12. PLACEMENT 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 placed 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 placed on the yard-line at the point nearest to where it came to rest.
2. PRESENCE OF OTHER BALLS If a ball cannot be placed 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 placed on the yard-line as the striker chooses in contact with any ball that directly or indirectly interferes with its placement.
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 placement of a ball under Laws 12(a) or 12(b).
4. ORDER OF PLACEMENT If two or more balls have to be placed, the order of placement is as the striker chooses.
5. HOW TO PLACE The striker must place balls on the yard-line with his back to the court unless he has a choice of placement positions under Law 12(b) and must take special care to ensure that such placement is accurate. He must consult the adversary if he is in any doubt whether a ball may have to be placed in contact with another ball.