THE GAME

Croquet can be played by two, four or six players  The object of the game is to hit your ball(s) through the course of six hoops in the right sequence in each direction and finish by hitting them against the centre peg. The side which completes the course first with both balls wins.

Each side has two balls, blue and black versus red and yellow. In singles play each player has two balls. In doubles the partners on each side must each play only their own ball. The game starts with all four balls being played on to the court in the first four turns from anywhere along either baulk line.

Turns alternate throughout the game. Either, but only one, of the side’s balls may be used in a turn. Initially a turn is only one stroke, unless in that stroke the striker’s ball scores it’s next hoop, or hits another ball.

When a hoop is scored the striker has a CONTINUATION stroke.

When another ball is hit the striker has made a ROQUET on that ball and is entitled to a further stroke. This stroke, the CROQUET stroke, is made after moving and placing the striker’s ball in contact with the roqueted ball.

In the croquet stroke the striker must move or shake the croqueted ball. If the croquet stroke is made without committing 7 a foul stroke or causing the turn to end by sending a ball off the lawn (see below), the striker is then entitled to a CONTINUATION stroke.

The turn ends if, in the croquet stroke, the croqueted ball is sent off the court, or the striker’s ball is sent off without first making another roquet or scoring a hoop point for itself. Note however that if the striker’s ball goes off the court after running a hoop the turn does not end. The ball is placed on the yard line and the striker plays his continuation shot. Similarly, when a ball is roqueted off the court it is replaced on the yard line and the croquet shot is played. (It doesn’t matter if the striker’s ball goes off the court because when it hits the other ball it becomes “in hand”).

During a turn the striker may roquet, and take croquet from, each ball once, unless his ball scores another hoop, when he may make a further roquet and croquet on each ball. Thus a “break” may continue for a number of strokes.

CONTINUATION STROKES are not cumulative. Thus a striker who:

• Scores a hoop and makes a roquet in the same stroke, immediately takes croquet.
• Makes a roquet in a croquet stroke immediately takes croquet.
• Scores a hoop for his striker’s ball in a croquet stroke, plays only one continuation stroke.
• Scores two hoops for his striker’s ball in one stroke, plays only one continuation stroke.

BALL IN HAND. A ball that has to be moved :-

• When it has made a roquet.
• When it is off the court or in the yard line area. It is to be placed before the next stroke on the yard line at the point where it left the court. However only at the end of the turn does the striker’s ball in the yard line area become “in hand”.

FOUL STROKES or FAULTS: A foul occurs if the striker :-

• Touches the head of the mallet with the hand or causes the mallet to strike the ball by dropping, or throwing, or kicking , or hitting the mallet.
• Rests the shaft of the mallet or a hand or arm on the ground.
• Rests the shaft of the mallet or a hand or arm directly connected with the stroke against any part of the legs or feet.
• Strikes the ball with any part of the mallet other than the end face (An accidental misshit is not a fault unless the stroke requires special care because of the proximity of a hoop, the peg, or another ball.)
• Pulls or pushes his ball so that it changes course once initial contact has been made.
• Hits the ball twice or more in one shot. (Such a multiple hit is not a fault if it is caused by making a roquet, pegging out the striker’s ball, or interference by another ball pegged out in the stroke.)
• Moves or shakes a ball at rest by hitting a hoop or the peg with the mallet or any part of the body or clothes.
• Crushes the striker’s ball into a hoop or the peg (unless the striker’s ball is pegged out in the stroke) when still in contact with the mallet. (crush stroke).
• Touches any other ball, other than the striker’s ball, with the mallet.
• Touches any ball with any part of the body or clothes.
• Plays a croquet stroke which fails to move or shake the croqueted ball.
• Plays a stroke that is likely to cause and does cause substantial damage to the court by the mallet.

After making a fault the striker’s turn ends and no point is scored in that stroke counts. The adversary is entitled to choose either to replace the balls where they were before the fault, or to leave them where they came to rest at the end of the foul stroke.

The Roquet

To a large extent success depends upon being able to roquet another ball accurately. If you hit it you get two more shots, the croquet shot on the roqueted ball and a continuation shot as well. It is well worth taking trouble to achieve this accuracy. Stand back from your ball along the extension of the line joining your ball and the ball to be roqueted. Then walk forward, “stalking” your ball and keeping your eye on the aiming point. This helps to get your feet and body correctly aligned with the direction of the stroke. When you arrive at the ball swing the mallet smoothly and easily from the shoulders, keeping your eyes fixed on your ball. Don’t look up until after the ball has been struck. The most common reason for missing a roquet is lifting the head prematurely.

The Cut Rush

Initially you may be pleased enough just to hit the roqueted ball at all. You will soon discover the benefit of being able to send that ball some distance in the direction you want it to go in order to make your subsequent croquet shot easier. This is called a RUSH, and should only be attempted if the target ball is quite close, not more than a couple of feet to start with. Because the target ball is quite close it is easy to take your eye off your own ball to look at the target ball, with disastrous 11 results. Some players stand back an inch or two from their own ball when playing a rush to avoid the tendency to strike down on the ball and cause it to jump, possibly even over the target ball.

