c/o Mersey Bowmen Tennis Club, Aigburth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 1AP
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
26
The target winning score - 12 hoops with each ball, plus two points for hitting the peg. In British notation, scores are given as a difference, e.g. +17, rather than the absolute scores, e.g. 26-9. To '26' an opponent is to beat them by the maximum margin, +26 or 26-0.
14-point
A shortened game where each ball completes half a circuit (six hoops) only
1-back, 1b
The seventh hoop
2-4 leave
The Maugham Standard Leave
2-back, 2b
The eighth hoop
3-back, 3b
The ninth hoop
4-back, 4b
The tenth hoop
A-Baulk
The baulk line on the South boundary
A-Class Player
A technically accomplished player who plays Advanced Rules
Advanced Rules, Advanced Play
Additional rules with penalties for running certain hoops, to prevent one-sided games between A-class players
All-Round Break
12 hoops scored in a single turn
Alternate Colours
Balls of different colours, allowing two independent games to be played on the same lawn. Usually, Green, Pink, Brown and White replace Blue, Red, Black and Yellow
Anti-duffer
An Advanced Play opening, to discourage an opponent from playing a Duffer Tice
Approach Shot
a croquet stroke to place the striker's ball in position to run the next hoop
Aspinall Peel
A peel from an acute angle, in which the peelee is jawsed in a croquet stroke, and then hit again by the striker's ball
Association Rules
The official international rules of croquet
Aunt Emma
A player who appears more concerned with hindering their opponent rather than trying to progress themselves. Generally considered to be a dull way to play the game
B-Spread
An inadequate attempt at a Diagonal Spread Leave
Back Peel
A peel immediately after the striker has run the hoop from the other side, e.g. through 4-back after Hoop 3
Backward Ball
The ball of a side which has made fewer hoops than the other
Baillieu Double
A large target where all of the other balls are almost in line, but often with one ball further away than the others
Ball In Hand
a ball which must be picked up and placed - either the striker's ball before a croquet stroke, or any ball which has left the lawn
Baulk Lines
The starting lines, covering the left half of each of the South and North boundaries
B-Baulk
The baulk line on the North boundary
Bisque
An extra turn in Handicap Play
Blob
To fail a hoop, with the ball landing in the jaws of the hoop
Boundary
The edge of the playing area
Box
The clip position of a ball after it's been pegged out
Break
an uninterrupted series of strokes in which a player's ball runs a number of hoops in order
Break Down
to make an unsuccessful shot, which causes a break to end
Cannon
A croquet stroke in which three or four balls are touching, and may be moved at the same time
Casting
Taking practice swings above the ball
Centre Stance
the traditional stance in which the mallet is swung between the legs
Clang
To fail a hoop, with the ball bouncing off one of the uprights. Often played with considerable force
Clip
a marker coloured to match each ball, indicating which is the next hoop
Clippage, Clip Positions
The position of the four clips. Hence, the status of the game
Clips of Death
an awkward clip position, particularly under Advanced Rules, where one ball is for 1-back and one is for 4-back
Condone
to let an opponent's fault go unclaimed; the fault becomes a legal play, with no penalty on the striker
Contact
A penalty under Advanced Rules, allowing the opponent to start their turn with an immediate croquet stroke
Contact Leave
An Advanced Play leave made after conceded a contact, designed to make progress difficult for the opponent
Continuation Stroke
the extra stroke played after a croquet stroke or running a hoop
Controlled Hoop
A hoop run so that the striker's ball comes through to a specific spot
Corner
The intersections of the four boundaries; to play a ball defensively into a corner
Corner Ball
A ball positioned precisely in one of the corners
Corner Two Opening
An Advanced Play opening, where the second ball is placed just outside Corner 2
Court
Formal name for a croquet lawn
Critical Distance
The distance from which a player expects to have a 50% chance of hitting
Croquet Stroke
the stroke following a roquet in which the striker's ball is placed touching the roqueted ball, and hit so that both balls are moved
Croqueted Ball
The ball that is moved but not struck in a croquet stroke
