Backyard Croquet Drills: Long Split/Roll

This is my favorite drill to do when I feel like I need to work on my long game. Of course, the best thing to do is to just get as many balls and you can gather, pair them up and work on your long splits at a 25-40 foot range sort of rapid-fire, but this is a little more fun while incorporating some long wicket shots and short game work. If you don't yet have your split shot under control, take a look at the videos on the USCA Nine-wicket site.

It starts near wicket #5 (Figure 1). Attempt a long split/roll to put the blue ball out in front of six while positioning red to be played (Figure 2) after blue makes six (Figure 3).

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Contact red (Figure 4) then split again (Figure 5) leaving blue in front and red on the far side of seven. Then run wicket seven (Figure 6).

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Depending on the location of red you can either play off red or go directly to the take. In this case, I'd go directly to the stake, then contact red (Figure 7). Split again for wicket nine (Figure 8). Score wicket nine (Figure 9), then contact red (Figure 10) again (yep, it's the same pattern).

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Another short split (Figure 11). Score wicket ten (Figure 12). Then contact red (Figure 13).

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Now, you'll attempt the long split for wicket #11 (Figure 14). Depending on your skill on the long split, it can make for a long wicket shot (Figure 15). After you score 15, contact red and run the drill in reverse heading back to wicket 10/6.

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