12. REPLACEMENT OF A BALL OFF THE COURT OR IN THE YARD-LINE AREA

1. ABSENCE OF OTHER BALLS Before the next stroke, subject to Law 12(c) and Law 19:
1. any ball in hand that has left the court must be replaced on the yard-line at the point nearest to where it left the court; and
2. any ball in hand in the yard-line area must be replaced on the yard-line at the point nearest to where it came to rest.
2. PRESENCE OF OTHER BALLS If a ball cannot be replaced in accordance with Law 12(a) because of the presence of:
1. the striker's ball inside the yard-line area; or
2. one or more yard-line balls; or
3. one or more balls outside the yard-line area,
it must be replaced on the yard-line as the striker chooses in contact with any ball that directly or indirectly interferes with its replacement.
3. INTERFERENCE BY THE STRIKER’S BALL If the striker is entitled to take croquet, the striker's ball is a ball in hand and an outside agency until it is placed for the croquet stroke and must not interfere with the replacement of a ball under Laws 12(a) or 12(b).
4. ORDER OF REPLACEMENT If two or more balls have to be replaced, the order of replacement is as the striker chooses.
5. HOW TO REPLACE The striker must replace balls on the yard-line with his back to the court unless he has a choice of replacement positions under Law 12(b) and must take special care to ensure that such replacement is accurate. He must consult the adversary if he is in any doubt whether a ball may have to be replaced in contact with another ball.