Crosspeg
to position two balls so that the peg lies directly between them
Crosswire
to position two balls so that a hoop lies directly between them
Crown
the top of a hoop
Crunch Up
To beat someone decisively and quickly, generally +26 in two all-round breaks
Crush
a fault in which the ball is squeezed between the mallet and the hoop
Cut Rush
a rush in which the object ball is sent off at an angle
Death Roll
a transit peel with no escape ball, played as a full roll - usually peeling penult while going directly to a pioneer at 2-back or 3-back
Deem
To decline to play a stroke to which a player is entitled (so ending the turn)
Deep
(a pioneer) placed well beyond the hoop
Delayed
(A peeling break) where the peels are made later than the easiest schedule
Diagonal Spread Leave, D-spread, DSL
An Advanced Play leave in which all four balls are placed in a straight line diagonally across the lawn, so that the opponent's balls are wired by the peg
Distance Ratio
The ratio of distance travelled by each of the balls in a croquet stroke
Dolly Rush
An easy rush - a straight rush with the two balls less than a foot or so apart
Double Banking
playing two independent games simultaneously on one lawn
Double Tap
a fault where the ball is struck more than once with the mallet
Double Target
A target of more than one ball so that a player may shoot at the middle of the group of balls
Dream Leave
A leave (usually in Advanced Play) played on the third turn of the game, where two balls are left with a rush at the third. The fourth ball has to hit or face the prospect of a break from the opponent
Drive
A basic croquet stroke in which the croqueted ball moves between three and five times as far as the striker's ball
Duffer Tice
An Advanced Play opening, in which the second ball is placed mid-lawn, near Hoop 6
East
the side of the lawn on which Hoops 3 and 4 are placed
Enemy Ball
a ball of the opposing side
Escape Ball
a ball positioned ready to be roqueted after peeling another ball
Fault
an error made in hitting a ball, resulting in the immediate end of the turn
First Colours
Blue, Red, Black and Yellow
For (a hoop)
requiring the next hoop in order
Forcing
restricting the tactical choice of the opponent
Forestall
to intervene during the opponent's turn before a fault is likely to be played
Forward Ball
the ball of a side which has scored more hoops than the other
Forward Rush
a rush after a hoop, pointing in the direction of the break
Four-Ball Break
a break using all three of the other balls
Free Shot
a shot at a ball(s) which gives little or no advantage to the opponent if missed
Full Bisque
a form of handicap play where both players have a number of bisques
Full Roll
a roll in which the striker's ball moves the same distance as the croqueted ball
Furniture
the hoops and the peg
Golf Croquet
a version of the game where each hoop is scored only by the first player to run that hoop, and there are no continuation strokes
Grievous
an accidental, and undesirable, peg-out - usually by rushing a ball onto the peg
Guarded
positioned near a boundary, to exploit a miss from the opponent
Half Jump
a jump shot which (deliberately) doesn't quite clear a ball
Half-Bisque
a restricted extra turn in Handicap Play, in which no score may be made for any ball
Half-Roll
a croquet stroke in which the striker's ball moves about half the distance of the croqueted ball
Hammer Stroke
a stroke hitting down on the ball, and played facing away from the direction of travel
Hampered
prevented from a normal swing by a hoop, other ball, or the peg
Handicap
a number assigned to a player to indicate his ability
Handicap Play
a version of the game in which the weaker player receives a number of extra turns equal to the difference in the two players' handicaps
Heel
the mallet face that does not strike the ball
High Bisquer
a player with a numerically high handicap
Hit In
to make a long roquet at the start of the turn
Hogan Roll
A massive full-roll from a corner to the furthest hoop
Inner Rectangle
The area enclosed between the first four hoops
Innings
control of the game, by being joined up when the opponents are separated
Inplayer
The player with the innings
Irish Grip
A grip with both palms facing forward
Irish Peel
A straight peel in which both the striker's ball and the peelee score the hoop in the same stroke
Jaws
The area within the uprights of a hoop; to place a ball in the jaws
Join Up
