U.S. Rules of Six-Wicket Croquet

How to Play the "American" Form of Garden Croquet

Six-wicket croquet is commonly known as American croquet, and as you'd expect from such a name, it's the most popular version of croquet in the U.S. Though similar in many respects to nine-wicket croquet, six-wicket croquet plays by its own set of rules. Yep, it's the Dirty Harry of lawn games. For example, "deadness," optional in nine wicket, is mandatory in six wicket. Court size and boundary rules also feature important differences. Here, then, are the fundamental rules of American six-wicket croquet.

The Basics

A standard six-wicket court is 105 feet long and 84 feet wide, but a court that's half that size will do, provided the proportions are maintained. American croquet is played with a single stake, which is placed in the center of the court. As illustrated, the six wickets are arranged in triangular fashion on either side of the stake, whereas nine-wicket croquet features a double diamond formation with a stake on each end of the court. Only four balls - blue, black, red, and yellow - are used in six wicket, and each wicket must be scored twice before the final stake point. The striker's ball is placed three feet south of the #1 wicket when beginning play. All wickets must be run in the proper order and direction.

Deadness

The deadness rules of American six-wicket croquet are a major part of its strategy. As in nine wicket, a striker can earn bonus or continuation shots by scoring a wicket (one bonus shot) or making a roquet (two bonus shots), i.e. hitting another ball with his/her ball. However, in six wicket, once a ball has been roquetted, it can't be roquetted again in the same turn unless the striker first scores a wicket. Even if a dead ball is in a hoop/wicket, it can't be struck. However, a dead ball is not allowed to block a wicket for more than one turn. Also, balls that have not cleared the first wicket can't be roquetted.

Striking a dead ball forfeits the turn and all balls are placed in their previous spots, unless it happens during a roquet shot or the dead ball is the croquetted ball of a croquet shot.

Croquet Shot

A roquet shot earns two bonus shots, the first of which must be a croquet shot. To take croquet, the striker places his/her ball directly next to the roquetted ball, and the striker - without using his/her hands/feet, unlike in nine wicket - hits his/her ball, causing the roquetted ball to move. The roquetted ball must move or the turn is forfeited and the balls are replaced. Because of the mandatory croquet shot, it's not always wise for a striking team to roquet, as it may move them out of position to run wickets. Bonus shots are not cumulative, e.g. a roquet made during a croquet shot means the second bonus shot from the first roquet is played as a croquet, not as two new bonus shots.

Boundaries & Out-of-Bounds Play

Out-of-bounds rules are stricter in six-wicket cricket than in nine wicket. For example, a striker's turn is over when any ball crosses at least halfway over the boundary line, with two exceptions:

• The striker's ball after a roquet
• Any ball struck by the striker's ball

Ball replacement rules are also slightly different. Any croquet balls that go more than halfway over the boundary line or come within nine inches of the line are placed nine inches in from the boundary in a direct line from their current position. The only exception to this rule is a striker's ball that comes within nine inches of the line. If the player has a second bonus shot, aka continuation shot, it is played from there. If the striker's ball stopped there after a roquet, it must be moved to play the croquet shot.

Rover Balls

A ball that has cleared all wickets but not yet struck the stake may be used by its team as a rover ball with which to roquet other balls. The deadness rule applies to rover balls. If a rover is dead on at least two croquet balls, it can make them live again by shooting a wicket in either direction or being knocked through a wicket by another ball. If a rover ball hits the stake because of either a striker's or opponent's shot, it is removed from the game.