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from Rules of Golf.

14/1.5 Intent to strike ball ceases during downswing;

Club not stopped but path of club-head altered to avoid striking ball.

 Q. A player begins his downswing with the intention of striking the ball but

decides during the downswing not to strike the ball. The player is unable

to stop the club before it reaches the ball, but he is able to swing

intentionally over the top of the ball. Is the player deemed to have made a

stroke?

A. No. The player is considered to have checked his downswing

voluntarily by altering the path of his downswing and missing the ball

even though the swing carried the club-head beyond the ball.

 If the player had not successfully checked his downswing (i.e., he had

struck the ball), he is considered to have made a stroke.

 Any doubt regarding the player's intent must be resolved against the

player.