S.H.A.F.T.

SHAFT

An easy way to a good swing.

S. Stalk the Ball:

Walk behind the ball and stalk it like a HUNTER stalking its prey. The line-up begins here. Most of your accuracy comes from a taking a good look at the shot. Back up enough to get a better perspective. When you have the line, walk up to your ball at a normal pace with your normal walk.

H. Head Down:

Your ability to strike the ball well relies on watching the ball. Focus on hitting the ball, not on hitting the target. Make sure you are perfectly centered around the ball. Your mallet shaft should be pointing at your nose and the mallet should be in the center of your stance. When you swing, you need to keep your head down to watch the mallet swing through the center of the ball.

A. Aim and Adjust:

Once you are settled in position, start your practice swing. Use the natural pendulum to aim and adjust your stance to get the swing more precisely on target. Try not to make any major changes to your stance without re-stalking the shot.

F. Follow Through:

It is necessary for the mallet to strike through the ball and not slow down (too much) in order to hit the ball straight. This is true for most ball striking sports (golf, racquet sports, bat sports). Be sure to keep your head down until you are well into this follow through.

T. Take a Bow:

A job well done should be appreciated, even if you miss the target.

Association Rules Tactics

Association Rules Openings:

With the exception of a few advanced players and those with a death wish, the decision to play first in an Association Rules game is one of tempered realism. They don't believe the opponent can hit. For that matter, they don't think they will hit in on third turn either, which is why they run from the baulk line. The goal of the player who plays first is usually to control the game on the fifth turn. The most common first shot is to the maximum distance (or slightly south/west of it) on the east boundary. Fifth turn is special because the player is not required to start from the baulk line, and they are the first to have the freedom to play either of their balls. Their wager, so far, is that they could take advantage of this turn and start the game in control. Alternatively, the opposition is hoping against hope.

The second ball in an association rules game can play it conservative. If they feel the opposition cannot make a good offensive play or a nice leave, they can play to a defensive position to make all fifth turns more difficult. On the other hand, the second ball may play to an enticing position that leaves a risky shot for the third ball and the possibility of a seemingly short shot on fourth turn. In this case, the player is optimistic. “The opponent may miss, but I will not,” is the mantra. Most openings follow these philosophies. It is the games where neither player gets a break going that interest me.

The Mid-Game:

When the situation leaves striker with an easy roquet, but no odds on opportunity for offense, the tactical possibilities are endless. When American players complain about the lack of strategy in the association game, it becomes annoyingly clear that they have never tried to play a canny turn in which they must position all four balls in beneficial positions without making a hoop. Those five to seven shots can yield incredibly shrewd positions if the striker has a clever sense of sadistic humour.

The basic priorities of an association leave are: 1) make hoops, 2) separate the opponents while giving the striker or partner an easy play, and 3) make the opponent's play as difficult as possible. If there is a better than 75% chance to make a hoop, take it. Otherwise, change to the second priority of separating the opponents.

There are many beneficial positions one can occupy while fulfilling the simple task of separating the opponents. The striker may join near the boundary (with a rush is better) while leaving the opponents more than 4 yards on court. Positioning the opponents in useful positions like your hoops or pioneer hoops is preferable. One of the best leaves involves cross-wiring the opponent balls at the hoop you wish to make. This leaves them blocked from hitting each other while quite close in proximity to your hoop. Whichever ball the adversary plays, they will leave one of their balls at that very hoop (that is, unless they hit in). This leave is nearly impossible for beginner players as it requires incredible luck or skill to end your turn with the opponents in such a precarious position. A much more likely, and thus useful, leave is to finish the turn joined with your partner ball near either one of your hoops while leaving the opponents on court (hopefully at useful pioneer hoops). If this is a corner hoop, you can leave a trap discouraging any shots at your balls while leaving a possible break. At the very worst, with both opponent balls separated, the next turn should yield at least one point scored before you must focus on separating the opponents once more.

Every so often, you are left with a difficult shot to start the turn. If you are not confident that you will have more than one shot this turn (let us say, under 50%) it is important to put yourself in the opponent's shoes. Which ball, if left in its current position, is most helpful to the adversary. The best play may be to take that ball away. Next, consider your easiest shot. This shot could maximize your chances of taking control. Last, but not to be forgotten, is the risk of missing these shots. Which of these misses will cost us the most and truly aid the opposition.

