Croquet 101 — England's Strategic Lawn Mallet Game

What is this game?

Croquet is a lawn game that spread across England in the Victorian era and has remained a beloved garden classic ever since. Players use a wooden mallet to hit coloured balls through U-shaped metal hoops (wickets) in a set order, then strike a central peg to complete the course.

The strategic core is the croquet shot — when your ball hits an opponent's, you gain extra strokes and can send their ball far away. This earns Croquet the nickname "Chess on the Lawn."

The World Croquet Federation (WCF) oversees international competition including a World Championship.

Equipment & setup

Mallet — wooden head (cylindrical or box-faced) with a long handle
Balls — ~9 cm coloured balls (usually red, yellow, blue, black)
Wickets (hoops) — U-shaped metal, ~30 cm tall × ~10 cm wide; 6–12 per course
Peg — a central or end stake marking the finish
Court — regulation 32 m × 25.6 m. Home games can be much smaller

Entry-level garden sets cost $30–60. Any flat lawn will do.

Players & ages

Format	Players
Singles	2 (or 4, one ball each)
Doubles	2 pairs (each pair plays 2 balls)

Strategy and aim matter more than strength — ideal for mixed ages.

Rules

Minimal rules (just play)

Set up wickets in a pattern on the lawn, peg in the center
Decide player order (standard: red → yellow → blue → black)
Each player hits once per turn
Passing your ball through the next wicket in sequence scores a point and earns an extra stroke
Croquet: when your ball hits an opponent's, you earn 2 extra strokes
- Place your ball next to the opponent's, foot on yours, and strike — sending their ball away
First to run all wickets and peg out wins

Standard rules (6-wicket Association Croquet)

Wickets must be run in the exact order; running the wrong one doesn't count
Running a wicket earns 1 continuation stroke
Balls off court are replaced at the boundary and played from there

Official competition rules

The WCF governs Association Croquet (6 wickets) and Golf Croquet (a simpler variant). The English Open and World Championships are held annually.

Tips for enjoying the game

Common beginner mistakes

Hitting too hard — rolling on grass needs gentle calibration; aim first
Forgetting the croquet shot — missing your extra strokes after a hit is a big loss
Skipping wickets — check the order every turn

How to make it more fun

Aggressive croquet shots that send opponents to the far end guarantee laughs
Doubles croquet lets teams plan tactics — communication is key
British garden party style: sandwiches, tea, and no hurry

Age variations

Kids: 4 wickets, smaller court, skip the croquet shot rule
Seniors: low-impact game; the mallet swing is gentle. Very popular with older players
Competitive: regulation 6-wicket layout, timed rounds

Playing Croquet in Japan

Sets available on Amazon.co.jp and Rakuten
Any flat park lawn works; scale the court to fit
The Japan Croquet Association runs clinics and tournaments

Learn more

World Croquet Federation (WCF) — rules and events
The Croquet Association (UK) — clubs and open championships
Related: see also Gateball, Mölkky, and Pétanque