Aborting a swing

[hovis]

Today whilst on the tee something unusual happened.
I began my back swing with my 3 wood and on the transition i felt something was up with the club head. I felt it twist. As i was at transition stopping the swing with my arms wasn't an option so i tried to stand up and pull out of the shot. It almost worked but i topped the ball 10 feet down the tee box. It was obvious to all what my intention was but how do i stand on the rules side of things? Is this classed as an intentional swing?

It turns out the head had pretty much come off and had twisted open. As it was a friendly game i just tee'd up and hit my driver instead

 

[palindromicbob]

Today whilst on the tee something unusual happened.
I began my back swing with my 3 wood and on the transition i felt something was up with the club head. I felt it twist. As i was at transition stopping the swing with my arms wasn't an option so i tried to stand up and pull out of the shot. It almost worked but i topped the ball 10 feet down the tee box. It was obvious to all what my intention was but how do i stand on the rules side of things? Is this classed as an intentional swing?

It turns out the head had pretty much come off and had twisted open. As it was a friendly game i just tee'd up and hit my driver instead

It's an unsuccessful check on the swing I'm afraid. Since the club head made contact the stroke stands. See decision 14/1.5

Q. A player begins his downswing with the intention of striking the ball but decides during the downswing not to strike the ball. The player is unable to stop the club before it reaches the ball, but he is able to swing intentionally over the top of the ball. Is the player deemed to have made a stroke?

A. No. The player is considered to have checked his downswing voluntarily by altering the path of his downswing and missing the ball even though the swing carried the clubhead beyond the ball.
If the player had not successfully checked his downswing (i.e. he had struck the ball), he is considered to have made a stroke.
Any doubt regarding the player’s intent must be resolved against the player.