In the context of golf, a stroke is defined as any forward motion of the club made with the intent of striking the ball and causing it to move. Each swing taken with that intent is counted as a single unit. For example, if a golfer swings at the ball but misses completely, that still counts as one. Similarly, if a ball is accidentally moved during a swing, a unit is added to the score.
The accumulation of these units determines a player’s score for a hole or round. Lower scores are indicative of better performance, as the objective is to complete the course using as few units as possible. This method of scoring has been fundamental to the sport since its inception, providing a clear and universal way to measure a player’s ability and competitive standing.
