Golf Glossary
Pitch Mark Repair Tool
In short
A pitch mark repair tool is a small tool golfers use to repair the dents their ball leaves on the putting green. These dents are called pitch marks. The prongs push the turf towards the centre of the mark, then the spot is pressed flat. Repairing marks is part of golf etiquette and protects the green.
What is a pitch mark repair tool and what is it for?
When a ball lands on the green from the air, it presses the turf down. Especially after high shots with a wedge or iron onto a soft green, a small dent appears. That is the pitch mark, also called a ball mark. The turf around it is pushed outwards and rises slightly.
The repair tool is what you use to fix that spot. It usually has two prongs, like a small fork, and fits into any trouser pocket. It comes in metal or plastic, with a fixed handle or a folding design. Many models carry a club logo.
Without repair the mark stays visible for a long time. The grass grows back poorly on the damaged spot, and putts are knocked off line. A repair tool therefore belongs in every golf bag, even for players without a handicap.
How to repair a pitch mark properly: step by step
Repairing takes only a few seconds. Proceed like this:
- Find the mark: it is usually where your ball first landed, not where it came to rest.
- Insert the prongs at the edge of the mark: place them in the raised turf at the edge of the dent, angled slightly inwards.
- Push the turf towards the centre: press the prongs gently towards the middle of the mark. Repeat all the way round until the dent is closed.
- Do not lever upwards: lifting the middle tears the roots and the turf dies at that spot.
- Smooth the surface: tap the spot gently flat with the sole of your putter until the surface is level again.
The spot should feel smooth afterwards and sit as close as possible to the level of the green. If your own ball lies close to the mark, mark it and lift it first before you repair.
What do the Rules of Golf say?
The Rules expressly allow repairs on the putting green. Under Rule 13.1c(2) you may repair damage on the green without penalty. This includes ball marks, shoe damage, scrapes and indentations from clubs or flagsticks, old hole plugs and animal tracks. That applies even if your ball is not yet on the green.
You may use your hand, foot, a repair tool, a tee, a club or similar normal equipment. The aim is to restore the green as nearly as possible to its original condition. You must not unreasonably delay play while doing so.
Repairing natural imperfections, such as places where the grass is uneven through growth or weather, is not allowed. Aeration holes must not be repaired either. The rule is aimed at damage that someone has caused.
Etiquette: who repairs which mark?
In golf etiquette the rule is simple: everyone repairs their own pitch mark. When your ball finds the green, check where it landed as you walk on and repair the spot. Good golfers also repair one more mark that they find, even if it is not theirs.
The right moment is before you touch the flagstick or walk to the next tee. Many players do it while their partners putt or prepare for their shot. It costs no playing time.
Players who do not repair pitch marks harm everyone who comes after them. Greenkeepers report that unrepaired marks can stay visible for several weeks, while carefully repaired spots recover much faster. On busy courses this adds up quickly. Repairing marks is therefore among the duties of every golfer and is also taught on the Platzreife course.
Practical example: an approach to a par 3
You are playing a par 3 of 135 metres. With an 8-iron you hit the ball high onto the green. It lands five metres short of the flag, leaves a mark a few centimetres across and rolls another two metres. It finishes three metres from the hole.
As you walk onto the green you go to the spot where the ball landed. You insert the repair tool at the edge, push the turf from all sides towards the centre and tap the area flat with your putter. That takes about 15 seconds.
Then you mark your ball and watch your partners putt. Your own putt rolls over the smooth spot you repaired and drops. The result: a birdie. If you had not repaired the mark, it would have sat right on the line for the next player.
Repair tool, ball marker and divot tool: the difference
Three terms are often mixed up:
- Pitch mark repair tool: a tool with prongs for repairing pitch marks on the green.
- Ball marker: a small flat disc or coin that marks the position of your ball on the green before you lift it. Some repair tools have a magnetic ball marker in the handle.
- Divot tool: in English-speaking countries often just another name for the same repair tool. Strictly speaking a divot is the piece of turf cut out on the fairway.
Divots on the fairway, by contrast, you replace or fill with sand if the course asks for it. That is a different job from repairing pitch marks. Simple tools are enough for both, and it pays to have them in your bag.
A ball marker does not replace the repair tool. Both items belong to the basic equipment for the green.
Common mistakes and tips
Greenkeepers see these mistakes particularly often:
- Levering instead of pushing: lifting the middle of the mark destroys the roots. Always push the turf from the outside towards the centre.
- Too quickly or not at all: many players overlook the mark or do not have the tool with them. Attach it to your bag or glove so that it is always to hand.
- The wrong spot: the mark lies where the ball landed, not where it stopped. The landing point is usually several metres before the ball.
- Stamping it down with a shoe: this pushes the turf further down and compacts the soil.
One last tip: players who hit high approach shots cause larger marks more often. The softer the green, the deeper the dent. After rain allow a little more time for repairs.
Try it at Golf Lounge
You will need your repair tool on the 9-hole ‘Black’ course at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg. The course is par 33 and can be played with the DGV Platzreife. The grounds include water hazards, bunkers and protected greens. Up to four players can play per tee time, booked online. The course is open from April to December. If you do not yet hold a Platzreife, you learn rules, etiquette and safety on the course in the Platzreife course and play on the 6-hole short course first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pitch mark repair tool in golf?
A pitch mark repair tool is a small tool with two prongs that golfers use to repair the dents their ball leaves on the putting green. These dents are called pitch marks. Repairing them protects the green and is part of golf etiquette. Every player should carry one in the bag or a trouser pocket.
How do you use a pitch mark repair tool correctly?
Insert the prongs at the edge of the pitch mark into the raised turf and push it gently towards the centre. Repeat all the way round until the dent is closed. Then tap the spot flat with the sole of your putter. Do not lever upwards, because that destroys the roots.
Do I have to repair pitch marks?
Under golf etiquette you should always repair your own pitch mark, ideally as soon as you walk onto the green. The Rules of Golf themselves do not require it, but an unrepaired mark damages the green and your fellow players. Good players also repair one more mark.
Can I repair pitch marks on the green under the Rules?
Yes. Rule 13.1c(2) allows you to repair damage on the green without penalty, such as pitch marks, shoe damage and scrapes. You may use your hand, a repair tool, a tee or a club as long as you do not unreasonably delay play. You may not repair natural imperfections or aeration holes.
What is the difference between a repair tool and a ball marker?
With the repair tool you fix pitch marks on the green. The ball marker is a small flat disc or coin that marks the position of your ball before you lift it. Some repair tools have a magnetic ball marker built in, so you carry both items in one.
As of: October 2026