CROQUET: How to Set Up a Croquet Shot

13 June 2000
Maui Croquet Club
by Leo Nikora

You have just roqueted another ball (Red for "roqueted"), and picked up your ball (Yellow for "your"). You now must place the Yellow ball in contact with the Red ball, and take two shots: the croquet shot, and a continuation shot. Here is a step-by-step process for setting up your croquet shot.

Take Off: I want to leave Red here, and send Yellow somewhere.
Stop Shot: I want to send Red somewhere, and leave Yellow here.
Split Shot: I want to send Red somewhere, and Yellow somewhere else.

I Want to Leave Red Here
And Send Yellow Somewhere This is called a "Take Off" Croquet

1. Place Yellow Beside Red (this determines that Red stays there)
     Figure out the direction you want Yellow to travel (T for "travel").
     Place Yellow beside Red such that the line joining their centers is perpendicular to T.
     Make sure that Yellow is touching Red.
2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yelllow will go)
     Swing along the line (S for "swing") about ten degrees towards Red.
     Note that you hit Yellow a little off center of the back of the ball.
     If you swing less then ten degrees, Red will not shake, and you will have committed a fault.
     If you swing more than ten degrees, Yellow will travel to the other side of T, and not go where you want.
3. Address Yellow
     Normal stance: mallet upright, eyes directly over the back of Yellow.
     Normal grip: your hands where they are the most comfortable.
     Normal swing: don't forget to follow through.
4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Yellow will go)
     Only hard enough to send Yellow the distance you want, since no energy is going into Red.

I Want to Send Red Somewhere
And Leave Yellow Here This is called a "Stop Shot" Croquet

1. Place Yellow Behind Red (this determines the direction Red will go)
     Figure out the direction you want Red to travel (T for "travel").
     Place Yellow behind Red such that the line joining their centers is T.
     Make sure that Yellow is touching Red.
2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yellow will go)
     Swing along the line (S for "swing") that is the same as T.
     Note that you hit Yellow a little off center of the back of the ball.
     If you swing less then ten degrees, Red will not shake, and you will have committed a fault.
     If you swing more than ten degrees, Yellow will travel to the other side of T, and not go where you want.
3. Address Yellow (this determines that Yellow stays there)
     Far stance: mallet rocked back, eyes well behind the back of Yellow.
     Normal grip: your hands where they are the most comfortable.
     Short swing: all wrist with no follow through.
4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Red will go)
     Only hard enough to send Red the distance you want, since all the energy is transfered from Yellow.

I Want to Send Red Somewhere
And Send Yellow Somewhere Else This is called a "Split Shot" Croquet

1. Place Yellow Behind Red (this determines the direction Red will go)
     Figure out the direction you want Red to travel (red T for "travel").
     Place Yellow behind Red such that the line joining their centers is the red T.
     Make sure that Yellow is touching Red.
2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yellow will go)
     Figure out the direction you want Yellow to travel (yellow T for "travel").
     Swing along the line (S for "swing") that is halfway between the red T and the yellow T.
3. Address Yellow (this determines that ratio of the distances Red and Yellow will go)
     3:1 -- normal stance, normal grip, and normal swing.
     2:1 -- normal stance, slide one hand half way down mallet shaft, and normal swing.
     1:1 -- close stance, slide one hand all the way down mallet shaft, hit down about thirty degrees.
     1:2 -- very close stance, slide one hand all the way donw mallet shaft, and hit down about sixty degrees.
4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Red and Yellow will go)
     The sum of how hard you would hit each separately to go the desired distances.
     Plus a little bit more to account for the loss of energy transfer.
     Plus a lot more for a "pass roll" (1:2) because most of the energy goes into the ground.


I Want to Leave Red Here And Send Yellow Somewhere		This is called a "Take Off" Croquet
		1. Place Yellow Beside Red (this determines that Red stays there) Figure out the direction you want Yellow to travel (T for "travel"). Place Yellow beside Red such that the line joining their centers is perpendicular to T. Make sure that Yellow is touching Red. 2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yelllow will go) Swing along the line (S for "swing") about ten degrees towards Red. Note that you hit Yellow a little off center of the back of the ball. If you swing less then ten degrees, Red will not shake, and you will have committed a fault. If you swing more than ten degrees, Yellow will travel to the other side of T, and not go where you want. 3. Address Yellow Normal stance: mallet upright, eyes directly over the back of Yellow. Normal grip: your hands where they are the most comfortable. Normal swing: don't forget to follow through. 4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Yellow will go) Only hard enough to send Yellow the distance you want, since no energy is going into Red.

I Want to Send Red Somewhere And Leave Yellow Here		This is called a "Stop Shot" Croquet
		1. Place Yellow Behind Red (this determines the direction Red will go) Figure out the direction you want Red to travel (T for "travel"). Place Yellow behind Red such that the line joining their centers is T. Make sure that Yellow is touching Red. 2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yellow will go) Swing along the line (S for "swing") that is the same as T. Note that you hit Yellow a little off center of the back of the ball. If you swing less then ten degrees, Red will not shake, and you will have committed a fault. If you swing more than ten degrees, Yellow will travel to the other side of T, and not go where you want. 3. Address Yellow (this determines that Yellow stays there) Far stance: mallet rocked back, eyes well behind the back of Yellow. Normal grip: your hands where they are the most comfortable. Short swing: all wrist with no follow through. 4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Red will go) Only hard enough to send Red the distance you want, since all the energy is transfered from Yellow.

I Want to Send Red Somewhere And Send Yellow Somewhere Else		This is called a "Split Shot" Croquet
		1. Place Yellow Behind Red (this determines the direction Red will go) Figure out the direction you want Red to travel (red T for "travel"). Place Yellow behind Red such that the line joining their centers is the red T. Make sure that Yellow is touching Red. 2. Line Up Direction of Swing (this determines the direction Yellow will go) Figure out the direction you want Yellow to travel (yellow T for "travel"). Swing along the line (S for "swing") that is halfway between the red T and the yellow T. 3. Address Yellow (this determines that ratio of the distances Red and Yellow will go) 3:1 -- normal stance, normal grip, and normal swing. 2:1 -- normal stance, slide one hand half way down mallet shaft, and normal swing. 1:1 -- close stance, slide one hand all the way down mallet shaft, hit down about thirty degrees. 1:2 -- very close stance, slide one hand all the way donw mallet shaft, and hit down about sixty degrees. 4. Strike Yellow (this determines the distance Red and Yellow will go) The sum of how hard you would hit each separately to go the desired distances. Plus a little bit more to account for the loss of energy transfer. Plus a lot more for a "pass roll" (1:2) because most of the energy goes into the ground.