Def “Stroke”: “…the forward movement of the club made with the intention…”

SM,

At first glance, it doesn’t seem that there should be a distinction as the stroke is a matter of intent, and Senden said he intended to divert his swing. (Dec14/1.5 says missing intentionally is the same as checking swing and not a stroke (the Na case).)

The ref in this case, however, apparently relied on Dec14/3, in which case it is a stroke if the club is damaged in the “forward movement of the club” as opposed to a club head falling off in back stroke, where forward movement then is not being made by a club, Dec14/2). So, the Senden ruling seemed to rest on damage to the club during the forward movement of the club as well as on intent.

Also note, any doubt as to intent is to be resolved against the player Dec14/1.5. Perhaps Senden was not as convincing as Na on the issue of intent in his testimony, or as observed by his swing.

A good one. Note, new Rule does not require checking swing…deliberate miss not a stroke.

F

On Nov 29, 2018, at 8:50 AM, SM wrote:

If Kevin Na is allowed to whiff without it counting as a stroke, shouldn’t Senden? (Shaft breaks during downswing from tee and he says he diverted swing).