CROQUET, a lawn game played with balls, mallets, hoops and two pegs (from Fr. trot, a crook, or crooked stick). The game has been evolved, according to some writers, from the paille-maille which was played in Languedoc at least as early as the 13th century. However that may be, croquet was played in England in 1856, or perhaps a few years earlier, and soon be came popular. In 1868 the first all-comers' meeting was held at Moreton-in-the-Marsh. In the same year the All England Croquet Club was formed, the annual contest for the championship taking place on the grounds of this club at Wimbledon. After being for ten years or so the most popular game for the country house and garden party, croquet was practically ousted by lawn tennis, un til, with improved implements and a more scientific form of play, it was revived about 1894-95. In 1896-97 was formed the United All England Croquet Association, now known as the Croquet As sociation. One hundred and eleven clubs are affiliated to the Asso ciation and there are approximately 1,700 associates (1927) whose nominal subscription entitles them to a copy of the Gazette and entry to the ground during tournaments controlled by the As sociation. Its headquarters are at the Roehampton Club and the chief events of the year are played on the Club croquet lawns, including the final rounds of the All England handicap, a compe tition attracting over 500 competitors. The tournaments at Burl ingham, Ranelagh, Eastbourne, Brighton, Cheltenham, Lewes and Buxton are specially popular. Croquet flourishes in the colonies and there are 15 affiliated associations in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Auckland, Queensland and Tasmania. Some of these associations have many clubs affiliated to them amounting to about 30o in all. A team from Australia visited England in 1925 and the test matches were won by the home country but the visitors were not able to assemble their strongest team. Croquet players are also catered for in the south of France during the winter. The game is extremely popular in America and is usually played in rural districts wherever grass plots are large enough and level enough to accommodate a court. The rules and court dimensions differ in Great Britain and America, the following regulations governing croquet in Great Britain.
The above setting has been in general use since 1922. It is, however, not well adapted for "peeling," and has largely done away with the necessity for the "pass-roll" shot ; both highly skilful features of the game. "Peeling" is a term used when the striker causes a ball, other than his own, to run a hoop in order; that ball is then said to have been "peeled." Like most other games croquet is subject to alteration and amendment in its rules and laws and no absolute finality has been reached in regard to the setting. Mallets may be of any size and weight, but the head must be made of wood only, except that metal may be used for weighting or strengthening it. The two end faces shall be parallel, of wood only, and identical in every respect, and each face may have a rounded edge measuring not more than hin. transversely at the base. A player may not change his mallet more than once during a game, except in the case of bona fide damage. The balls shall be 3 f in. in diameter and of even weight, and not less than 15f oz. nor more than 16-i oz. The hoop or peg next in order for every ball at the commencement of a turn is distinguished by a clip of the colour of the ball.
The object of the player is to score the points of the game by striking his ball through each of the hoops and the peg in a fixed order; and the side wins which first succeeds in scoring all the points with both the balls of the side. No point is scored by passing through a hoop or hitting the peg except in the proper order. Each player starts in turn from either of the baulk lines. If he fails either to make a point or to "roquet'" (i.e., drive his ball against) another ball in play, his turn is at an end and the next player in order takes his turn in like manner. If he succeeds in scoring a point, he is entitled (as in billiards) to another stroke; he may then either attempt to score another point, or he may roquet a ball. Having roqueted a ball (provided he has not already roqueted the same ball in the same turn without having scored a point in the interval) he is entitled to two further strokes: first he must "take croquet," i.e., he places his own ball (which from the moment of the roquet is "dead" or "in hand") in contact with the roqueted ball on any side of it, and then strikes his own ball with his mallet, being bound to move or shake both balls perceptibly. If at the beginning of a turn the striker's ball is in contact with another ball, a "roquet" is held to have been made and "croquet" must be taken at once. After taking croquet the striker is entitled to another stroke, with which he may score another point, or roquet another ball not previously roqueted in the same turn since a point was scored, or he may play for safety. Thus, by skilful alternation of making points and roqueting balls, words "roquet" and croquet" are pronounced as in French, with the t mute.
a "break" may be made in which point after point, and even al the points in the game (for the ball in play), may be scored it a single turn, in addition to three or four points for the partne ball. The chief skill in the game perhaps consists in playing thy stroke called "taking croquet" (but see below on the "rush") Expert players can drive both balls together from one end o the ground to the other, or send one to a distance while retainint the other, or place each with accuracy in different directions a desired, the player obtaining position for scoring a point o roqueting another ball according to the strategical requirements o his position. Care has, however, to be taken in playing thy croquet-stroke that both balls are absolutely moved or perceptibll shaken, and that neither of them be driven over the line, for in either event the player's next stroke is forfeited am his turn brought summarily to an end.
