Okay, so today I wanted to figure out what “stroke” actually means in golf. I’ve heard the term tossed around, but I never really understood it. Time to change that!
Hitting the Internet
First, I fired up my computer and started Googling. I typed in “what does stroke mean in golf”. I scrolled through some basic definitions and it seemed simple enough.
Basically, a stroke is any time you swing at the ball with the intent to hit it. Even if you miss? Yep, still a stroke. Noted.
Testing it Out (in my backyard)
Just reading about it wasn’t enough. I grabbed my old golf club (it’s been a while!) and headed out to the backyard. I placed a ball on the grass – no fancy tee or anything, just keeping it real.
- First swing: I actually connected! Ball went flying… a little bit. One stroke.
- Second swing: Complete whiff. Air shot. But, yep, still counts as a stroke. That’s two.
- Third swing: I hit the ball again, a little further this time. Three strokes.
I kept practicing like this for a bit, really focusing on counting each swing, whether I hit the ball or not.
Putting It All Together
After my backyard session, it clicked. It’s not about how well you hit the ball, it’s simply about the attempt to hit it. Each attempt, successful or not, adds to your stroke count. The fewer strokes, the better your score. Got it!
So, now I feel like I can finally understand golf scores a little better. Maybe I won’t be so lost next time I see a game on TV. Or, you know, maybe I’ll even try playing a real round sometime… after a lot more backyard practice!