How to Play Croquet for Beginners: Rules & Set-Up Guide | Ja

The first sound of a croquet game is unmistakable: the sharp, satisfying knock of mallet on ball across a summer lawn. It is a game of patience and quiet mischief, played at a walking pace yet capable of surprising rivalry between friends and family.

Croquet has been part of British gardens for well over a century. A good set is built to last, and the timber matters. Our croquet mallets and hoops are made from FSC-certified hardwood, and our sets are tested to UKCA and CE standards, so the equipment stands up to seasons of outdoor play and family use.

If you have never played, this guide covers everything from setting up the lawn to taking your first shot. Croquet remains one of the most rewarding examples of a garden game, and the rules are easier to grasp than they first appear.

What You Need to Play Croquet: Equipment and Lawn Set-Up

You need four things to play: mallets, balls, hoops and a pair of pegs. A standard set provides four balls in blue, red, black and yellow, along with the mallets to strike them. Our Reigate Croquet Set with Wooden Display Stand gathers all of this into one handsome package, with a stand that keeps the equipment tidy between games.

The hoops are the heart of the challenge. The diameter of a standard croquet hoop opening is 3¾ inches, only marginally wider than the standard ball diameter of 3⅝ inches. That narrow margin, published by the Croquet Association, is what makes accurate striking so demanding and so pleasing when you get it right.

A full-size lawn is generous. Association Croquet regulations set the court at 35 yards by 28 yards, roughly 32 by 25.6 metres. Few gardens offer that space, and few beginners need it.

For your first games, simply mark out a rectangle that suits your lawn and arrange six hoops in the standard double-diamond pattern, with a central peg. Grass that has been mown short rolls truer, though a slightly uneven lawn adds its own character.

You will find fuller equipment notes in the complete guide to croquet rules and setup. If you would rather see the full range before choosing, browse our croquet collection, which sits alongside our outdoor games for warm afternoons in the garden.

The Basic Rules of Croquet Every Beginner Should Know

The aim of croquet is straightforward: guide your ball through all six hoops in the correct order and direction, then strike the central peg to finish. The first side to complete the course wins.

Players take turns in a fixed sequence of colours, usually blue, red, black then yellow. In the singles game one player controls two balls; in doubles, each partner takes one.

The Laws of Association Croquet are maintained and published by the Croquet Association, the national governing body for the sport in England, established in 1897. For garden play you need only the essentials, but those laws are the reference point should any dispute arise.

A turn begins with a single stroke. You earn an extra stroke by running a hoop in the correct order, and two extra strokes by hitting another ball, which is called a roquet.

The roquet is where the real interest lies. After striking another ball you may pick up your own, place it against the one you hit, and drive both forward in a croquet stroke. This is the move that gives the game its name.

Once you have used your bonus strokes, or missed, your turn ends and play passes to the next colour.

The order of hoops follows a set pattern out and back across the court, finishing at the peg. Beginners often keep a diagram to hand until the sequence becomes familiar.

For a plain-language walkthrough, our beginners guide to playing croquet sets out each rule step by step, and croquet rules and how to play covers the finer points.

How to Take Your Turn: Shots, Hoops and Scoring Explained

Every turn starts with one stroke. Address the ball with the mallet face square, keep your grip relaxed, and swing from the shoulders rather than the wrists. A smooth pendulum motion sends the ball far more reliably than a hard jab.

You score a hoop point by running the correct hoop in the right direction. A ball has run a hoop when no part of it protrudes back through the playing side. Given how narrow the opening is, judging the line carefully rewards you with an extra stroke.

When your ball strikes another, you have made a roquet and earn two bonus strokes. The first is the croquet stroke, taken with your ball touching the roqueted ball. The second is a continuation stroke, a free shot to reposition or attempt the next hoop.

You may roquet each of the other three balls once between hoops. Running a hoop resets those chances, allowing you to roquet them again. This is how a skilled player strings together a long, unbroken turn known as a break.

Scoring is cumulative. Each ball needs twelve hoop points, six on the way out and six on the way back, followed by the peg point to complete its course.

Keep track with a scoreboard or clips coloured to match the balls, placed on the next hoop each ball is aiming for. It saves many arguments.

Practising the croquet stroke early pays off, as controlling two balls at once is the single most useful skill in the game. A quality set such as those in our croquet range makes that practice far more consistent.

Simple Croquet Strategy for New Players

Beginners often chase their own ball around the lawn as fast as possible. A better approach is to think about position rather than pace.

Before each stroke, ask where you want the ball to finish, not merely whether it will pass through the hoop. Leaving your ball in a helpful spot for your next turn matters as much as scoring the point itself.

The roquet is your greatest asset. Use it to gather balls together so that a single turn can carry you through several hoops. Two balls kept close allow you to make progress; balls scattered across the lawn leave you stranded.

Defence is part of the game too. In singles, both your balls advance as a partnership, so keep them near one another. In doubles, coordinate with your partner rather than pursuing separate plans.

Do not overlook the value of a defensive shot. If you cannot make a hoop cleanly, it is often wiser to leave your ball where an opponent cannot easily use it, rather than gamble on a long attempt.

Wire your opponents when you can. Positioning a ball behind a hoop leg so their next roquet is blocked is a legitimate and satisfying tactic.

Above all, watch the whole lawn. Croquet was included as an Olympic sport at the 1900 Paris Games, one of the few garden games ever to appear at the Olympics, precisely because it rewards thought as well as touch.

For the wider background to the game's tactics and appeal, the history of croquet is well worth reading.