To position the striker's ball close to the partner ball
Jump Shot
a shot which causes the striker's ball to leave the ground
Lay A Break
To position the balls ready for a subsequent break
Lay Up
To prepare a leave
Leave
Deliberate placement of the balls at the end of a turn
Level Play
Play without bisques
Lift
To remove a ball from its position on the lawn, and play it from one of the baulk lines, either because of a wiring, or under Advanced Rules
Long Bisquer
a high bisquer
Long Point
The point furthest from either baulk - roughly in the middle of the East or West boundaries (about 19 yards from either baulk line)
Low Bisquer
A player with a numerically low handicap
Maugham Standard Leave (MSL)
An Advanced Play leave, where the opponent's balls are left very close behind Hoops 2 and 4
New Standard Leave (NSL)
An Advanced Play leave, where the opponent's balls are placed near to Hoop 2 and close behind Hoop 4
Non-Playing Side
the area beyond a hoop, from which side the hoop may not be scored
North
The side of the lawn on which Hoops 2 and 3 are placed
Object Ball
A ball which is being croqueted
Octuple Peel (OCP)
A break in which another ball is peeled through its last eight hoops and pegged out
Old Standard Leave, OSL
A simple Advanced Play leave, rarely used at the top level
Open
not wired
Opening
The first four turns of the game, in which each of the four balls is brought into play
OTP (Opponent's Triple Peel)
Describing a game in which the opponent completed a TPO, but went on to lose the game
Outplayer
The player who does not have the innings
Partner Ball
The ball of a side which is not the striker's ball
Pass Roll
A roll in which the striker's ball travels further than the object ball
Pawnbroker
A target that's three balls wide
Peel
To send another ball through its hoop
Peelee
A ball that is peeled
Peg Out
To remove a rover ball from the game by causing it to hit the peg
Pegged-Out Game
A game in which one or two balls have been pegged out
Penult
The eleventh (penultimate) hoop
Pick Up
To create a break, usually from an uncompromising position
Pioneer
A ball placed at the next hoop, to make the approach to that hoop easier
Pivot
A ball, usually placed near the middle of the lawn, used to simplify croquet strokes in a break
Playing Side
the area in front of the hoop, from which a hoop may be scored
Plummer
A measure of lawn speed. The number of seconds taken for a ball to travel 35 yards (i.e. stopping on the North boundary when struck from the South boundary)
Policeman
A ball placed within hitting range of an opponent, in the hope of exploiting any mistake
POP
A peel on the opponent, intended to reduce their manoeuvrability
Posthumous Peel
A peel through a hoop which the striker's ball has already scored earlier in the break
Primary Colours
same as First Colours
Promote
To cause a croqueted ball to collide with another, to improve its position
Pull
The inward curl on a croqueted ball caused by side-spin
Push
A fault in which the mallet is kept in contact with the ball after impact
Quadruple Peel (QP)
A break in which another ball is peeled through its last four hoops and pegged out
Quintuple Peel (QNP)
A break in which another ball is peeled through its last five hoops and pegged out
Reverse Take-off
A hoop approach from the non-playing side, played as a take-off
Riggall
To peg out a single ball, usually the opponent's
Roll
A croquet stroke in which the striker's ball travels further than in a drive
Roquet
a shot in which the striker's ball hits another ball, earning two extra strokes
Rover
The twelfth (and last) hoop; a ball which has run rover
Run
To send the striker's ball through its hoop
Rush
A roquet which sends the object ball to a specified position
Rush Line
An imaginary line along the direction of a rush
Rush Peel
A peel scored with a rush stroke
Scatter Shot
A continuation shot which hits a previously croqueted ball, to try to leave a defensive position
Score
To send a ball through its hoop
Scratch Player
A player whose handicap is zero
Second Colours, Secondary Colours
Alternate colours
Sextuple Peel (SXP)
A break in which the striker peels another ball (usually partner) through its last six hoops, and pegs it out. Used under Advanced Rules to avoid all lifts
Short Bisquer
A low bisquer
Short Croquet
A 14-point handicap game played on a half-sized lawn, popular with less experienced players
Side Stance
A method of hitting a ball in which the mallet is swung alongside the body.
