Buzz
Discover golf croquet, American 9-wicket, and other exciting versions of the game
As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to grab your croquet set and enjoy some outdoor fun with friends and family. While croquet might seem a bit tricky at first, the basic rules are simple and easy to learn. For those new to the game, we’ve got the rules for golf croquet, the most common version, to help you get started. Once you're familiar with the basics, there are plenty of other fun versions to explore, which we’ll dive into too!
Overview of Basic Croquet Rules
In croquet, players take turns using a mallet to hit their balls through a series of wickets in the correct order. In a beginner-friendly version of the game, a player scores a point for being the first to pass through a wicket, and the first to reach 7 points is declared the winner.
Game Steps
Golf Croquet Guidelines
Set up your croquet court with the peg and wickets. Standard courts measure 28 by 35 yards (26 m × 32 m), but you can modify the dimensions to suit the available space. Purchase a croquet set that includes all necessary items such as mallets, balls, wooden pegs, and wickets (hoops). Position the wooden croquet peg at the center of the court. Set two wickets 7 yards (6.4 m) north and south of the peg. Then, position the remaining four hoops near the corners of the field, 7 yards (6.4 m) from the boundary lines.
- When setting up croquet, consider using flags or cones to mark the corners for better identification of the in-bounds areas.
Play with 2 players or form 2-player teams. Croquet is ideally suited for either 2 or 4 players. One person or team uses the blue and black balls, while the other person or team uses the red and yellow balls.
- Some croquet sets come with enough mallets and balls for 6 or 8 players, allowing for larger-scale games.
Flip a coin to decide who goes first. The team or player who wins the coin toss takes the black and blue balls, while the other team or player takes the red and yellow balls. The black ball initiates the game.
- The playing order follows black, red, blue, and yellow, and these colors are painted on the central peg as a reminder.
- Alternatively, place each ball near one of the central wickets and take turns hitting them toward the peg. The one closest to the peg goes first.
Position the balls within 1 yard (0.91 m) of the starting corner. The starting corner, typically where the south and east boundaries meet, is commonly referred to as corner 4 (IV). Position your croquet balls anywhere within 1 yard (0.91 m) of the corner to make a legal first shot.
Strike the ball with your mallet towards the first wicket. The first wicket is positioned closest to the south and west edges of the field. The player with the blue ball is designated as the first ‘striker.’ Align your croquet mallet next to your ball and take a single shot toward the wicket.
- You are only allowed one shot per turn, and there are no additional shots available.
- Be careful not to hit any other croquet balls with your mallet, as this results in a “fault.” If you commit a fault, you must pick up your ball and take the shot again.
- For the initial four turns, all players hit their balls from the starting corner. Afterward, each player plays from the location where their ball lands.
- If a ball is hit out of bounds, place it back at the spot where it exited the court.
Earn 1 point for getting your ball through the wicket. A point is scored when the ball successfully passes through the current playing wicket. For the first wicket, the ball must roll through it towards the north boundary. Once a player hits their ball and it fully rolls through the wicket, they score a point for their team.
- Only one player or team can score per wicket.
- A ball does not earn a point if any part of it remains inside the wicket.
- If a player accidentally sends another player’s ball through the wicket, the owner of that ball scores the point.
- If multiple balls go through the wicket at once, the player whose ball was closest to the wicket before the shot scores the point.
Check for offside balls and place them in the penalty zone. After scoring a point, assess whether any balls are positioned more than halfway between the current wicket and the next. These balls are deemed “offsides,” and the opposing player can move them to the east or west boundary, aligning them with the center peg.
- A ball is not considered offsides if it rolled there due to the stroke just played, or if it was hit there by another ball.
Set your sights on the next wicket after your ball rolls through the previous one. After passing through the first wicket, aim for the second wicket on the opposite side of the court. Each time your ball rolls through a wicket, move on to the next one.
- The third and fourth wickets are positioned on the east side of the court, with balls needing to pass through them from north to south.
- The fifth and sixth wickets are located in the center of the court and must be passed through from south to north.
- The seventh and eighth wickets are on the west side of the court, moving from north to south.
- The ninth and tenth wickets are on the east side, with balls passing through them from south to north.
- The eleventh and twelfth wickets are placed at the center of the court and go from north to south.
- You can even pass through multiple wickets in a single shot if your aim is precise.
Claim victory after reaching 7 points. Continue playing by hitting your ball through the wickets until one player or team reaches 7 points. At that point, they win the game!
- If both players or teams are tied with 6 points, break the tie by being the first to hit a ball through the top east wicket from north to south.
Croquet Variations
Association Croquet Also known as ‘British croquet,’ this variation is a bit more intricate than golf croquet. After hitting your ball through a wicket, you are allowed another shot towards the next wicket. If your ball strikes another player’s ball, you gain 2 additional shots.
