Popular Pastimes for Field and Fireside, or Amusements for young and old

by Caroline L. Smith

[The rule usually given, i. e., to place the ball a mallet’s length from the post is very well for a large ground where the distance from post to bridge is nine or ten feet, but for a small ground it brings the ball too near the first bridge.]

1. In striking, the mallet should be used with one hand, and the striker should stand on one side of, and not behind the ball.

2. The ball must be struck and not pushed—a push never being allowable under any circumstances; and the blow must be given with the face—never with the side—of the mallet head.

[A ball can never get into such a position on a croquet-ground that it cannot be struck in some direction, and if it is in a bad position it is either the fault or the misfortune of the player owning the ball—which he is not to be allowed to rectify by a push, for that would sometimes be rewarding bad play.]

3. Whenever the mallet hits the ball, if it moves it however slightly, it must be considered a stroke.

4. The player may if he wholly miss his ball, strike at it again.

II. The game is opened by the chief holding the ball corresponding in color with the top of the post, and the players on the two sides follow alternately according to the order of the colors on the posts.

[The playing must necessarily be in the order of the colors on the post. But on some grounds the chief is allowed to assign the balls to the several players on his side according to his own choice; thus according to this rule the chief is not compelled to play the first ball. We do not advise this practice as there is generally some real or fancied difference in the mallets and hence a chief is liable to offend some one in the distribution of the materials. There are other objections which we have not space to discuss.]

1. A player who misses the first bridge is called a booby, and at his next turn must strike his ball from the position to which it last rolled.

[The above rule is based upon the almost universal practice of the best players in this country. The following is gaining favor in England: “A ball missing the first bridge must be immediately picked up and played from the starting spot, at its next turn.” Both practices have peculiar advantages over the other, which we have not space to discuss.]