THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET

Copyright © 1989 The Croquet Association

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PART 2 - Ordinary Singles Play - B. General Laws of Play

19. PLACING BALLS FOR A CROQUET STROKE

(a) To take croquet the striker must place the striker's ball on the ground in contact with the roqueted ball however he chooses provided that the striker's ball is not in contact with any other ball. Subject to (b) below, no other ball may be moved.

(b) If the striker is entitled to take croquet from a ball which forms part of a 3-ball or 4-ball group (see Law 16(d) ) at the start of a turn, or will do so when the striker's ball is placed in accordance with (a) above, all balls other than the roqueted ball, which may not be moved, become balls in hand immediately and are temporarily removed. They are replaced as follows.

(1) 3-BALL GROUPS. The striker must place the striker's ball and the third ball on the ground in contact with the roqueted ball however he chooses provided that the striker's ball is only in contact with the roqueted ball.

(2) 4-BALL GROUPS. The striker must place the striker's ball and one of the remaining balls as in (1) above and must then place the fourth ball on the ground out of contact with the striker's ball but in contact with one or both of the other two balls.
 

 (c) When placing the striker's ball for a croquet stroke, the striker may touch or steady the roqueted ball or apply such pressure to it by hand or foot, but not by mallet, as is reasonably necessary to make it hold its position, provided that its original position and rotational alignment are not finally disturbed.
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