On a short putt a player steps up awkardly to his ball to avoid stepping on his opponents line. As he goes to putt the ball his putter stabs into the ground & doesn't make contact with the ball.

Does this count as a stroke as his club has not gone past the point at which the ball is positioned (unline an airshot which does)??

Thanks.

Yes its a shot. Because he intended to hit the ball, it counts !

Got to agree it would count.  My understanding is that as soon as the club goes back start the swing, anything thereafter is a shot.  We've all had our fresh air swings under trees and bushes but have to admit, on the green is a new one to me.

I am trying to start a blog of golfers view pictures of regular golf courses, mail me some picures like these if you have them.

http://golfcoursespictures.blogspot.com/

If he was intending to putt the ball then it would count as a stroke.  If he wasn't intending to putt the ball then it wouldn't count as a stroke.

From what you have written then I would say it was a stroke.

Russ

I agree I believe this is a shot however your view regarding when you start your backswing and anything theirafter is a golf shot may not be accurate. Remember Tiger Woods who saw a bird on his down swing and swung past the ball. This was not deemed to be a shot.

Robert, of course didn't think about that.

I am trying to start a blog of golfers view pictures of regular golf courses, mail me some picures like these if you have them.

http://golfcoursespictures.blogspot.com/

My understanding is that as soon as the club goes back start the swing, anything thereafter is a shot.

Not quite.

A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

See also http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-14/#14/1.5 
 a la Woods