Where did croquet originate?
Croquet, a game that involves using a mallet to hit a ball through a hoop, was traditionally thought to have originated in France, probably around the fifteenth century.Recent research suggests, however, the modern form of the game was first played in Ireland and, from there, it transferred to Britain.
How to play croquet for beginners?
There are three actions which cause the back ball to catch up with the forward ball:
- The stroke is played with plenty of follow through - a sweeping action.
- The mallet face is brought down at an angle of ~45° into the striker's ball and finally
- The mallet is held very close to the head.
When was croquet invented?
The first known documentation of croquet is a set rules for croquet written by Isaac Spratt in November 1856 in London, England. There are a couple theories about the initial invention of croquet. One stemming from the game Pall Mall in 1685, and the other from Ireland in 1850.
What rhymes with croquet?
Words that rhyme with crochet include buffet, array, assay, away, bouquet, display, okay, survey, decay and gray. Find more rhyming words at wordhippo.com!
Who invented croquet game?
When Was Croquet Invented? The first known documentation of croquet is a set rules for croquet written by Isaac Spratt in November 1856 in London, England. There are a couple theories about the initial invention of croquet. One stemming from the game Pall Mall in 1685, and the other from Ireland in 1850.
Where did the game of croquet originate?
"Croquet is a very old game, widely known and practised in France since the XI century under the name of 'jeu de mail'. Borrowed by the British around 1300, it was modified over the centuries: the Scots made golf out of it, the Irish turned it into croquet.”
Did Ireland invent croquet?
It is generally agreed that the game croquet emerged from Ireland around 1850 where it was known as crookey, a word with its root meaning as a hooked stick. A northern European origin for the game is possibly evidenced in the 17C.
Who wrote the rules for croquet?
The person responsible for this was a man called Walter Whitmore Jones, who was born and lived at Chastleton in the 19th century. The rules of Croquet were first codified by a former resident of Chastleton, Walter Whitmore Jones.
Is croquet French or British?
"Croquet is a very old game, widely known and practised in France since the XI century under the name of 'jeu de mail'. Borrowed by the British around 1300, it was modified over the centuries: the Scots made golf out of it, the Irish turned it into croquet.
How did croquet get its name?
The Chambers dictionary lists croquet as a northern French dialect form of crochet, meaning a little crook. It is generally agreed that the game croquet emerged from Ireland around 1850 where it was known as crookey, a word with its root meaning as a hooked stick.
Is croquet an Irish game?
The Origins of Croquet The origins of the game are obscure and it may well have had ancient beginnings, but it is clear that wherever it came from, it was developed in Ireland in the early part of the nineteenth Century.
What do they call croquet in England?
Croquet (French: croquet; /ˈkroʊkeɪ/ (UK) or /kroʊˈkeɪ/ (US)) is a sport that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops (often called "wickets" in the United States) embedded in a grass playing court....Croquet.CharacteristicsWorld GamesNo10 more rows
What has the Irish invented?
1885: The Cream Cracker was invented by Joseph Haughton in his home in Dublin and first manufactured by William Jacob in his bakery in Dublin. 1888: Gregg Shorthand created by John Robert Gregg. 1894: Joly colour screen created by John Joly. 1897: Modern submarine design created by John Philip Holland.
What is a croquet player called?
Rules of Golf Croquet. There are four balls, blue, red, black and yellow, which must be played in that order (the colours are painted on the centre peg to act as a reminder). The hoops, peg, and other balls cannot be moved to facilitate play. The person whose turn it is to play is called the striker.
Is croquet a gentleman's sport?
Croquet was quite popular with women and was one of the first games played in the United States by both sexes. To this day, it is the only sport in which men and women compete with a similar handicap.
How do you play American croquet?
3:507:36How to play Croquet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhile the ball is in the position of contact with the ball that was hit with the strikers ball notMoreWhile the ball is in the position of contact with the ball that was hit with the strikers ball not held by the foot or hand the striker may hit their ball.
Where did croquet originate?
The second theory is that the rules of the modern game of croquet arrived from Ireland during the 1850s, perhaps after being brought there from Brittany, where a similar game was played on the beaches. Regular contact between Ireland and France had continued since the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. By no later than the early 15th century, the game jeu de mail (itself ancestral to pall-mall and perhaps to indoor billiards) was popular in France, including in the courts of Henry II in the 16th century and Louis XIV of the 17th.
What is a croquet?
Croquet ( French: croquet; / ˈkroʊkeɪ / ( UK) or / kroʊˈkeɪ / ( US )) is a sport that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops (often called "wickets" in the United States) embedded in a grass playing court.
What happens after a croquet stroke?
After the croquet stroke, the player plays a "continuation" stroke, during which the player may again attempt to make a roquet or run a hoop. Each of the other three balls may be roqueted once in a turn before a hoop is run, after which they become available to be roqueted again.
What is the game of croquet called?
Croquet ( French: croquet; / ˈkroʊkeɪ / ( UK) or / kroʊˈkeɪ / ( US )) is a sport that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops (often called "wickets" in the United States) embedded in a grass playing court.
How big is a croquet lawn?
The rules are easy to learn and the game can be played on lawns of almost any size but usually around 32 feet wide (9.8 m) by 40 ft long (12 m). The rules are similar to those described above for Association Croquet with three major differences:
What are the two forms of croquet?
Two forms of the game, association croquet and golf croquet, have rules that are agreed upon internationally ...
How do you win a hoop in croquet?
In golf croquet, a hoop is won by the first ball to go through each hoop. Unlike association croquet, there are no additional turns for hitting other balls. Each player takes a stroke in turn, each trying to hit a ball through the same hoop. The sequence of play is blue, red, black, yellow.