There are two main styles in playing croquet and it being im possible to dogmatize as to the best, either generally or for the individual, players would be well advised to give both an exhaus. tive trial. The essential features of all styles whether to make e roquet or run a hoop is that the eye, the ball and the object aimed at should form a vertical right angle. The "upright" stybb is played with a long mallet of about 39in. The player face: the object to be hit, holding the top of the mallet with his left hand, the arm being close to the side. The right hand grasp: the shaft lower down and is solely responsible for the necessary power of the strike, the left hand merely acting as the fulcrum of the swing. Either the right or the left foot may be in advance and should be parallel to the line of aim, the player's weight being mainly on the front foot. For the other style, commonly known as "front play" or Irish, a much shorter mallet of about 33in. is used. The mallet is swung between the feet and the grig employed is similar to the Vardon grip in golf, the hands being close together and often overlapping. The former has advantage over the other in two important points, viz., ability to stop-shot and power. It is apt, however, to fail in two important shots, a six-yard roquet and the long rush, and fails for the same reason in both cases ; the player being further from the ball there is a larger margin of error, or, in other words a greater liability to be slightly inaccurate. The Irish style is undoubtedly more tiring and the strain on wrists very great; whereas in the upright method the fingers do practically no work and owing to it being less fatiguing is far easier to maintain, especially on a slow lawn.
In making a shot the ball should be hit in the centre and as low down as possible with the exact middle of the mallet. The eyes must be concentrated on the spot and the head of the mallet drawn back slowly. This is the secret of all successful shots, either for roquets or hoop running; the more difficult the angle of the hoop the slower the back swing—any jerking is fatal. The "rush stroke" is a roquet and used to drive the pilot ball some distance ; this must be hit full in the face for a straight rush. The hands and mallet should be kept down and follow well through. True hitting should be aimed at, not force. When it is desired to drive a ball in an angular direction the pilot ball must be aimed at off the centre, when the angle required is extremely oblique the outer and opposite side of the pilot should be hit. The "roll" is a croquet stroke in which both balls are rolled along the same distance and is attained by standing well forward with the hands in front of the head of the mallet. The stroke is not a hit, but a sweep. The "pass roll" is the most difficult of all as unless it is played firmly and with deliberation the mallet will hit the ball twice and the stroke is a foul. The stance is similar to that for the "roll," but the ball is hit higher up and the curtailed back swing is more vertical, resulting, if the stroke is smooth, in the player's ball passing the pilot ball. The "split shot" is utilised when two balls are to be driven in opposite directions. Line the balls so that they point in the direction that the pilot ball is to travel, then play the stroke facing the mid-way between that point and where the striker's ball is being directed. The angles are the same as in billiards, though it is difficult to obtain an absolute right angle. The "stop shot" is also analogous to billiards, the object being to drive the pilot ball a long distance and to keep the striker's ball back.
Stand further behind than usual, hitting the ball very near the bottom of the face of the mallet with a short, sharp hit. The proportion of a go )d "stop shot" is one in six, i.e., that the player's ball goes one yard whilst the pilot ball travels six yards. "Taking off" is a croquet shot and consists in taking off from a ball which is to be left behind and merely shaken to another ball or given spot on the lawn.
A first-class croquet lawn should be as level as possible with a true and consistent surface, no obstacle to an all-round break is therefore present other than the player's lack of skill. If games were won by all-round breaks much of the interest would be missing. The picking up and assembling the balls and the laying of a break at the conclusion of a turn generally requires infinitely more skill and thought than the somewhat automatic execution of a three or four-ball break. Once the balls have been assembled no difficult shot is required throughout the break, provided the player has acquired a certain degree of proficiency in the standard shots. The main principle in either three or four ball breaks is always to keep the pilot balls straight in front and sweep them, as it were, along the path of direction. The whole secret of break making is correctly rushing the pilot ball to the right spot after running a hoop; by doing so the next shot is made easy and the approach to the following hoop will become a short straight stop shot, ensuring a good position for hoop running. This positioning is the hall mark of first-class players and it is noteworthy that it is the incompetent player who gives himself during a break difficult and oblique approaches to hoops, ultimately leading to long and angular hoops to run and eventually to a break down with the balls adjacent and to the advantage of the opponent. During a three-ball break the player must keep in mind the earliest and safest opportunity for bringing the fourth ball into play, for though it may be quite simple to continue with only three balls it is impossible to finish the break satisfactorily unless all four balls are in command. The usual method is to leave the opponent's balls wired from one another across whichever hoop the player's backward ball requires, and retire with the remaining balls as far away as possible, taking care that both the opponent's balls have an absolutely open shot. If the opponent misses the long roquet his ball is at once brought into play; should he retire into a corner the earliest opportunity of digging him out must be taken. A four-ball break is easier to play, but as some 90 continuous strokes are required to complete the round, the demand on patience and concentration is very great, and unless a player is in good practice, the hand and eye tire with the simplest shots.
