If golfer fails to connect with ball, is it considered a stroke?
Going Rogue on the Green: The Art of Intentional Misses (and Stops) in Golf
Love him or loathe him, Tiger Woods was a golfing phenom, known for his extraordinary self-control and power. While swinging, he could effortlessly halt a shot mid-downswing when something felt off. You might be thinking - is this even allowed? The answer, surprisingly, is yes.
According to the Rules, a stroke has not been struck if a player decides to abandon the swing during the downswing and manages to stop the clubhead before it impacts the ball. This arrangement is perfectly fine within the regulations, as the definitions highlight that a stroke isn't considered valid if a concerted effort is made to halt the clubhead mid-air.
Now, let's talk about us mere mortals. Amateurs who struggle to replicate Tiger's physical prowess and lightning-fast decision-making. What happens if we attempt a swing and miss the ball? If this is purposeful, the Rules are on our side. The restrictions state that a stroke isn't made when a player fails to connect with the ball but intended to do so.
So, if you manage to swing wide or high and deliberately miss the ball, that's not a stroke in the eyes of the law (er, Rules). Your score for that hole is the sum of all the strokes you did make, plus any penalties — so that misguided attempt at striking the ball won't count against you.
When Misses are on Purpose
Accidental misses are a different story. A stroke is defined as any forward movement of the club with the intention of striking the ball. If you swing, miss due to lack of coordination, and fail to connect, it's counted as a stroke.
Remember, when standing on the tee with a driver, your first haphazard swing sends you back to the same starting spot for your second attempt. Players must uphold a level of honesty when approaching the ball and be truthful about whether their miss was intentional or a simple slip-up.
If you purposefully miss the ball to avoid an obstacle or a fellow player walking into your line of sight, you haven't actually struck the ball and no stroke is recorded. But if you swing with every intention of hitting the ball and miss, well, that counts as a strike, and it goes on your score.
Stay truthful - Did you aim for that ball? If so, count it as a stroke if you missed.
Golf Monthly Insights
- Deliberate Miss or Stop: If a golfer halts the club or intentionally swings and misses the ball, it does not count as a stroke[1]. This happens when the club isn't moving with the intention of striking the ball.
- Accidental Miss: If a player swings with the goal of hitting the ball but misses, this does count as a stroke. The movement of the club from the tee to the missing target is recognized as a stroke, provided the intention was to strike the ball[1].
- Penalties and Replacements: Intentional misses and stops rarely result in additional penalties. However, if rules such as practice shots throughout the round or improper substitutions are violated, penalties may apply[1][2].
Remember
- Deliberately missing or stopping before a shot does not count as a stroke if your intention was not to hit the ball.
- Accidental misses do count as a stroke, as long as you meant to strike the ball with your swing.
- Stay honest when you're playing golf –- outside influences like fellow players or objects interfering with your swing can impact whether a stroke is deemed intentional or unintentional.
In the context of golf, a deliberate stop or miss of the club during a swing does not count as a stroke, as stated in the rules, provided the club wasn't moving with the intention of striking the ball. On the other hand, an accidental miss, where the player swings with the goal of hitting the ball but misses, is counted as a stroke, as the movement of the club from the tee to the missing target is recognized as a stroke, assuming the intention was to strike the ball.
