Repairing Ball Marks on the Green
Ball mark repair is essential to maintain a smooth, level putting surface. Without it, cavities will remain on the putting surface, greatly disrupting any future ball roll. Researchers have found that that a repairing a ball mark with any one of a variety of ball mark tools produces greater ball roll distances, than not repairing ball marks.
Please watch the following short video from the USGA on how to properly repair a ball mark on the green.
Always try to repair your ball mark and at least one other; it makes all the difference in the world especially on our smaller, shady green complexes. The goal is to repair the ball mark in such a fashion that it's hardly noticeable.