Peeling, though adding considerable risk to the successful com pletion of a break, may have to be essayed where bisques have to be given. The break for a double peel (the last two hoops) is played in the usual way, care being taken that the ball to be peeled (the peelee) and another are sent to the sixth hoop, and immediately after making that hoop the peelee is sent through the penultimate and the break continued. On the way up to two back the peelee must be positioned for the rover hoop, and opportunities will occur before making three back and the penulti mate, or even at the time when making the rover hoop, to com plete the peel. A triple peel is played in like manner, four back being peeled immediately after running the third hoop and the ball positioned before making the sixth hoop, when play becomes similar to that for a double peel. Tactics play an important part in the game and must be guided by the knowledge of your own skill and by what you know of your opponent's strength or weakness. Broadly speaking, two points must be considered before shooting ; what will be gained if the roquet is successful and how will it affect the opponent's next turn if unsuccessful. If, for instance, by going into a corner the opponent will be left with a difficult start for a thr' e-ball break, and if by shooting and failing to roquet a four-ball break is presented, the course of action is obvious. When bisques have to be conceded the balls at the end of the break should not be left less than eight yards from the boundary; thus compelling the opponent either to roll up gently, when the chances of making the roquet are mini mized, or else if he shoots hard and misses, he is faced with a seven-yard return roquet should he elect to take a bisque. Al though either ball of a side may be played much can be done to compel the opponent to shoot with his forward ball. It can be left near the hoop of the player's backward ball and in many ways it is possible to influence the progress of the adversary.
The problem of devising a game between two experts in which each player should have an equal chance still awaits solution. Execution on a good lawn has become so accurate that the result of a match too often depends on the spin of a coin. For instance, J. Tuckett, meeting C. Corbally in a round of the open champion ship (1913) played blue, the first ball, to the left-hand boundary. Corbally hit with red and progressed to four back on a two ball break. His opponent missed the long shot with black and Corbally finished the game with a triple peel with the fourth ball in play. As an exhibition of perfect croquet it will rarely be equalled and yet can scarcely be called a match. It is a frequent occurrence in first-class croquet for the third ball in play to go to the peg and finish the game with the fifth ball. On the other hand, the wide range of handicapping (from minus four to plus 18) gives the less talented players fair chances of being on the court, more especially is this the case as there is no limit regard ing the number of possible bisques a player may take in succession in any game.
Winners of the Open Croquet Championship of England since 1907 1907 R. C. J. Beaton, 1908 C. Corbally, 1909 G. Ashmore, ,1910 C. L. O'Callaghan, 1911 E. Whitaker, C. L. O'Callaghan, 1913 C. Corbally, 1914 P. D. Mathews, to 1918 no competition, 1919 P. D. Mathews, 192o P. D. Mathews, 1921 Capt. C. L. O'Cal laghan, 1922 C. E. Pepper, 1923 Capt. H. W. J. Snell, 1924 D. L. G. Joseph, 1925 Miss D. D. Steel, 1926 Ben C. Apps, 1927 E. Whitaker, 1928 Capt. K. H. Coxe, 1929 Lt.-Col. W. B. du Pre, 193o Ben C. Apps, 1931 Ben C. Apps, 1932 H. O. Hick, 1933 Miss D. D. Steel, 1934 Lt.-Col. W. B. du Pre, 1935 Miss D. D. Steel.
Roquet: when the striker's ball in play hits another ball in play.
Croquet: when a ball has been roqueted, croquet is taken by placing the striker's ball in contact with the ball roqueted, the striker's ball is then hit.
Bisque: an extra turn, given in a game played under handicap. Half Bisque: a restricted extra turn, no point can be scored for any ball.
A Point: when a ball runs a hoop or hits the peg in order. Rover: a ball that has run all the hoops.