If the target ball is roqueted off centre it will go off at a tangent. This is a CUT RUSH. If you want to rush it to the right aim slightly to the left of centre and vice versa it is similar to Pickleball but with this one is from the top.Players use special paddles and a wiffle ball, look for the Recommended pickleball racket, also the games take place on tennis courts with specific pickleball lines. Nets and court sizes are smaller than their tennis counterparts, and the most common game is doubles, although singles is also an option. The game is also quick, making it a convenient way to get in some exercise. Games in a typical league run only 15 minutes each.

The Take Off

This stroke is used when you want to send your own ball some distance, leaving the croqueted ball almost where it was. Place your ball in contact with the roqueted ball at right angles to the direction in which you want your ball to travel. It is permissible to lie your mallet on the ground with the handle pointing exactly where you want your ball to go and the head just touching the two balls. This will indicate the direction in which your ball will go. When playing this stroke be careful to aim your mallet slightly in towards the roqueted ball so that it moves after impact. If it doesn’t move or at least shake it is a fault and your turn ends. Note that aiming slightly in towards the roqueted ball will not alter the direction in which your own ball will travel, which will still be at right angles to a line joining the centres of the two balls. Because the croqueted ball hardly moves, gauging the strength of the shot is almost the same as for a single ball shot, learn how to improve your strength with healthy supplements by visiting thehealthmania site.

The Drive

In the Drive shot two balls are placed in line in contact and the rear ball is struck along the lines of the centres and with a normal follow-through. The croqueted ball will travel about four or five times further than the striker’s ball. Knowledge of this ratio is important as it affects all straight croquet strokes. The ratio can be decreased by standing a little closer to the ball, and increased by standing slightly further back.

The Stop Shot

The Stop Shot is used when you want to send the croqueted ball much further than your own ball. Stand a little further back from the ball than in a normal shot thus raising the front face of the mallet a little. On the forward swing of the mallet the heel must be grounded at the moment of impact to ensure that there is no follow-through. Be careful not to ground the mallet too soon and stop the mallet before it strikes the ball. This is nevertheless counted as a stroke and if the croqueted ball didn’t move your turn ends! Some players don’t attempt to ground their mallet, but instead relax their grip on the mallet at the moment of impact thus reducing the chance of the miss-hit described above. With practice it is quite possible to send the forward ball eight to ten times further that the rear ball.

The Roll Shot

This is the opposite of the Stop Shot and is the most difficult shot to play accurately, particularly for elderly players as it requires bending quite steeply from the waist and the knee and retaining a good balance at the same time. This shot is used when the striker’s ball has to travel as far or even further than the croqueted ball.

To achieve this stand well forward over the balls with the left foot abreast the front ball and the right foot withdrawn (for a right-handed player) keeping the weight mostly on the front foot, body sculpt people have a huge advantage over regular players, try out nutrisystem.  Lower the grip with both hands until the lower one is near the mallet head but not touching it (a fault). In this position the mallet should be at an angle of about 45 degrees when it strikes the ball. Try and sweep the balls forward with plenty of follow through rather than striking them. Generally the further forward you stand and the lower your hands the further the back ball will travel.

Split Shots

When playing a croquet shot you will generally want the two balls to go in different directions. To do this line up the two balls in the direction you want the croqueted ball to travel. It will go along this line regardless of the direction in which you send the striker’s ball. Next determine which direction you want your striker’s ball to go. Now split the angle between these two directions. This is the line along which to swing your mallet. It can be helpful to point your mallet along the line you want your ball to travel when splitting the angle. Remember to follow through straight along the line of 14 the split, and avoid the temptation to allow your mallet to curve away in the direction you want your ball to go.

Split shots can be played as stop shots, standard shots, half rolls or roll shots depending upon the relative distances you want the two balls to travel.

Jump Shots

These are occasionally used in desperate situations when a player wants to jump over a ball in the hoop, or to run a hoop at a sharp angle. The shot imparts a considerable spin to the ball, which with a bit of luck will help to get the ball through the hoop. Stand well over the ball and strike downwards at an angle of about 45 degrees holding the mallet well down the handle. It isn’t an easy shot but quite fun to try and very satisfying if it comes off. Be careful not to damage the lawn as this is a fault. Keep yourself in a sportsman body shape with resurge.

Canons

When two or more balls have to be placed in contact on the yard line or in the corner, one of which is the roqueted ball, the striker has to take croquet from the roqueted ball while it also is in contact with the third ball. In the same stroke as the croquet shot the striker’s ball is also deemed to have roqueted the other ball in contact. The striker’s ball is then “in hand” and must croquet the other ball. Positioning the balls for a cannons to achieve a desired outcome is complicated. Advice should be sought from an experienced player.

Angled Hoop

The hoop shot has to be very accurate as there is only 1/16 of an inch clearance on either side of the ball. Compare this with a roquet shot, in which the aim can be three inches out on either side and still strike the target ball! It follows that great care should be taken in stalking the ball. Swing the mallet smoothly and gently and follow through. This will impart forward spin to the ball and this spin will help it through the hoop even if the aim is a little “off”. When a hoop shot has to be made from an angle, aim to just miss the near upright so that the ball bounces off the far upright through the hoop. If it touches the near upright it will almost invariably stick in the hoop. Do not try and force the ball through the hoop by hitting hard and hoping for the best. A ball has run the hoop when it has come to rest in a position where it cannot be touched by a straight edge placed across the playing side i.e. the side that the ball enters the hoop.

