A player who voluntarily checks his downswing before the clubhead strikes the ball is still considered to have made a stroke.

A player who voluntarily checks his downswing before the clubhead strikes the ball is still considered to have made a stroke.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not defined

Answer: (B)

In golf, a stroke is defined as the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking the ball that results in contact with the ball. If a player starts the downswing toward the ball but deliberately checks it before the clubhead reaches the ball, there is no strike and thus no stroke. The ball hasn’t moved, so the action is considered an aborted attempt or a practice swing, not a completed stroke. Only when the clubhead actually strikes the ball does a stroke occur.

In golf, a stroke is defined as the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking the ball that results in contact with the ball. If a player starts the downswing toward the ball but deliberately checks it before the clubhead reaches the ball, there is no strike and thus no stroke. The ball hasn’t moved, so the action is considered an aborted attempt or a practice swing, not a completed stroke. Only when the clubhead actually strikes the ball does a stroke occur.