Repairing ball marks

Ball marks, those indentations caused when a ball lands sharply on a soft green, have been ruining good putts since the days of Old Tom Morris. Unrepaired ball marks take two to three weeks to properly heal, leaving behind unsightly, uneven putting surfaces. On the other hand, a repaired ball mark only takes half that time to heal.

Beginner or pro, it is your responsibility as a golfer to fix your own marks. If you're truly a stalwart of the game, you'll fix any others you see while your partners are putting. There's really not much to it, but there are a few guidelines you should follow when making these repairs.

The right way to fix a ballmark

1.  Use a pronged ball mark repair tool, knife, key or tee.

2. Insert it at the edges of the mark, not the middle of the depression.

3. Bring the edges together with a gentle twisting motion, but don't lift the center. Try not to tear the grass.

4. Smooth the surface with a club or your foot. You're done when it's a surface you would want to putt over.