Most likely is the starter, yes.

Do not whack these starters with a hammer, that is "old school" teching. Kinda like pulling the battery cable off your battery while the engine is running to see if the alternator is working, sure, that was good tech in the 80's, but do it to some cars now and you could end up looking for a new ECU. Most starters made since the early 90's are of the "permanent magnet" variety. Hit it with a hammer, and you can break the magnets, making it toast for sure, and with broken mangets, it's an unrebuildable core as well. If it were under warranty, strike marks from a hammer can void the warranty.

Best thing to do is just keep trying... it'll go eventually since the problem is new. Click click click click click vroom! Tap it (do not whack it!) with the plastic end of a screwdriver if you must. Someone must be holding the key in the start position while you're tapping it.

And yes, a bad cable can easily mimick a starter problem. Check them first.

www.allstart.net/batadv.htm