If you are stymied by something, you find it very difficult to take action or to continue what you are doing. Companies have been stymied by the length of time it takes to reach an agreement. to prevent someone from doing what they have planned or want to do = thwart (Perhaps from , )
The position of two balls on the putting green such that, being more than six inches apart, one ball lies directly between the other and the hole at which the latter must be played; also, the act of bringing the balls into this position