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

Croquet needs a modest set of gear, and once you have it, any flat lawn becomes a court. At minimum you need mallets, balls, hoops, a peg, and a level patch of grass.

• Mallet — a wooden striking tool with a cylindrical (or box-faced) head and a long handle, gripped with both hands like a putter. Sizes range from short kids' mallets to full adult length
• Balls — coloured balls about 9–9.2 cm across and ~450 g. The four primary colours are blue, red, black, yellow, and they are played in that order. In doubles it's blue + black vs. red + yellow (six-colour sets add green, pink, brown, white)
• Wickets (hoops) — U-shaped metal hoops pushed into the ground, ~30 cm tall and only ~10 cm wide so a ball barely fits. A standard course uses 6 hoops (garden sets often include 9–12)
• Peg (stake) — the central target stake; after running every hoop you finish by striking it to complete the course
• Court (lawn) — a flat rectangular lawn. Regulation is 32 m × 25.6 m, but a home garden at half that or smaller is plenty. Closely mown grass rolls faster

Entry-level garden sets run about $30–60 and include mallets, balls, hoops, and a peg. Start with a plastic leisure set to get a feel for the swing, then upgrade to a proper wooden mallet and regulation balls once you're hooked. Play in your own backyard, or pick a flat park lawn where balls can roll safely away from other people.

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

Croquet is about hitting your ball through a sequence of hoops with a mallet. There are two main branches, and beginners should start with Golf Croquet — everyone plays for the same hoop and the first to run it wins the point, by far the easiest way in. Learn the minimal rules below and you can play the same afternoon.

How a round works (minimal rules)

1. Set up the hoops on the lawn with the peg in the center (start with the 6-hoop layout)
2. Set the playing order blue → red → black → yellow. In doubles it's blue + black vs. red + yellow
3. On your turn you take one stroke only — there are no extra strokes
4. Everyone plays for the same first hoop, taking one stroke each in order
5. The first player (or side) to run that hoop cleanly scores the point for that hoop
6. Once the point is won, everyone moves on from where their balls lie to contest the next hoop. Repeat around the course
7. The first player or side to reach the target score (in a 6-hoop game, first to 4 points, or run all the hoops) wins

At first, just focus on getting close to the next hoop and running it. Because beating your opponent to the hoop scores the point, the fun of blocking them emerges naturally. Once that clicks, add the Association Croquet techniques below.

Standard rules (adding skill)

• Roquet (hitting another ball) — in the fuller Association game, when your ball strikes another ball (a "roquet") you earn extra strokes
• The croquet stroke — right after a roquet, you place your ball touching the ball you hit and play from there, sending their ball far away or repositioning yourself. This stroke gives the game its name and is the heart of its strategy
• Continuation strokes — running a hoop cleanly earns another stroke. Chaining roquet → croquet → continuation lets you score several hoops in a single turn (a "break")
• Order and direction — hoops must be run in the exact sequence and direction; wrong-way runs don't count. Balls that go off court are replaced at the boundary and played from there

Official competition rules

The World Croquet Federation (WCF) governs international play, running World Championships in two disciplines: Association Croquet (the full 6-hoop, break-building game) and the more beginner-friendly Golf Croquet. Official rules fix the court dimensions (32 m × 25.6 m), the exact placement of the six hoops and the peg, ball specifications, and the handicap system. In Japan, the Japan Croquet Association hosts clinics and tournaments — join a local club to play by the full rules.

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