The game starts with the toss of a coin (or mallet), the winner having the choice of playing first or second, the loser having the choice of balls. The first four turns are used to play all four balls onto the court from any point on either baulk line. Don’t be tempted to try and run the first hoop from the baulk line. You are most unlikely to succeed, and even if you do there will be small chance of making a break. On the other hand if you fail and bounce off the hoop you present your opponent with an easy target and a good chance to make a break. Improve your stamina results by checking https://observer.com/ supplement reviews.

A commonly used start is for the first player to send his ball off the court on the east boundary in the vicinity of hoop No 4. His opponent then lays a tice to a point on the west boundary near enough to entice his opponent to shoot at it and miss. The first player now has the choice of either hitting at the tice or joining up with his partner ball on the east boundary, and possibly roqueting it. If he misses, his opponent should shoot hard at his first ball so that if he misses his ball will end up near corner ll as he won’t want to leave both his balls in the vicinity of hoop No 1 for his opponent.

Tactics

Once you have hit a roquet and are the in-player you have the advantage, which you should try and retain at the end of your turn. Basically this involves making it as difficult as possible for your opponent to make a roquet and as easy as possible for you to make your next hoop in your next turn. Obviously it is wise to leave your opponent’s balls widely separated from each other and from your balls, which should be close enough to enable you to roquet them at the start of your next turn. If, however, you have left your opponent’s balls within roqueting distance of each other, don’t join up with your partner ball, as this will give him two balls to play instead of one. Rather send it to the opposite boundary or a corner where it will be difficult for your opponent to use.

To a large extent your tactics will depend upon your confidence in your ability to roquet accurately and your assessment of your opponent’s accuracy. At the start of a turn you may find that your opponent’s balls are laid up near each other while your two balls are well separated. If you hit at your partner ball and miss your opponent will gain the innings, and the closer your balls are to each other the easier it will be for your opponent to make use of them. If you can take a shot at one of your opponent’s balls which will leave it well clear if it misses, that may be your best option.

When making a break try and keep all the balls ahead of your next hoop. If you leave one behind it will be difficult to carry on with the break. If your opponent is well positioned to make a break try and leave your ball in a safe position in a corner behind the last hoop he made.

If your two balls are going for different hoops try and leave one of your opponent’s balls at each of them so that if he moves one you will still have a pilot ball at the other. Similarly, don’t leave your opponent’s balls by their partner’s hoop, as this gives them a pilot for that hoop. Rather leave them each by their own hoop so that they won’t have a pilot.

Try and “wire” you opponent’s balls from each other or from your balls. But beware, if you wire a ball so effectively that it doesn’t have a clear shot at any other ball it is entitled to a lift and can be lifted and played from either of the baulk lines at the start of it’s next turn. A ball lying within the jaws of a hoop, for instance, is wired from the other balls if the opponent was responsible for it’s position.

When laying up at the end of your turn try and position your balls by a boundary but not so close to each other as to present a double target. This will discourage your opponent from hitting at them.

Don’t be too cautious. If your opponent has left a ball close to your next hoop and you have a 50% chance of hitting it, it often pays off to “have a go”.

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Finishing

As you approach the end of the game it is a wise precaution not to run your forward ball through the last (rover) hoop while your backward ball still has several hoops to make. Otherwise if your turn should end you run the risk of having your ball pegged out by your opponent’s rover ball. You would then have only one ball to play against your opponent’s two and even if you are several hoops in front you could easily lose the game. The ideal situation is to peel both balls through the rover hoop together and then peg them out together.

Bisques

Croquet Associations and clubs have a handicapping system which takes the form of bisques, or extra turns which are allowed to weaker players. They range from -5 for top players to 20 for beginners. A bisque is simply an extra turn which may be taken at the end of any turn at any time in the game and must be played with the same ball as was used in the previous turn. In informal home croquet youngsters and beginners can be encouraged by awarding them a generous allowance of bisques which might help them to keep up with more experienced players.

Three and Six Player Croquet

A popular version of the Association game may be played by three or six players using six balls. Each side has two balls, blue and black, red and yellow and green and brown. The order of play is blue, red, green, black, yellow, brown.

Although there are six balls on the court a player may only play four of the balls in a turn, and at the start of the turn must nominate which pair of his opponent’s balls he is playing in addition to his own. For example the player playing blue and black may nominate 20 either red and yellow or green and brown for that turn, and may only play those two balls in addition to his own in that turn.

If, during the course of a turn, a player roquets one of the balls he hasn’t nominated his turn ends and the balls are replaced in their original positions. If, however, in the croquet shot an unnominated ball is hit it is treated as an obstruction on the court, the same as a hoop or the peg, the balls remain where they stopped and the player plays his continuation shot. In all other respects the game is the same as four ball croquet.