Pilot Ball: the ball aimed at.
Object Ball: the ball from which croquet is taken.
Peelee : ball to be peeled.
Tice: one of the opening shots of the game played to such a spot as will tempt the opponent to shoot.
Wire: a ball is wired from another ball when (I) any part of the peg or an upright would impede the direct course of any part of it towards any part of the other ball; or (2) any part of the peg or hoop so interferes with any part of the swing of the mallet that the striker cannot drive his ball freely towards any part of the other ball.
The so-called "pendulum stroke," done by swinging the mallet between the legs, made with two hands, is most reliable in direct ing the ball, but ladies find the outside stroke less awkward. The first object of the game is to strike the ball to a certain distance and no further in its position near another ball ; to be near the front of its arch ; to wire it so that there can be no direct shot on the ball; to put a ball beyond the open shot of a ball already wired. The greatest skill is required to drive the object ball to a desired position, and especially to make a ball pass to the right or left. Making a ball jump over another or over one or more arches is also difficult but can be accomplished with some practice.
The balls are of wood or hard rubber; the stakes of hard wood 14 in. in diameter, set at the middle of the court just outside the playing line and projecting above the court only 1 in., so as to allow a ball to be shot from in front of it in any direction. The handles of the mallets are made in various lengths to conform to the size of the player; the size and weight of the wood in the head also varies. Balls should have coloured painted bands to distinguish them.
Grounds are laid out in America in various ways, some being elliptical in form ; arches are often placed at widely different points, although in America uniformity generally prevails. This game is one in which there should be an international uniformity, if possible, as a basis for possible international competition for honours in this attractive outdoor pastime. The terms used in America for croquet as well as the definitions are different from those in Great Britain. The following terms and definitions are used in America : Ball in hand, a ball that has roqueted another ball.
Ball in play, after a ball in hand has taken croquet it is a ball in play.
Bisque, an extra stroke allowed at any time during a game. Bombard, to drive one ball by croquet so as to displace an other.
Boundary line, the outside limits of the court.
Carom, a rebounding of a ball from stake, arch or another ball. Combination, the using of two or more balls to effect some par ticular play.
Croquet, to place one ball against another and play from it or with it any way. This is imperative after a roquet.
Danger ball, that ball of the adversary which is to be played next—the "guilty ball." Dead ball, a ball from which or upon which the player has taken his turn since making a point. It is then dead to all direct shots till he makes another point, or has another turn or play.
Direct shot, when the ball struck with the mallet directly passes to another ball, or makes carom thereon from a stake or an arch.
Drive shot, a shot made so as to send the object ball to some desired position.
Finesse, to play a ball where it will be of least use to adversary. Follow shot, when the playing ball in taking croquet is made to follow the object ball in nearly or quite the same direction. Foul strike, a false one—one at variance with the rules. Innocent ball, the last-played ball of adversary.
Jump shot, striking a ball so as to make it jump over any obsta cle between it and the object aimed at.
Live ball, a ball upon which the playing ball has a right to play.
Object ball, the ball at which the player aims.
Odds, extra stroke or strokes allowed by superior players to equalize playing. (See B1sQuE. ) Playing line, real or imaginary line 3oin. inside of boundary line, on which balls are placed for playing when they have passed beyond it or outside the boundary line.
Run, the making of a number of points in one turn of play. Split shot, any croquet from a ball upon which a ball has counted.
Set-up, a position of advantage secured by a player in the inter ests of his partner ball.
Wiring, to wire a ball is to place it so that it will be behind a wire (or arch), thus preventing an open or direct shot.
"Tight Croquet," another variety of the sport, is really consid ered a giant game of pool or billiards, requiring strategy and great skill. It is played on a court 38ft. by 44ft. with hard rubber balls 3sin. in diameter, weighing about fib. each. The mallets weigh from 2 to 5lb. each, and the heads are bound at either end with heavy brass bands. The mallets are swung with one hand instead of two. One wicket is placed in the middle of the court, facing the ends and in line with the other four, instead of two placed in the centre facing the sides as in the original game. "Tight Croquet" was originated by C. L. Rice in 1876. J. H. Welsh started the Union Croquet Club in Central park, New York, in 189o, this club meets every day, except in exceptionally stormy weather, on the sheep meadow near the mall in the park. The Brooklyn Cro quet Club meets in Prospect park, and this organization includes many expert players among its members.
"Hun Croquet," another version, is played in Central park by an exclusive gathering. This game, too, is slightly different from the others. (J. B. P.)