Next question:
Why is it that when players are done putting you see some of them tapping down on some areas of the green?
reparing ball marks where the turf is sticking up a bit
THAT IS A COURTESY TO PLAYERS FOLLOWING THEM ON THE COURSE. THEY ARE USUALLY TAMPING DOWN SPIKE MARKS . IT IS A BREACH OF THE RULES TO FIX OR TAMP DOWN A SPIKE MARK WHICH IS IN YOUR LINE OF PUTTING . AFTER YOU HAVE HOLED OUT, YOU CAN FIX THEM. SO THEY DO IT AS A COURTEST TO PLAYERS BEHIND THEM/ ALSO MANY OF THE PROS STILL USE STEEL SPIKES WHICH ARE THE CAUSE OF SPIKE MARKS ON GREENS.
I think it's where they saw something in their putting line that they couldn't repair and may have affected their putt.
To smooth out spike marks or other marks they may have made so the green is ready for the next player. You should always fix your marks on the green, I even fix a few left by others if I have time. I see too many on the course not fixing ball or spike marks and thats not cool in my book. Always try to leave the greens in the best shape possible.
Playing mostly muny's. I spend more time on the green repairing ball and spike marks than I do actually setting up my putt. With the mallet head of my Craz-E, it's very easy to flatten a lot of this out without causing other divots.
My philosophy is make one mark, fix 2. I always try to fix as many ball marks as possible. It still amazes me that people do not fix their ball marks.
BRUCE IS RIGHT ON.
I DO IT ALL AROUND THE HOLE AFTER EVERY HOLE-OUT.
Pablo, so we can roll up all these responses...
It is legal to repair a ball mark on a green prior to putting. If you see a mark, even if it's in your line, you may repair it under the rules of golf. If you are unsure, you must ask for a ruling to determine if it's a spike marke or a ball mark before "repairing the line."
As Bruce states, you usually see guys "tap" a green if some mark made their ball move.... Many times it's a reflex action when I guy hits a bad putt frankly, since the majority of players today where Softspikes and not metal.
This reminds me.... Many of you may not remember that spikes literally used to be metal posts coming from the bottom of the shoe. They really caused havoc out there; from ripped rugs in clubhouses to rips in the greens from guys dragging their feet. Softspikes really were an unbelieveable innovation.
So remember, you can't tap down a mark on the green prior to putting unless its a ball mark, not a spike mark.
unless you pretend you are divoting out a ball mark when you are truly fixing a spike mark... or is that still cheating... =) just kidding, don't try this at home.
Tar Heel: Pablo, so we can roll up all these responses... It is legal to repair a ball mark on a green prior to putting. If you see a mark, even if it's in your line, you may repair it under the rules of golf. If you are unsure, you must ask for a ruling to determine if it's a spike marke or a ball mark before "repairing the line." As Bruce states, you usually see guys "tap" a green if some mark made their ball move.... Many times it's a reflex action when I guy hits a bad putt frankly, since the majority of players today where Softspikes and not metal. This reminds me.... Many of you may not remember that spikes literally used to be metal posts coming from the bottom of the shoe. They really caused havoc out there; from ripped rugs in clubhouses to rips in the greens from guys dragging their feet. Softspikes really were an unbelieveable innovation. So remember, you can't tap down a mark on the green prior to putting unless its a ball mark, not a spike mark.
Was tapping the green on Wednesday for St Pat's day, but think that is different from what we are talking about here :)
TH sadi it perfectly.
Shaun