Golf Croquet - Common striking faults and other hazards

(from the December 2007edition of the ACA Magazine)

Golf croquet is riding a wave of popularity. There are many enthusiastic new players. They are getting the gist of the game, still developing a relaxed style. At this stage, all they need to know is that "shepherding" the ball is not correct. Too much knowledge of faults can inhibit early growth.

However a surprising number of golf croquet players arrive at refereed events not knowing about striking faults and how to avoid them.

One solution is for a club to have regular 15-minute sessions where a common fault is explained in full. Not just for beginners, for anyone interested. New players may not understand fully the first time, but at least they become aware of the problem. More experienced players at these sessions will then know that they can point out a particular fault to a beginner when it happens - instead of just wince and bear it, not wanting to offend. Gradually knowledge of faults is developed.

And when an event is looming  - make time to revise common faults, with time for questions. We can forget how much there needs to be known, to play in a refereed game. Even referees need refreshers.

These are the most common striking faults seen at recent events: 

1. Playing a ball in the hoop, very close to the hoop and playing a ball that is touching the hoop all require special care. Rule 13 deals with this fault but players too often force a ball through a hoop - resulting in the mallet and the ball still being in contact when the ball touches the hoop. (Please avoid using the obsolete term "crush").

2. DOUBLE TAP or, the striker's ball striking the striker's mallet a second time. This will occur when the balls are very close together and are played in a straight line - or when the balls are not too close, and a stop-shot is not used.

3. Pushing a ball (continuous contact) through the hoop is also a fault.

4. When two balls are in or close to the hoop one will often see the striker playing down onto the front ball using the EDGE OF THE MALLET.  Rule 13(a)(5) states that the ball must be struck with the face of the mallet.

Either the striker or opponent needs to call a referee to watch situations where faults often occur.  No offence need be taken when a referee is called to watch.  Never risk being disadvantaged by an innocent (but ignorant) fault.

Even experienced players seem to be hazy on these rules (2007 version):

1. ACCIDENTAL TOUCHING of balls with a foot, mallet etc between play is a non-striking fault and penalties apply. In preparing to play a stroke, the accidental touching of the ball with a mallet is a stroke  and the turn is over.

2. Rule 10, relating to the HALF WAY LINE is often not understood and especially where more than one ball is offside (over half way without touching an opponents ball, etc).  When a hoop is scored, any offside ball may be sent to a penalty spot.  If, however, the first offside ball is played without receiving permission from the opponents, that ball may be recalled and played from the penalty spot. This striker CANNOT take similar action against his/her opponent if there is a further ball offside.  

Note that if your ball is offside and the opponent has already played their ball without directing you, your offside ball is condoned.  Read rule 10 and use it to your advantage.

3. The PLAYING OF A WRONG PARTNER BALL (Rule 11) is no longer a fault in SINGLES.  If discovered, the ball(s) are replaced and the correct ball played.  But in DOUBLES it is a fault, and after the balls are replaced (or left where they stopped) the opponents may SELECT EITHER BALL TO PLAY NEXT.

 

Article written by Johanna Lowe & Barry Nichol