Hit tree on my backswing and then "aborted" the shot.

I got into a heated argument with a "friend" who claimed I must take a stroke because on a particular shot I had in the trees, I hit the stupid tree and, knowing full well it's hopeless at that point, "aborted" the shot by stopping the club about half way down.  I told him he has the intellect of an artichoke and that he is wrong.  Who is really right?

I believe if you addressed the ball it is a stroke. If you intended, and it appears you did, to hit the ball, it is a stroke. I am not the be all end all guy on this and I didn't look at the rule app either. I am sure @Rulesman will be along shortly...

it is not a stroke. didnt find the exact rule, but this is pretty close

14/1.5

Intent to Strike Ball Ceases During Downswing; Club Not Stopped But Path of Clubhead Altered to Avoid Striking Ball

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

Do you honestly think that if you address the ball it is a stroke?

So----how many putts is Jim Furyk averaging a round? 80?

I thought about after I had posted. Thought about the times Tiger and others have stopped mid swing and knew I was wrong. So there, are you happy @Shorty ?

There is no penalty unless you knocked something out of tree like a limb or leaf.

When I played a couple days ago I had an approach shot get a little wild, landed 5-6 yards right of the fairway, and a little bit behind a big evergreen.  Standing behind the ball it looked like the path of the ball would just barely clip the outside edge of the branches.  It was the kind of spot where punching into the fairway and chipping onto the green didn't look much more beneficial than just trying to hit it through the branches and get lucky.  I mean, worst case scenario the tree would knock the ball down and it would be on the other side for another chip anyway.

So I hit.  I immediately hear the ball bang around some branches and then... no thud. The tree stole my ball.  I couldn't see it sitting on a branch so I walked around for a minute or two banging on the branches with a club to see if it would fall.  No luck... of course.

I'm kinda curious if my swings at the tree count as strokes, there was all kinds of needles and shit falling all over the place.  lol..