- Do not stand on another player’s line of putt while repairing.
- Lift your feet when walking across the green and do not scuff or drag them.
- After repairing, remove loose soil so the putter rolls cleanly over the spot.
The Rules of Golf also expressly expect players to take good care of the course in Rule 1.2a. Marking and repairing takes only seconds.
Common mistakes and tips
Beginners often make the same mistakes when repairing.
- The dent is levered up from below. Pushing together from the outside is better.
- The tool is jabbed straight into the middle. That tears the turf.
- The spot is left because it does not bother you. Even a small mark can turn the grass bare.
- The tool or ball is left on the green while play continues. Put the tool away at once.
- Holes made by course maintenance are repaired. These are left alone.
A tip: if you do not have a repair tool with you, use a tee. It works similarly but is less steady in the hand. Better to buy a repair tool: it is inexpensive and fits in any pocket.
Distinctions: pitch mark, divot and ball marker
Three terms are often confused. The pitch mark is the dent on the green caused by a ball landing. The divot is the piece of turf a club removes on the fairway or tee. It is replaced or filled with sand and seed mix. The ball marker is a flat disc used to mark the position of your ball on the green. It is not a repair but a signal.
Pitch marks and divots have in common that you should fix them. The difference lies in the place and the tool. For the pitch mark you use the repair tool on the green. For the divot you replace the turf or use the sand mix on the fairway.
The Rules of Golf do not define these terms separately. Rule 1.2a does, however, name replacing divots and repairing ball-marks as examples of taking care of the course.
Try it at Golf Lounge
The best place to get to know pitch marks is where there are greens. The 9-hole ‘Black’ course at the Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg has protected greens, plus bunkers and water hazards. You can play it with the DGV Platzreife. It is open from April to December, with up to four players per tee time. A 9-hole qualifying competition takes place every Saturday from May to October. You book tee times online.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pitch mark in golf?
A pitch mark is the dent a golf ball leaves when it lands on a green. It occurs mostly after high shots onto soft greens. You should repair it with a repair tool so that the grass recovers quickly and other players can putt undisturbed.
How do you repair a pitch mark properly?
Insert the repair tool at the edge of the dent at an angle and push the turf towards the centre from all sides. Do not lever from below, which tears the grass roots. Then tap the spot gently flat with the sole of your putter.
May I repair a pitch mark on my line of putt?
Yes. Under Rule 13.1c you may repair pitch marks on the green without penalty, even on your line of putt. Since 2019 that permission covers almost any damage on the green. A penalty only arises if you take unreasonably long or do more than is needed for the repair.
Do I have to repair other people’s pitch marks?
It is not compulsory but it is good manners. Etiquette recommends repairing your own mark and, if possible, one more. That keeps the green in good condition. Repairing takes only seconds and fits well with waiting for playing partners. A well-kept green benefits every player who follows you.
What is the difference between a pitch mark and a divot?
A pitch mark is the dent a ball makes on the green. A divot is the piece of turf a club removes on the fairway or tee. You push a pitch mark together with the repair tool, whereas you replace a divot or fill it with sand and seed mix.
As of: October 2026