Croquet Variations Worth Trying in the Garden

The full six-hoop game is only one way to enjoy a croquet lawn. Golf croquet is the most popular variation for newcomers, and it is quicker to grasp. Every player aims for the same hoop, and whoever runs it first wins that point before all move on to the next.

Golf croquet removes the croquet stroke and the long breaks, so games move briskly and everyone stays involved. It is an ideal introduction for children and mixed-ability groups.

For very small gardens, set out fewer hoops in a simple circuit and play a shortened course. The rules stay the same; only the distances shrink. This keeps younger players engaged without a full-size lawn.

You can also invent handicaps, giving less experienced players an extra stroke or a shorter route. Croquet takes kindly to friendly adjustment, and half its charm lies in adapting it to your own patch of grass.

When the weather turns, the same appetite for measured, tactical play carries indoors. Many families move from the lawn to our board games without losing the competitive spirit.

Croquet also sits comfortably among the classics. Explore our traditional games for pastimes with the same long heritage, and see the rest of our outdoor games for summers spent in the garden.

Whichever version you choose, a well-made set repays itself over years of play. Our setup guide for beginners will help you get started this weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Game

How do you play croquet for beginners?

Croquet is a lawn game in which players use mallets to hit balls through a series of hoops in a set order. Each player takes turns striking their ball, aiming to pass through every hoop before their opponents. If your ball passes through the correct hoop, you earn an extra stroke. If you hit another player's ball (a roquet), you gain two additional strokes and can use them tactically. The player or side completing the course first wins. Jaques of London has supplied croquet equipment since the nineteenth century, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

What are the rules of croquet?

The full rules of Association Croquet are maintained by the Croquet Association, the national governing body established in England in 1897. In brief: players take turns hitting their ball through hoops in a prescribed sequence and direction. Striking another ball earns two bonus strokes. Passing your ball through the correct hoop earns one bonus stroke. Balls must be struck cleanly with the mallet face. Garden croquet typically uses simplified rules, but Association Croquet's published Laws provide the authoritative reference for competitive play.

How many players can play croquet?

Croquet is typically played by two, three, or four players. The most common formats are singles (one versus one) or doubles (two versus two). In doubles, partners share a pair of balls and alternate turns. Four-ball games are particularly popular for social garden play. Some informal versions accommodate more players by adjusting the number of balls in use. Whether playing competitively or casually, croquet scales well across these player numbers, making it a versatile garden game for a range of gatherings.

What equipment do you need to play croquet?

A standard croquet set includes mallets (one per player), four coloured balls, six hoops, and a central peg. Standard croquet balls have a diameter of 3⅝ inches (approximately 9.2 cm). Hoops must be firmly anchored into the lawn. For Association Croquet, equipment must conform to the Croquet Association's Laws. For garden play, a quality boxed set from an established manufacturer such as Jaques of London provides everything needed. Mallet weight and handle length vary, so beginners should choose a set suited to their height and playing ability.

How do you set up a croquet lawn?

A regulation Association Croquet lawn measures 35 yards by 28 yards (approximately 32 by 25.6 metres). Six hoops and a central peg are positioned at prescribed points across the court. Hoops must be set firmly upright; the standard hoop opening is 3¾ inches (approximately 9.5 cm) wide — only marginally wider than the ball. Boundary lines mark the edge of play. For informal garden croquet, layout can be adapted to suit the space available, with hoops spaced evenly to create a fair and enjoyable course.

How do you win at croquet?

To win at croquet, your ball (or both balls in doubles) must pass through all the hoops in the correct sequence and direction, then strike the central peg. The first player or side to complete this course wins the game. In timed or points-based garden versions, the winner is whoever has scored the most hoop points when time is called. Strategic play — blocking opponents, taking croquet shots, and planning your route through the hoops — is as important as accurate striking.

What order do you hit the balls in croquet?

In a standard four-ball game, balls are played in a fixed colour sequence: blue, red, black, and yellow, rotating throughout the game. Each player controls one colour (or two in doubles). You may only strike your own ball during your turn. Hoops must be run in a specific numbered sequence, with the direction of play reversing partway through the course. Following the correct order of both ball colours and hoop sequence is fundamental to croquet; playing out of turn results in a fault under Association Croquet rules.

What is a roquet in croquet?

A roquet occurs when your ball strikes another ball on the lawn during your turn. Making a roquet earns you two additional strokes. The first of these is a 'croquet' stroke, in which you place your ball in contact with the roqueted ball and strike both simultaneously, sending them in chosen directions. The second is a continuation stroke, used to advance towards the next hoop or roquet another ball. You cannot roquet the same ball again until you have run your next hoop, keeping tactics fresh throughout each turn.

Can you play croquet on a small garden lawn?

Yes, croquet can be adapted for smaller gardens. While a regulation Association Croquet lawn measures 35 yards by 28 yards, there is no requirement to play to full size in casual games. Simply space the six hoops proportionally to suit your available area and adjust the peg position accordingly. The game remains enjoyable and competitive at reduced scale. Jaques of London offers sets suitable for garden use regardless of lawn size, making croquet accessible to households without a full-size court.

What is the difference between garden croquet and association croquet?

Garden croquet uses simplified rules, smaller or irregular lawns, and is designed for relaxed, informal play. Equipment standards are flexible and the sequence of hoops may vary by set. Association Croquet is the formal competitive game governed by the Croquet Association, established in England in 1897. It follows precise Laws covering lawn dimensions (35 by 28 yards), hoop specifications (3¾-inch opening), ball order, faults, and advanced tactics such as breaks. Association Croquet rewards deep strategic thinking, whereas garden croquet prioritises accessibility and enjoyment for players of all ages and abilities.