THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET

Copyright © 1989 The Croquet Association

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PART 2 - Ordinary Singles Play - C. Miscellaneous Laws of Play

28. PLAYING A WRONG BALL

(a) PLAYING THE PARTNER BALL AT THE START OF A TURN (1) If the striker, having elected to play with one of the balls of his side under Law 8(b)(1) , plays with the partner ball and the error is not condoned, that stroke is invalid, no points may be scored thereby, the balls are replaced in their lawful positions and the striker continues his turn without penalty in accordance with Law 8(c) .
(2) The error is condoned if it is not discovered before the second stroke of the striker's turn. In that event, the partner ball is deemed to be the striker's ball for that turn.
(b) ALL OTHER CASES (1) In all other cases, if the striker plays a wrong ball and the error is not condoned, that stroke and any subsequent strokes are invalid, no points may be scored for any ball thereby, the balls are replaced in their lawful positions before the first stroke in error and the turn ends. If the first stroke in error should have been a croquet stroke, the striker's ball is then placed in any lawful position to take croquet provided that it is not within the yard-line area. If the error is committed in the first stroke of one of the first four turns of the game (see Law 38(c) for handicap play), the correct ball is placed at any point on either baulk-line as the striker chooses. (See Law 38(h)(2) for handicap play).
(2) The error is condoned if it is not discovered before the first stroke of the adversary's next turn. In that event, the first stroke in error and any subsequent strokes are deemed to be valid and the halls are not replaced but the only points scored are (A) when the striker plays any ball in error, points scored in order for any other ball by peeling; and
(B) when the striker plays the partner ball in error, points scored in order for it (but see Law 40(d) for doubles play).
(c) PLAYER UNABLE TO PLAY CORRECT BALL. If, as a result of Law 28(b) , the player of the third or fourth turn of the game finds that both his balls have already been played onto the court, the game shall be restarted (See Law 38(h)(3) for handicap play). 
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