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how to play

Croquet Rules: 9-Wicket, Golf Croquet & Scoring

Croquet is the backyard game that looks gentle and turns cutthroat the moment someone sends your ball into the hedge. There are really only two versions you need to know: 9-wicket croquet (the classic six-mallet backyard set) and golf croquet (faster, simpler, easier to teach). I will walk you through both, then cover scoring, the roquet bonus, and the gloriously ruthless poison variation.

2 to 6 (singles or teams) PLAYERS AGES 6+ 5 to 10 min SETUP Flexible; roughly 50 x 100 ft for a full course, less for backyard
Gear check

What you need

  • A standard croquet set: 6 mallets and 6 matching balls
  • 9 wickets (the metal hoops the balls pass through)
  • 2 stakes (one at each end of the course)
  • A reasonably flat patch of grass; perfectly manicured is nice but not required
  • Optional: a measuring tape or string to lay out the wicket pattern evenly
The playbook

How to play croquet

  1. Set up the courseFor 9-wicket croquet, set the two stakes at opposite ends and arrange the 9 wickets in the standard double-diamond pattern between them. Backyard space is flexible. Each player picks a ball and matching mallet, and play follows the color order printed on the stake.
  2. Start each ball into playPlayers take turns striking their ball from a starting spot beside the first stake. The goal is to send your ball through the wickets in the correct sequence, around the course and back, hitting the turning stake and finishing by hitting the home stake.
  3. Take your strokeOn your turn you get one stroke. Strike your own ball with the face of the mallet. If you run your ball through the next wicket in sequence, you earn one bonus stroke and keep going.
  4. Roquet another ball for bonus strokesIf your ball hits another player's ball, that is a roquet and it earns you two bonus strokes. The common backyard reward is to place your ball against the one you hit and 'send' it away, then take a free second stroke.
  5. Finish at the home stakeAfter a ball has cleared all 9 wickets in sequence and tagged the turning stake, it works its way back and finishes by hitting the home stake. That ball is now 'staked out' and removed from play.
  6. Win the gameIn 9-wicket play, the first player or team to run the full course and stake out wins. In golf croquet, you win by being first to the target score.
Keeping score

Scoring

  • 9-wicket croquet: score 1 point each time your ball clears a wicket in the correct sequence, plus 1 point for each stake hit at the right time. A full course is worth 14 points per ball. First to complete the course wins.
  • Bonus strokes are not points, but they are how you rack up wickets fast: clear a wicket for 1 extra stroke; roquet another ball for 2 extra strokes.
  • Golf croquet: every ball plays for the same wicket at the same time. Whoever runs that wicket first scores 1 point, then all balls move to the next wicket. First to 7 points (in a 13-point game) typically wins.
  • Poison variation: once a ball has cleared all wickets and stakes, it becomes 'poison' and can knock any other ball out of the game, but is itself eliminated if hit or sent through a wicket. Last ball standing wins.
Set it up right

Distance & setup

set it up rightThere is no fixed throwing or pitching distance in croquet. The course size is flexible for backyards. A full 9-wicket layout traditionally fits in an area around 50 by 100 feet, but you can shrink the whole pattern to fit a small lawn, then spread it out for a longer game.
House rules

Fun variations

  • Golf croquet: the fast, beginner-friendly version where all balls compete for the same wicket. Great for big groups.
  • Poison: keep playing after you finish the course as a 'poison' ball that hunts everyone else off the lawn.
  • Six-ball teams: in a 6-player set, split into two teams of three by ball color.
  • Backyard handicap: give newer players a wicket or two head start to keep games close.
The rulebook desk

Croquet rules FAQ

What is the difference between 9-wicket and golf croquet?

In 9-wicket (American/backyard) croquet, each ball runs the full course through the wickets in sequence and earns bonus strokes. In golf croquet, every ball plays for the same single wicket at the same time, the first through scores, and there are no bonus strokes. Golf croquet is faster and easier to teach.

What does roquet mean in croquet?

A roquet is when your ball hits another player's ball during your stroke. In 9-wicket croquet it earns you two bonus strokes, and you typically get to place your ball next to the one you hit and send it where you like.

How many wickets and stakes are in a croquet set?

A standard backyard croquet set has 9 wickets and 2 stakes, along with 6 mallets and 6 matching balls. The wickets are arranged in a double-diamond pattern between the two stakes.

How do you win at croquet?

In 9-wicket croquet, you win by being first to run your ball through all 9 wickets in sequence, hit the turning stake, and finish on the home stake. In golf croquet, you win by reaching the target score first (usually 7 points in a 13-point game).

What is a poison ball in croquet?

Poison is a popular backyard variation. Once your ball has cleared every wicket and stake, it becomes 'poison' and can eliminate any other ball it hits. But it is knocked out itself if another ball hits it or if it goes through a wicket. Last ball remaining wins.

Do you need a perfect lawn to play croquet?

No. Backyard croquet is forgiving. Any reasonably flat patch of grass works, and the wicket layout is flexible, so you can spread it out or tighten it up to fit the space you have.

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