Association Croquet is a tactical game, usually between two players (singles) or four players (doubles). Each side owns two balls (black and blue for one side and red and yellow for the other).
Players hit their balls with a mallet and aim to run six hoops in order with two balls, clockwise first and then anticlockwise, and finally hit the central peg.
It is played in a lawn measuring 35 yards by 28 yards. The hoops are laid out on the lawn at fixed positions and are set to be just wide enough to allow a ball through. The running of a hoop and hitting of the peg scores one point. The maximum score is, therefore, 26 points. Six hoops twice by two balls plus the pegging out.
Running a hoop and hitting another ball (roquet) entitles the player to play extra shots. Following a roquet, a croquet shot, unique to this game, is played. The striker ball is picked up and moved to be touching the roqueted ball. The striker ball is then hit from this position. The striker then has a further, normal continuation shot. Like chess, by a simple set-up and by this entitlement of extra shots a complex tactical game develops, which is the main attraction of the game. A major difference with chess is that croquet requires advanced ball skills as well as tactics for success.
The ball weighs 1 lb and the hoops just allow the ball to run through them. The balls are hit with a mallet, that weighs usually about 3 lb.
Croquet is a fascinating game of tactics especially appealing to people interested in intellectual challenges. It can be played at any age. Most croquet players regret not having taken up the game at an early stage of their lives.
If you want to find out more, come to our coaching sessions from 8am to 11am on most Saturdays. Your first session is free.