Home › Contents › Terms Used in Croquet

Terms Used in Croquet

To Roquet (pronounced rokay). To hit with one's own ball any other ball for the first time in the turn, or for the first time after making a point. The player is entitled to croquet the ball he roquets.

To Croquet (pronounced crokay). To croquet, or take croquet, the player places his own ball in contact with the one he has just roqueted, and then strikes his own ball with his mallet.

In Play. In Hand.

When a player strikes his ball at the beginning of the game it is "in play." When he has made a roquet with it, it is "in hand" until croquet is taken. After the croquet it is "in play" till the next roquet is made. Striker. The player who is in the act of playing, or has the right to play. Player or Next Player. The adversary's ball which is next to play. Dead Ball. The adversary's ball which has just been played. Object Ball. The ball at which you aim your own, or off which you take croquet.

Break. The play by which a number of points are made in the same turn. Thus if three points are run in proper order, it is a break of three points. Rover. A ball that has made all the points except the winning peg. Out and In. The player who has the command of the balls is said to be "in," or to "have the break"; while the other side is "out."

Wiring. When a ball is so placed that a hoop or peg lies directly between it and another ball, it is said to be "wired" for the latter. The full size is 40 yards long by 30 wide. But a very good game may be had on a smaller ground. The boundaries should be accurately defined by a tape or cord, or by a gravel path or bank. Wire netting, 6 or 8 inches high, is very useful for keeping the balls from running off the ground amongst the shrubs or flowers. The turf should be kept well rolled and mown by a mowing machine.