I apologize for not going into specifics, but these general guidelines apply to the multi-faceted scenarios that arise in the midst of a match. Hopefully any one of these lessons can help on multiple occasions during your journey into the madness that is competitive croquet.

Backing the Ball

Backing the ball is a concept that works best in American rules (hence the example) but can be used in the Association game and 9-wicket quite often. The concept is to discourage an opponent's shot at a ball on court. In this example the striker (Blue) has an opportunity to move the ball in question, but this play can work from a distance when moving the on court ball is not an option.

So Blue has just made hoop 2, but realizes that hitting partner will not give her a great (90% or better) chance of making hoop 3. With partner on court and no spent ball in the game (yellow is still for hoop 1) setting up partner is too risky. In fact, Red is so close and has Black at its hoop that he will assuredly try to hit that ball. Blue's best option is to go out of bounds, but there's only one place that will truly discourage Red's shot. Anticipating Red's line of play (Red dotted line), Blue shoots out of bounds behind the Black ball (Blue Line). This adds a huge risk to Red's supposed shot and encourages Red to take a less aggressive shot, like cornering.



Whew! Crisis averted.

Note: This will not work when Red has another ball to hit (i.e. Yellow).

A Guide to Attacking

In American Rules, a major step between beginners and intermediate players is the ability to attack. Even at the top level, there are players making mistakes as to how and when to attack. Here is a somewhat lengthy guide to the whole concept. Check out the croquet glossary if any terms confuse you.

An attack is when a player (we'll call her, the striker) roquets a ball in an attempt to go to other balls rather than going to the striker's hoop. Many goals and strategic priorities may be satisfied with a well executed attack including making the very wicket she seems to be avoiding. As with most tactics, timing is everything. Towards the end of the game, an attack may be defensive or solely a means for running down the clock. In most circumstances, however, the striker has offense in mind when attacking.

In the best attacks, the striker makes her hoop on the current turn. This opportunity is ripe when the opponent leaves a ball or two near the striker's wicket or both balls joined close enough to ensure a rush (more on that later) and near by the striker's hoop so as to minimize the risk of missing the wicket (while three ball dead). Occasionally the opponents are between the striker's current and next hoops. In this case she can rush to the pioneer hoop, take off to the other balls, and manufacture a rush to her wicket to earn a quick 3-ball break, with the fourth ball ready for an easy pick up.

Most attacks are meant to set up the partner ball. These plays cater to proficient break runners because often the striker ball finishes the turn three ball dead. The only justification for such a risky play is the partner making a handful of hoops and possible leaving the striker in position at (if not peeling her through) her hoop.

Setting up the partner ball is an art in and of itself, but the basic concept is to leave partner with a ball close enough to hit (a rush is better, and liveness is paramount) and a ball at his hoop (or pioneer hoop if deadness or location is an issue). The last component of any good set up is nullifying the danger ball. The danger ball, or hot ball, is the next ball to play. If the danger ball has deadness, the striker can get crafty but often the best bet is to isolate the hot ball, leaving it far from any hit in chances.

The key to easy attacks is to begin with a rush. If the striker can get close to the other balls, the more opportunities she has. Depending on the difficulty of the court or the needs of the partner ball, the striker may roll both balls close to the target balls or just take off. Frequently, the striker should hit the spent ball (that just played) and put it close to partner while trying to get a rush (on the danger ball) towards the striker's hoop. If partner is not close to the opponents, it may be wise to either hit the spent ball and send it away (to partner or his hoop) or hit the danger ball, get a rush on the spent ball to the striker's wicket or a location that helps partner.

Ther is more than one way to skin a cat, but the important part is to accomplish the goals in question with very little risk. If it is possible to end the attack with a big croquet shot towards position at the wicket. Every so often the striker may end up with an wasy hoop shot or a shot that, if missed, will end in a position that helps partner (his current or next hoop) without helping the danger ball.

There are always confounding factors in an attack, but the differences make the game that much more interesting. Sometimes the striker must take off to the attack, or roll close to a boundary ball from great distances. Whatever the case she must know the goals, the risks, and the contingency plans. There is always another option, but if she finds the correct play, she must not be afraid to put on the blinders, keep her head down and execute.

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