Solomon Grip
A grip in which the knuckles of both hands point forwards
South
The side of the lawn on which Hoops 1 and 4 are placed
Split Shot
A croquet stroke in which the striker's ball travels in a different direction from the object ball
Squeeze
A leave in which both opponent balls are advantageously placed. Whichever ball is moved gives a promising outcome for the striker
Stake
American term for the peg
Stalk
To aim a shot by standing back and walking towards the striker's ball from a distance
Standard Grip
A grip in which the lower hand holds the mallet with the palm forward, and the upper hand with the knuckles facing forward
Standard Opening
The traditional tice opening
Standard Triple (Peel)
A triple peel where the three peels are completed at the first, and theoretically easiest, opportunity
Stop Shot
A croquet stroke in which the striker's ball travels less far than in a drive
Straight Peel
A peel in which the striker's ball and the peelee are for the same hoop
Straight Triple (Peel)
A triple peel well behind the standard schedule, in which all three peels are played straight
Striker
The player whose turn it is
Striker's Ball
The ball being played by the striker throughout the current turn
Supershot Opening
A high level Advanced Play opening, in which the first ball is placed mid-lawn
Sweep
A means of playing a hampered shot with a horizontal mallet
Take-Off
A croquet stroke where the object ball barely moves
Tea-Lady
A leave giving a cross-wire and a long shot; also used to describe the subsequent attempt to hit the long shot
Three Ducks
An Advanced Play leave, played after a break has been completed before the fourth ball has been brought into the game
Three-Ball Break
A break using the striker's ball and just two others
Tice
A ball placed close enough to tempt the opponent into shooting
Tice Opening
A common opening, in which a tice is placed on the West boundary
TPO
A winning Triple Peel on the Opponent, gaining the advantage of a pegged out game
Transit Peel
A peel played when the striker's ball is in transit between two other hoops
Trap
Laying up near the boundary, to deter an opponent shot
Triple Peel (TP)
A break in which the striker peels another ball through its last three hoops and pegs it out. Most common in Advanced Play
Triple Target
Three balls almost in a straight line, to give a wide target for the striker
Two-Ball Break
A break using just the striker's and one other ball
Two-Ball Game
A game in which two balls have been pegged out
USCA Rules
the rules published by the United States Croquet Association
Vertical Spread (VSL)
An Advanced Play leave, where the opponent's balls are hidden behind Hoops 5 and 6
Wafer Cannon
A cannon where a third ball is arranged, almost but not quite touching the striker's ball
West
the side of the lawn on which Hoops 1 and 2 are placed
Wicket
American term for a hoop
Wide Join
a defensive position on the boundary, where two balls are close enough to hit but far enough apart to make the opponent's progress difficult
Windscreen-Wiping
Successive missed roquets requiring the use of several bisques
Wire
The upright of a hoop; to position a ball so its shot is blocked by a hoop
Wired
Blocked from hitting another ball by a hoop or the peg
Wiring Lift
A lift granted when a player is left with no open shot at any ball
Wylie Peel
A transit peel in which the peelee is used as a pioneer at another hoop, then rushed into peeling position and immediately peeled
Yard Line
the unmarked line one yard in from the boundary, usually measured by a mallet's length
Yard Line Area
the space between the yardline and the boundary
Glossary reprinted from Complete Croquet: A Guide to Skills, Tactics and Strategy by James Hawkins