Croquet: As played by the Newport Croquet Club

by Anonymous

2. The mallet must be used with one hand, and the stroke must be a blow.

With balls and mallets of the standard size, there is no necessity for using both hands. It is difficult to draw the precise line between a legitimate blow and a push. In every blow the mallet follows the ball a little, for it takes a small interval of time for the momentum of the mallet to transfer itself to the ball; but in the push a new impulse is given to the ball every instant, and this may act unfairly; for instance, a ball is to be roqueted at a distance of six inches or a foot. If the playing ball is pushed until it reach the other ball, the latter is virtually moved by the mallet as much as in the roquet-croquet, instead of being moved by concussion merely. This would be inconsistent with the theory of the game. Again, a ball is in contact with the pier of its proper bridge so that it cannot run it by a blow. If a push be allowed, it might be pushed into position, and then pushed through by slightly changing the direction of the mallet. It would thus be played in a curved line. It may be objected to this rule that the vicinity of the stake or the piers of a bridge may render a blow impossible; but a little attention will obviate the necessity of playing in constrained positions.

3. The stroke is delivered when an audible sound is made or the ball moved.

The habit of giving the ball a little preparatory tap should be avoided. It is allowed to strike the pier of a bridge or the stake with the view of moving the ball by concussion; but if the ball do not move the blow is complete, and the error in judgment cannot be rectified.

4. The tour of a ball continues as long as it makes a point, and terminates with the first blow on which no point is made.

5. To make a point a ball must either make a step on the grand round or roquet another ball.

Croquet is not considered a point, because it is not a play of the player's own ball but a privilege, after which the tour is continued by virtue of the roquet.

6. Each ball before striking out must make every step on the grand round in the prescribed order, either directly by a blow of the mallet, or indirectly by concussion or croquet.

"Directly by a blow of the mallet"—that is, during the ball's own tour, whether proceeding from the mallet immediately, or by rebound from a fixed object or the person of an enemy. "Indirectly," not during its own tour, when moved by another ball or accidentally.

7. Making the proper step on the round, but no other, constitutes a point, or entitles to continuance of tour.