Croquet

1 Overview

Croquet is a lawn game in which players use mallets to drive balls through a series of wickets (hoops) in a specific order and direction around the court, finishing by hitting a peg at the far end. It is played competitively at high levels and casually in backyards worldwide. Standard garden croquet is for 2 to 6 players; Association Croquet (competitive) is strictly for 2 or 4.

2 Setup

Standard garden croquet layout (9-wicket American croquet):

• 9 wickets and 2 stakes (starting/ending peg) set up in a double-diamond pattern
• Court size: 100 x 50 feet (official); smaller in casual play
• 4 balls (red, yellow, blue, black). Each player uses one or two balls depending on player count.
• Wickets are driven into the ground with just enough space for the ball to pass through

3 Gameplay

1. Players take turns hitting their ball once per turn (1 stroke).
2. All players start from the starting stake and must pass through wickets in the designated order and direction.
3. When your ball passes through a wicket (in the correct direction and order), you earn 1 extra stroke for that wicket.
4. If your ball hits another ball (a "roquet"), you earn 2 extra strokes and must take a "croquet shot" (see below) before using them.
5. You can only roquet each ball once per turn, until you pass through a wicket — then all balls are eligible to be roqueted again.

4 Extra Strokes and Croquet Shots

Wicket Bonus

Running a wicket earns 1 continuation stroke. You can chain multiple wickets in a single turn if your ball runs through them consecutively.

Roquet and Croquet

When you roquet (hit) another ball:

1. Place your ball in contact with the ball you hit.
2. Take your "croquet shot" — strike your ball while it's touching the other ball. Both balls move.
3. After the croquet shot, take your continuation stroke (the 2nd of the 2 extra strokes).

Croquet shots can be used strategically to move opponent balls to bad positions or your own balls to better positions near upcoming wickets.

5 Winning

The first player or team to run all their balls through all wickets in order and hit the finishing stake wins. In American 9-wicket croquet, the course is run through in a double loop — each ball must complete the full course and peg out.

6 Strategy Guide

Send Opponents Away

The croquet shot (after roqueting) lets you send the opponent's ball far from their next wicket. This is often more valuable than advancing your own ball — a well-placed send leaves opponents with a very long shot back to position.

Break Play

Advanced players plan "breaks" — chaining multiple wickets in a single turn by using other balls as stepping stones. Position a ball near your next wicket, roquet it, take the croquet shot to position yourself for the wicket, run the wicket, then repeat.

Corner Defense

When you can't make progress, send your ball to a corner of the court. Corners are harder to roquet from distance, and being in a corner limits the damage opponents can do to you on their turn.

7 Variants

• Association Croquet: The professional/competitive form with 6-wicket layout and more complex rules around lifts and contact
• Golf Croquet: Simpler variant — no croquet shots, no continuation strokes from roquets. Each wicket is a separate contest; all players try to run the same wicket simultaneously. Much faster and easier to learn.
• Extreme Croquet: Played over rough terrain (hills, woods, gardens). No court limitations — anywhere the balls can go is fair.

8 FAQ

9 Equipment & Court Setup

Mallets

Croquet mallets have a cylindrical or square-ended head set at a right angle to a long handle. Recreational mallets typically weigh 2 to 3 pounds with a handle length of 36 to 38 inches. Competitive Association Croquet mallets are heavier and more precisely weighted. The head material (wood, composite, or brass-faced) affects shot feel. Beginners should look for a mallet with a comfortable grip length — if the mallet is too long or short, proper swing technique becomes difficult.

Balls

Regulation croquet balls are 3.625 inches in diameter and weigh 16 ounces. The four colors (red, yellow, blue, black) correspond to the standard play order in American croquet. In competitive Association Croquet, the color order is blue, red, black, yellow. Balls must be hard enough to travel cleanly on grass without excessive bounce.

Wickets

Standard wickets (hoops) are made of steel rod bent into a U-shape. Regulation width is 3.75 inches — just 1/8 inch wider than the ball — requiring fairly accurate aim. Garden croquet sets often use wider wickets (4+ inches) to make the game more accessible. Drive wickets into the ground with a mallet until they sit firmly; they should not wobble during play.

Lawn Conditions

The ideal croquet lawn is flat, closely mowed, and consistent in surface. Bumpy or uneven ground creates unpredictable ball movement. Damp grass slows balls significantly; dry firm grass is faster and favors more precise long shots. If playing on an irregular lawn, agree before the game on how out-of-bounds areas or unplayable lie situations will be handled.

Wicket Layout (9-Wicket American)

The standard double-diamond layout places one stake at each short end of the court and nine wickets arranged in two overlapping diamonds. The center wicket is shared between the two diamonds. Each ball must pass through all nine wickets twice — once in each direction — and then hit the finishing stake. Most backyard sets include a diagram; if not, the USCA (United States Croquet Association) provides official layout diagrams online.

10 Common Mistakes

• Failing to announce a roquet: In competitive play, you must announce when you roquet another ball. Silently picking up your ball and placing it can lead to disputes about which ball was hit.
• Running wickets in the wrong order: The wicket sequence is strict. Running a wicket out of order does not count and results in a wasted turn.
• Forgetting continuation strokes: After running a wicket, many casual players forget they earned an extra stroke and simply end their turn. Always track how many strokes you have remaining.
• Aggressive croquet shots that go out of bounds: Sending an opponent's ball out of bounds means placing it back on the boundary line — the opponent is not penalized the way you might hope. Precise placement beats wild power.
• Ignoring corner strategy: New players always try to advance their ball as far as possible. Experienced players know that staying in a corner when threatened is often the stronger defensive move.