What Is a Divot Tool Used For?

A golf divot tool is used to repair a ball mark, the dent a golf ball leaves when it lands on a putting green. It is also called a ball mark repair tool, and its job is to restore the green’s smooth surface without tearing up the grass. Despite its name, it is mainly for ball marks on greens, not for every piece of turf displaced during a round.

What a Golf Divot Tool Is For

A divot tool is a small, pointed tool, usually with one or two prongs. You insert those prongs around the edge of a ball mark and gently move the surrounding turf back toward the center of the depression.

The goal is simple: make the putting surface level again while protecting the grass and its roots. A repaired green rolls more consistently, looks better, and is less likely to develop lasting damage.

Golfers often use “divot” to mean several different things:

Ball mark or pitch mark: A dent made when a golf ball lands on a putting green. This is what a divot tool repairs.
Fairway divot: A strip or chunk of turf removed by a club during a swing. This is usually repaired by replacing the turf or using the seed-and-sand mix supplied by the course.
Divot tool: The pocket tool used for ball-mark repair.

That distinction matters because using a divot tool on a fairway divot will not restore the turf the way replacing it or filling it with the course’s repair mix can.

Why Repairing Ball Marks Matters

A ball mark is more than a cosmetic dent. The impact compresses and pushes aside the grass on a putting surface, which can leave an uneven spot in another player’s putting line.

A properly repaired ball mark heals within 24–48 hours. An unrepaired or poorly repaired mark can take weeks to recover, leaving a weak, bumpy patch on the green.

Repairing a ball mark is a small act that protects both the grass and the quality of the next player’s putt.

Repairing marks promptly helps:

Keep putts rolling more smoothly and predictably.
Prevent damaged turf from thinning or dying.
Protect the roots beneath the green’s surface.
Reduce the amount of repair work required from the course maintenance crew.
Show consideration for the golfers playing behind you.

Carrying a divot tool is part of normal golf etiquette.

How to Repair a Ball Mark With a Divot Tool

Use the tool only on a ball mark or similar small depression on the putting surface. This quick comparison helps you choose the right response.

What You See	Use a Divot Tool?	Best Response
A dent where a ball landed on the green	Yes	Repair the edges and smooth the surface
A chunk of turf removed from a fairway	Usually no	Replace the turf if possible or use the course’s repair mix
Loose grass or a shallow scuff on the green	Usually no	Avoid digging at it; leave the surface undisturbed
An older, unrepaired ball mark	Yes	Repair it if you can do so without delaying play

Step 1: Find the Full Edge of the Ball Mark

Look for the lowest point of the dent and the raised rim around it.
Check from more than one angle, since a ball mark can be wider than it first appears.
If your ball is still on the green, take care not to disturb another player’s line while preparing to repair the mark.

Keeping a ball marker and divot tool together leaves both ready at the green.

Step 2: Work From the Outside Toward the Center

Insert the prongs just outside the edge of the ball mark, not into its center.
Gently push the surrounding turf inward toward the depression.
Repeat around the mark as needed until the edges meet and the center rises back into place.

Do not pry upward beneath the center of the mark. Lifting turf can stretch or tear roots, which may make the damage worse instead of helping the green recover.

A two-prong tool makes it easy to work around the rim, but the important part is the technique: nudge the edges inward rather than digging or lifting.

Step 3: Smooth the Surface and Check the Repair

Lightly press or tap the repaired area flat with the sole of your putter.
Look at the spot from the side to make sure it is level with the surrounding green.
If there is still a dip, gently work the nearest edge inward again, then smooth it once more.
Leave the surface flat and play on without scraping or overworking the grass.

A good repair should be hard to find once you step back. The green does not need to look perfect immediately, but it should be level enough that a putt will not be deflected by a remaining depression.

When a Divot Tool Is Not the Right Tool

The word “divot” causes confusion because golfers also use it for turf removed by an iron shot from the fairway.

Fairway Divots

If your club removes a piece of turf from a fairway, first see whether the turf is intact enough to place back into the opening. Press it down gently so it sits level with the surrounding grass.

Many courses provide a seed-and-sand repair mix in bottles on carts or near tee boxes. Use that mix for a divot when the turf cannot be replaced or when the course expects players to fill divots rather than replace them.

Deep Scrapes and Damaged Green Turf

Do not repeatedly jab at torn, bare, or heavily damaged turf with a divot tool. Missing grass needs more than a simple repair.

If a green has a serious gouge, a damaged cup edge, or a large area of torn turf, avoid making it worse. Course staff can handle damage that needs more than a simple ball-mark repair.

Choosing a Divot Tool You Will Carry

A basic divot tool is enough for nearly every golfer. The best choice is one that is easy to keep in a pocket, golf bag, or attached to a magnetic ball marker.

Common options include:

Fixed-prong tools: Simple, durable tools with exposed prongs.
Foldable tools: Models that close around the prongs when not in use.
Magnetic ball-marker tools: Divot tools that hold a removable ball marker.
Multi-function tools: Tools that may include a club-rest feature, bottle opener, or clip.

Stainless steel and aluminum tools are durable choices, especially on firmer greens. Plastic tools can work for casual play, but may not hold up as well over time.

The best divot tool is the one you will actually have with you when your ball makes a mark.

There is no need to choose one based on novelty. Prioritize a tool that feels comfortable in your hand, has prongs that are easy to position at the edge of a mark, and stores securely between shots.

Checking Your Repair and Building the Habit

Before walking away, make a quick visual check:

The depression is level with the surrounding green.
The grass has been moved inward rather than pulled upward.
There is no raised ridge around the repaired spot.
The surface looks smooth from the direction of a potential putt.

If you notice an older mark nearby and can repair it without holding up play, fixing that one helps the next group as well.

Make the tool part of your usual green routine: arrive at the green, locate your ball mark, repair it, then continue with the hole. That habit keeps greens healthier without slowing the round.

For a fairway divot, replace the turf if it is intact or fill the spot with the course-provided seed-and-sand mix. Before your next round, put a divot tool with your ball marker so you are ready to repair the first ball mark you make.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are divot tools called?

Divot tools are also called ball mark repair tools, pitch-mark repair tools, or green repair tools. All of those names refer to the small tool used to fix the dent a golf ball makes on a putting green.

A divot tool is used to repair ball marks.

Does everybody use a divot tool while golfing?

Not every golfer uses one, but every golfer should carry one during a round. Any player whose ball makes a mark on a green should repair it before moving on.

Even players who do not hit many high shots can encounter old ball marks left by others, so having a tool is useful throughout the round.

How big is a divot tool?

Divot tools are generally compact enough to carry in a pocket or attach to a ball marker. There is no required size, and the right choice is one that is easy to hold and easy to keep with your golf gear.

A folding model can protect the prongs in a pocket, while a fixed-prong model is ready to use immediately.

Can a divot tool repair a fairway divot?

No, not in the usual sense. A divot tool is designed to move the edges of a ball mark back together on a putting green.