when is a putt not a putt

Question
in a recent game my partner putted short of the hole some 3inches, he then proceed to strike the ball from astride with the toe of his putter striking down on the ball, he struck the ball but it did not move, is this action deemed as a stroke even though the ball did not move?

Answer
Kevin,

The player incurred a stroke according to the definition of a stroke.

Stroke
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.

One of the most famous whiffs occurred in the British Open. Hale Irwin whiffed a 4 inch par putt in 1983.

Thanks,

Michael