Pitch Mark
A pitch mark is the indentation your ball leaves when it lands on the green.
The pitch mark, also called a ball mark, forms when your ball comes down steeply onto the green. The soft ground gives way and leaves a small dent, often with a crack pointing in the direction of play. If these traces are left unrepaired, the putts of the following groups break out of their line. That is why repairing them immediately counts as one of the most important etiquette duties. It takes ten seconds and is part of good conduct, just like raking the bunker.
Repairs are made with a pitch mark repairer or a tee. You push the edges of the dent together from the outside in and smooth the spot with your putter. An example: your approach shot lands three metres in front of the flag and bounces on. Go to the impact point, lift the grass out of the middle, push the edges together, press flat. The important thing: do not lever up from below, that damages the roots. After that the spot is usable for putts again.
Typical misunderstanding: many people believe the staff repair the marks. That is not true, every golfer is responsible themselves. A good habit is the double repair: your own mark plus a foreign one nearby. That keeps the green fast and fair for everyone. On the scorecard of many courses the note is printed directly on it.
FAQ
How do I repair a pitch mark properly?
Push the edges of the dent together from the outside in with a pitch mark repairer or a tee, then smooth the spot with your putter. Do not lift the earth up from below, that tears off the grass roots and the spot dies. A cleanly repaired mark heals within a few days.
Who is responsible for repairing the pitch mark?
You yourself, and immediately after your ball's impact. Not the course staff and not the group behind you — repairing marks is one of the most important etiquette duties on the green. A good habit: repair your own mark plus a foreign one nearby.
Why does an unrepaired pitch mark matter so much?
Because putts break out of their line over the dent and the crack, and the following groups have unfair conditions. Moreover, an abandoned mark takes weeks to heal instead of a few days. Ten seconds of work protects the course for everyone.