CROQUET COACHING:  Pivot Balls

If you are playing a rush-drive game, the pivot should be placed one third (or your drive ratio) the way between the anticipated spot to where you will roquet the reception ball after making the hoop and the desired position of the pioneer you will place at hoop plus one, and one yard towards the next hoop you are heading toward. After making the hoop you then drive the pioneer ball into position, and get the striker’s ball on the rush line of the pivot so you can rush it to the next ideal pivot position. If all balls are in good position, then you take off to the receiver at the next hoop.

Rarely do you get the balls into ideal positions, and there are three tactics you can use to maximise your chances of keeping the break going. These are all parts of the moving pivot way of making a break. Many top players prefer to rush the pivot to a point where they can croquet it into position while getting a rush on the receiver to their hoop. They prefer not to do take offs from a central pivot.

Grooming the Court When in a Break – Three Scenarios

1. Pioneer is Wayward (not within two paces of the hoop and on the playing side – except for 1-back where you load on the non-playing side, about level with hoop 6)

You have attempted to send the pioneer ball forward to hoop plus one and you have not succeeded. Can you roquet the pivot ball to a position where you can send it to hoop plus one (or towards hoop plus one to increase your chances of making that hoop) while getting your striker’s ball to within roqueting distance of the receiver at your next hoop? If the receiver is very wayward you may not attempt this shot as the rush to the hoop is more important than a good pioneer at your next hoop.

2. Wayward Receiver (as above for pioneer)

Before you approach the previous hoop, check the next receiver. Place the balls so that in the croquet stroke after making the hoop you can load ahead and get a rush on the pivot ball onto the rush line of the wayward receiver. Rush the pivot ball onto the rush line, then send it back towards the next pivot position while approaching the wayward receiver along its rush line to the hoop.

3. Three Balls Close to the Hoop (and the 4th ball a good pioneer)

Quite often when you are using a moving pivot to maximise your control around hoops you get three balls within three to six paces of the hoop (seems to happen most often around 1-back). Remember to keep balls close enough to ensure gaining an accurate rush (i.e. do not deliberately rush the ball a long way away and have to come back that distance with accuracy). Send the receiver ball towards the next pivot position, and get a rush on what was the pivot ball to the border near your next hoop. Send the ex-pivot forward as the next pioneer and the striker’s ball into position for roqueting the receiver. This tactic is sometimes called changing the pivot [or pivot reversal].

As well as using this tactic in the above way, it is used when the striker wants to change the balls so that there is an opponent ball at the last hoop to be made in the break. Top players (and those aspiring to the top!) prefer to make the last hoop in a break off an opponent ball as this increases the possibility of setting up a good leave. They can then position opponent balls before getting a rush on their partner ball to a border (or equal roll it there if they do not get the rush) and set up the desired rush from a few feet away.