When was croquet invented?
The first known documentation of croquet is a set rules for croquet written by Isaac Spratt in November 1856 in London, England. There are a couple theories about the initial invention of croquet. One stemming from the game Pall Mall in 1685, and the other from Ireland in 1850. The first theory of croquet’s invention is said ...
Where did croquet originate?
Croquet originated from a game Irish locals used to play called ‘Crookey’ in 1834 at Castlebellingham, according to the earliest known documents on the subject. Crookey involved multiple balls on the court at a time, but there is no record of rules for the game or how it was played.
Where is croquet most popular?
Croquet is most popular in England. While the United States has many professional leagues and clubs, as well as recreational players, croquet has been most popular in England since its inception in the 1850’s as a professional sport and a recreational activity. In the US and Canada, 9-Wicket croquet is the most popular and usually what’s referred ...
When was croquet first played?
Croquet had officially started in England in 1868. Before any clubs were formed and meets were established, croquet was played very rarely, mostly by affluent or upper-class people. By 1870, croquet had spread throughout England and her colonies.
Who published croquet rules?
Isaac Spratt is credited with registering a set of rules of croquet, from a game he saw played in Ireland around 1856. John Jaques went on to publish official rules and editions of croquet in 1857, 1860, and 1864. Helping advance croquet’s popularity and spread the game around the world.
Which countries played croquet?
Croquet spread to other countries as well during this time, countries including; Canada, New Zealand, United States, South Africa, and Australia all took up the game of croquet.
When was Pall Mall invented?
Although, Pall Mall is similar to croquet, the first rules written up in 1857 by John Jaques were based off a game he witnessed being played in Ireland. One thing only is certain: it is from Ireland that croquet came to England and it was on the lawn of the late Lord Lonsdale that it was first played in this country.
History Of Croquet – Jacks London
Jaques London is one of the higher end Croquet manufactures. Their history runs long and deep. The Croquet inventor (At least in England) was John Jaques II. He won a place in sporting history and a Gold Medal (still in the families possession) for introducing Croquet to England at the Great Exhibition in 1851.
History Of Croquet – New Croquet sets
I really like the look of this Teak Croquet Set. It retails for $735. It was created in 2008 combines smart design and quality construction to create a modern interpretation of the classic lawn game.
Where did croquet originate?
The game of croquet spread across the South of England, particularly along the coast, where Whitmore was based. The first club to be set up was at Worthing, in West Sussex in 1860. Following the formation of these croquet clubs, a national centre in London was founded – the All England Croquet Club at Wimbledon. Unfortunately, controversy soon took hold, with Whitmore setting up a rival organisation called the National Croquet Club. Although this organisation did finally merge with the All England Croquet Club, Whitmore continued to cause fractures, and set up another rival croquet organisation, which was wound down when he passed away in 1872.
When did croquet resurgence occur?
Although tennis almost caused the demise of the game of croquet, and it’s popularity significantly waned, it proved a resilient game, and a resurgence occurred in the 1920’s, after the first World War. With the introduction of more clubs, a growing middle class, the game began to be played more and more. As had happened before though, the Second World War was to once again nearly bring about the demise of the game. This time many croquet clubs were forced to close. As a game of leisure for the middle class, croquet has been at risk numerous times - but each time, in the following decades has seen a significant revival.
What happened to croquet in the Second World War?
As had happened before though, the Second World War was to once again nearly bring about the demise of the game. This time many croquet clubs were forced to close. As a game of leisure for the middle class, croquet has been at risk numerous times - but each time, in the following decades has seen a significant revival.

Overview
Variations
There are several variations of croquet currently played, differing in the scoring systems, order of shots, and layout (particularly in social games where play must be adapted to smaller-than-standard playing courts). Two forms of the game, association croquet (AC) and golf croquet (GC), have rules that are agreed upon internationally and are played in many countries around the world…
History
The oldest document to bear the word croquet with a description of the modern game is the set of rules registered by Isaac Spratt in November 1856 with the Stationers' Company in London. This record is now in the Public Record Office. In 1868, the first croquet all-comers meet was held at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire and in the same year the All England Croquet Club was forme…
Glossary of terms
• Backward ball: The ball of a side that has scored fewer hoops (compare with 'forward ball').
• Ball-in-hand: A ball that the striker can pick up to change its position, for example:
• Ball in play: A ball after it has been played into the game, which is not a ball in hand or pegged out.
In art and literature
The way croquet is depicted in paintings and books says much about popular perceptions of the game, though little about the reality of modern play.
• In 1868 a song titled Croquet (essentially anonymous: by M.B.C.S and W.O.F.) was included in a popular song book by W. O. Perkins, The Golden Robin (Pub. Oliver Ditson & Company, New York). ("Upon the smoothly shaven lawn, Benea…
Clubs
About 200 croquet clubs across the United States are members of the United States Croquet Association.
Many colleges have croquet clubs as well, such as The University of Virginia, The University of Chicago, Pennsylvania State University, Bates College, SUNY New Paltz, Harvard University, and Dartmouth College. Notably, St. John's College and the US Naval Academy engage in a yearly mat…
See also
• Croquet Hall of Fame
• Extreme croquet
• Jaques of London
• US intercollegiate croquet champions
• Roque
External links
• A Synopsis of the Laws of Association Croquet, from Oxford Croquet
• Synopsis of American Croquet, from the United States Croquet Association
• The official rules of Backyard Croquet (nine-wicket layout), from the United States Croquet Association