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Golf Rules and Basics All clubs Beginner ⏱ 2 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Repairing Pitch Marks and Divots: Marion Ricordeau

Did your club pull up a divot, or did your ball leave a dent in the green? Marion Ricordeau shows you how to repair the course behind you: replace the divot and fill in the hole before you even mark your ball.

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Marion Ricordeau
Marion Ricordeau · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

16 minSame problemGolf Basics for Beginners: Aim, Stance and GripMe and My Golf · Beginner9 minSame problemThe Five Basics for Beginners: Me and My GolfAndy Proudman · Beginner2 minFrom the same proBuilding Your Golf Bag: The Clubs, Marion RicordeauMarion Ricordeau · Beginner

What the lesson shows

A good shot can leave a big divot: The club digs into the ground and removes a clump of dirt. Out of respect for the course, Marion Ricordeau begins by Pick up the divot, put it back, and smooth it out with your foot to make it as neutral as possible. It repairs the damage it has caused, and subsequent players find the area already repaired.

On the green, the ball makes a small dent as it falls: the pitch. She fixes it right away, even before cleaning and marking his ball, using her pitch rake—the sooner she fixes it, the faster it recovers. She then smooths it out with the putter until the green regains its original texture.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. After you take your shot, pick up the divot.
  2. Put it back in its hole and press it down with your foot.
  3. Once you reach the green, look for the pitch where your ball landed.
  4. Fix it with your pitch pick before marking your ball.
  5. Flatten it with the putter until the surface is smooth again.

Key Takeaways

A divot is the clump of dirt dislodged by the club.
Put it back in place and smooth it out with your foot after your shot.
A pitch is the small hole left by the ball on the green.
Fix it right away, before you clean and mark your ball.
The sooner a pitch is repaired, the faster the green recovers.
Finish by striking the ball flat with the putter.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Leave your divot on the fairway.
  • Mark and clean your ball before repairing the pitch.
  • Forgetting to flatten the putter after the pitch shot.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Keep a pitch marker in your pocket at every game
  2. Fix your pitch as soon as you reach the green
  3. Replace each divot before leaving the area

Your Questions

What should you do with the divot after a shot?

"Pick it up, put it back in place, and smooth it out with your foot to make it as neutral as possible," explains Marion Ricordeau.

When should you repair a pitch mark on the green?

Right away, even before cleaning and marking his ball: the sooner it's fixed, the sooner he'll be back in the game.

How do I finish repairing the pitch?

After repairing the divot, smooth the area with the putter until the green regains its original texture.

Learn More

All “Golf Rules and Basics” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Golf Basics for Beginners: Aim, Stance and GripWeek 1 of a beginner's plan: align the clubface, then the body; position the ball; learn the grip step by step; and debunk two common misconceptions about the swing. Golf Etiquette Mistakes: The Seven to AvoidSeven common mistakes made by new golfers—from placing the bag on the wrong side of the green to having shade on the putting line—demonstrated in real-life situations. Golf Rules for Beginners: The Six You Need to KnowSix rules applied in real-life situations on the course: the air shot, the 14 clubs, the provisional ball, the 3-minute search, advice, and the bunker. Marion RicordeauAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Marion Ricordeau). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros