Have you ever debated the best way to repair a ball
mark? I know I have. It is true that there are several ways to
smooth a ball mark and most people will claim that theirs is the “best” way. I often hear “I have been doing it like this
for years” or “That is not how fill in
the blank does it.” Even among
golf course superintendents, USGA Agronomists and other professionals that
really should know the “best” way, there are differences of opinions. What tool is best and should I lift, twist,
or pinch the mark to make a proper repair?
I will offer to you my humble opinion on the matter, but I will preface
that by saying any repaired ball mark, even if repaired improperly by my
standards or that of your playing partner, is infinitely better than a ball
mark left unrepaired.
The tool you select for repairing a ball mark is really not
that important. Whether you choose a
tee, pocket knife, key or one of the multitude of forked or single pronged ball
mark tools, the important thing is that you follow these simple steps.
- Insert your tool into the undamaged turf surrounding the ball mark indention.
- With a twisting motion when using a forked repair tool or with a pulling motion when using a single pronged tool, pull and stretch the healthy grass into the center of the ball mark.
- Tamp the turf smooth with a club or shoe and you are ready to putt.
The real trick to this process is to stretch the surrounding
turf into the center of the mark rather than lifting the indention up. I know that some may disagree as the lifting method
has been the common method for years and many people still claim it to be the
“best.” Just remember, the above ground structures of a turfgrass plant are
very elastic and will not be damaged by pulling or twisting the turfgrass into
the ball mark. On the other hand, the
below ground plant structures, namely the roots, are easily broken when the lifting
method is implemented leaving a dead spot that will require weeks to recover.
