USCA Stock Photo

Probably the biggest adjustment when transitioning from nine-wicket croquet to the six-wicket game is the reduction of options after roqueting a live ball. The nine wicket game offers a range of choices for your first bonus shot:

1. You can play your shot from a distance of one mallet head (9") or less from the roqueted ball.
2. You can use the most famous shot in croquet. Place your ball in contact with the roqueted ball and use your foot or hand to secure your ball. It's the ultimate stop shot.
3. A simple croquet shot where your ball is placed in contact with the roqueted ball. You can perform a split roll here, a stop shot or a simple takeoff.
4. And the final option (unique to nine-wicket) is playing your ball where it lays.

For the six-wicket game, it is simple. Once you roquet a live ball, go ahead and pick it up because you'll be playing a shot in contact with the roqueted ball. There is no option for placing your foot or hand on your ball on your bonus stroke so forget all about that one. You can play a split roll, stop shot or simple takeoff. The key for the takeoff is that you have to hit into the roqueted ball enough so that it visibly moves. If the ball does not move, it is a fault. The balls are reset and the turn is over.

The Nine to Six Series (Highlighting Differences Between Nine-wicket and Six-wicket Croquet)

Part One -- Clearing Deadness
Part Two -- Post Roquet Options
Part Three -- Boundaries
Part Four -- Wiring
Part Five -- Rover Balls

More on this series: The series endeavors to describe changes that nine wicket players will encounter when they try out the U.S. rules six wicket game. There's a lot of quality information on six-wicket on the internet, but some of it seems pretty complex and is presented all at once. The aim here is to slice this into smaller concepts to allow players to absorb as needed. Also, I need to clarify that I have been playing the six-wicket game for just one-year and have not attended tournaments. So, more experienced players should feel welcome to chime in using the comments and clarify if I am leading people astray. I do think my inexperience is useful in that the concepts are fresh in my mind. Also, for players making the jump to six-wicket, I assume the basics of the game are understood.