- The extra shots are taken immediately, so it’s possible for a player to make several consecutive shots before another player gets a turn.
American 6-Wicket This version of croquet, using 6 wickets, starts with your ball placed one mallet’s length away from the first hoop. You can earn extra shots by hitting other balls and passing through wickets, but this only happens after you pass the first wicket. If you hit a ball to earn an extra shot, that ball is ‘dead’ until your ball successfully passes the next wicket.
American 9-Wicket In this setup, two pegs are placed at each end of the court, with two wickets positioned in front of them. The remaining wickets are arranged in an X-shape near the center of the court. Players must hit their balls through the wickets in order until they reach the turning peg, then work their way back through the remaining wickets. The goal is to be the first to hit both balls against the starting peg.
- Once a ball hits the starting peg, remove it from the game to avoid obstruction.
Poison Poison croquet adds an exciting twist to a 9-wicket game. If you hit your ball through the final wicket without striking the peg, your ball becomes ‘poison.’ On your turn, you can hit your poisoned ball into another player’s ball to eliminate it from the game. The player who is left with the last ball on the court wins.
- If you hit a poison ball with your own, you earn an additional shot. If you manage to knock the poison ball through a wicket, it is then removed from the game.
Stinger Similar to Poison, your ball becomes a stinger if you pass through all the wickets without striking the final peg. However, to eliminate other balls from the game, you must first pass through wickets 1, 2, and 4. The player with the last ball remaining on the court wins!
- A stinger ball can be removed by hitting it into the final peg.
How to Grip a Croquet Mallet
Standard Grip The standard grip is the most widely used method for holding a croquet mallet and is ideal for beginners. Place your dominant hand near the bottom of the handle, and position your non-dominant hand just above it. Secure your fingers around the handle, ensuring that your wrists stay relaxed as you swing the mallet.
Solomon Grip To use the Solomon grip, hold the end of the handle with your dominant hand so that your knuckles face outward. Place your other hand on the handle slightly below, with your thumb pointing up.
- This grip is perfect for generating additional power in your swing or when you're angled toward your target.
Irish Grip Position both hands around the middle of the handle, with your thumbs pointing down along the front of the mallet. Wrap your fingers around the back of the handle.
- The Irish grip provides more finesse, making it easier to execute precise shots that don't require much power.
Special Croquet Shots
Roquet A roquet occurs when you deliberately hit your ball so that it strikes another ball, granting you an extra shot. Aim the mallet in the direction you wish to strike the ball, ensuring the mallet head is parallel to the ground for a straight roll.
- Practice your accuracy by setting a ball a short distance away and trying to hit it. Once you consistently land the shot, increase the distance.
- In Association croquet, after performing a roquet, you can pick up your ball and place it next to the ball you just hit.
Cut Rush When you roquet a ball from a short distance, aim slightly off-center to send the ball in a different direction. To move it right, aim a little to the left; to move it left, aim slightly to the right.
Takeoff After completing a roquet, place your ball where it has a clear line of sight to the next wicket or ball you’re targeting. Ensure your next shot hits only your ball to maintain a straight path.
- This technique is perfect when you have a clear route to your next target, preventing accidental movement of your opponent’s ball.
Drive When your ball touches another, position the mallet head parallel to the ground during your stroke. When you follow through, your opponent’s ball will travel farther than your own, helping you align with your next target.
- Driving is an effective technique to push your opponent’s ball far away, gaining you an advantage.
- If you wish to make your ball travel a shorter distance, try standing closer to it.
Stop Shot Position the mallet head slightly tilted upwards. When you strike your ball into another, the second ball will roll away in the direction you’re aiming, but your own ball will remain in place.
- To avoid hitting the ground with your mallet, slightly lift the mallet head during your stroke.
Roll Shot Angle the back of the mallet head off the ground. Strike your ball into the other ball and follow through, allowing both balls to travel the same distance.
- This shot can be useful when approaching a wicket if another ball is obstructing your path, and in some cases, your ball may even roll further.
Split Shot A split shot sends your ball and your opponent’s ball in different directions. Align your ball opposite to the desired direction for the opponent’s ball. Aim your mallet in the direction you want your ball to roll and make a smooth, steady shot to ensure the balls travel apart.
- Use split shots to bring your ball closer to a wicket or peg while pushing your opponent’s ball further away.
Jump Shot Hold the mallet head at a 45-degree angle to your ball. Make a quick, sharp motion to strike the ball without following through. This will make the ball bounce off the ground and jump into the air.
- Jump shots are effective when another ball is blocking a wicket, preventing an accidental hit into it.
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Use your free time to practice croquet shots, refining your accuracy and the right amount of power for each stroke.
