Roquet Shot

A roquet is made when the struck ball hits another ball at rest.

In an attempt at roquet from a long distance, accuracy of aim is the overriding consideration for the striker. With roquets made at short distance, however, it is possible to aim the ball a little off-centre if necessary to move the roqueted ball to an advantageous position on the court (the rush shot). The rush is one of the most important shots in the game: the mechanics of the roquet are thus of interest.

Hoop Running

Successful hoop running depends almost entirely on imparting sufficient forward roll to the ball.

The clearance between ball and hoop is so small that it is impossible for a ball to pass a hoop without at least touching an upright from an angle of more than 8° with the centre line of the hoop. The accuracy required to run the hoop freely from a point as near as 12 inches to the hoop on the centre line is formidable: 1/32" deviation in 12 inches corresponds to an angle of less than one quarter of a degree, or to making a roquet over the full length (35 yards) of the court. If the ball approaches the hoop along the centre line with an eccentricity slightly larger than 1/32" it may pass the hoop after rebounding from one of the uprights. For a slightly greater eccentricity, however, the ball will undergo a series of bounces back and forth between the uprights and, in so doing, may lose its forward momentum and come to rest in the jaws of the hoop. In this process, however, some of the angular momentum may have been conserved and this may carry the ball forward after its momentary arrest.

For a straight or nearly straight hoop run, the usual shot is slow and deliberate. Great care is taken with the aim and the ball is accelerated slowly so that it may acquire the angular momentum necessary to carry through in the event of collision with the uprights. This type of shot, although common, is a foul in that the ball is almost certainly pushed.

A legal method of obtaining high angular momentum is by using a deliberate and slow version of the jump-shot made with the mallet tilted forward.

For wide-angle attempts at hoop running where the ball must necessarily hit one of the uprights almost head on, the jump-shot is useful. If the ball hits the uprights above ground level, there is no occasion for friction from the ground to reduce the angular momentum of the ball: thus, when the ball drops to the ground it may successfully pass the hoop. The shot, well played, enables hoop to be run from apparently impossible angles.

The Straight Roquet

After making a roquet, the striker lifts his ball, places it in contact with the roqueted ball where the latter comes to rest (or on the yard line if the ball has crossed it) and plays a shot on his ball with the balls in contact so that both balls move. This is the "croquet" shot. When the swing of the mallet coincides with the line of centres of the balls, the shot is a straight croquet.

The Croquet Angle of split The angle at which croquet balls diverge in a split croquet stroke. Approach stroke - The approach shot in a game of Croquet A Croquet stroke that is played to position a Croquet ball in front of the croquet hoop in preparation for the following croquet shot or croquet stroke.

Croquet set innovations

Recent innovations from Jaques have included the introduction of coloured pinewood boxes, 6 and 8 player sets for families and more modern presentation packaging. All Jaques' sets are complete and ready to play complete with comprehensive rules.

  Jaques make all types of sets suitable for all variations of the game and at any level; from junior beginners to special content USA sets, limited edition commemorative sets and full competition sets for International Test Matches.

To see the full Jaques collection of Croquet sets along with the Jaques entire Croquet equipment range please click here to visit Jaques London online store.