Croquet - Nine-wicket Croquet

Nine-wicket Croquet

Nine-wicket croquet, sometimes called "backyard croquet", is played mainly in the United States, and is the game most American casual players call simply "croquet". This version of croquet varies from six-wicket croquet in that there are nine wickets, two stakes, and players usually compete individually with a single ball, with up to six players competing. The course is arranged in a double-diamond pattern, with one stake at each end of the course. Players must navigate one side of the double diamond, hit the stake, then navigate the opposite side of the double diamond and hit the starting stake to win the game.

Unlike six-wicket croquet, where each time a ball is roqueted a croquet shot must be taken, players have four options after roqueting another ball. These reflect the more individual aspect of nine-wicket croquet. The options are:

• Nothing: The player may leave the ball where it came to rest, and take 2 shots.
• Mallet-Length: The player may place his ball a mallet-length or less from the ball he hit, and take 2 shots.
• Croquet: As in six-wicket croquet, the player may place his ball next to the ball he hit, and strike his ball in such a way that both balls move. He may then take one more "continuation shot"
• Hand/Foot Shot: The player may place his ball next to the ball he hit, place his hand or foot on top of his ball, then strike his own ball such that his opponent ball moves while his own ball remains in place. He may then take one more "continuation shot". A foot shot is sometimes called a "buggy ride."

Ordinarily, the first person to finish the course wins the game. However, some players prefer to use an endgame procedure called "poison". In poison, once a player has finished the course, his ball becomes "poison", which allows him to eliminate other balls from the game by roqueting them. If a non-poison ball roquets a poison ball, the standard roqueting options apply, but if a poison ball travels through a wicket or hits a stake for any reason, it forfeits and is eliminated from the game. The last person remaining is the winner.