Hi Linda.
While attempting to chip a ball toward the green, I stubbed
my club into the ground. My club did not make contact with the ball but the
grass caused the ball to pop into the air. During my follow through, my club
struck the ball and moved it forward.
Although my club only contacted the ball once, one player
told me this was a double-hit while another thought I should be penalized for
causing the ball to move.
Thank you
Lou from Ontario
Dear Lou,
A stroke is the forward movement of the club with the
intention to hit the ball [Definition of “Stroke”]. There is no requirement
that the club actually contact the ball (hence a whiff is a stroke). Similar to
a well-executed bunker shot, where the club strikes the sand but not the ball,
your stroke hit the ground, which caused the ball to move. When your club
contacted the ball on your follow through, you incurred the one-stroke penalty
for contacting the ball more than once during a stroke [Rule 14-4].
Linda
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