If you’re looking for a fresh challenge that blends GC and AC, Ricochet is definitely worth a try!
The main distinction is that if you strike (roquet) another ball (a live ball), you earn an extra (continuation) stroke – both balls remain where they land. However, the ball you hit becomes dead and, while you can still strike it, doing so will not generate an additional stroke.
This extra stroke after ricocheting off a live ball opens up a range of strategic possibilities, particularly when running a hoop isn’t immediately viable at the start of your turn:
- Ricochet into position – Play a well-placed stroke to ricochet off another live ball, stopping your ball in front of the hoop. Then, use your continuation stroke to run the hoop.
- Refine your position – If your initial stroke isn’t ideal, use your continuation stroke to ricochet off a second live ball, improving your setup for the hoop run.
- Chain ricochets for optimal placement – If necessary, use multiple ricochets off live balls to maneuver into the best position before taking your final hoop attempt.
Order of Play
Starting in the same place as Golf Croquet play in strict GC order: Blue, Red, Black, Yellow.
How a Turn Ends
Your turn ends when:
- You have no further extra strokes to play.
- A fault or error occurs.
- A hoop is run.
How the Game Ends
Each hoop run scores one hoop for the player/team. The game concludes when a player/team scores seven hoops (level play). A six-six draw is settled via the Golden Hoop.
The Tactical Side of Ricochet
Beyond the core mechanics, Ricochet offers layers of strategy:
- If you can’t run a hoop, how do you best position your ball to improve your chances next turn – without giving your opponent an advantage?
- Just like in Golf Croquet, clearing an opponent’s ball can be crucial, making it harder for them to execute their ricochet shots effectively.
A Simplified Version of Australian Ricochet
This version of Ricochet is a streamlined adaptation of the Australian rules, which lean more towards Association Croquet than Golf Croquet. This version was created by AC players at Colchester Croquet Club as a winter alternative to AC, allowing players to stay active and avoid long periods of sitting in the cold while preserving key AC strokes to maintain their skills.
GC rules apply in all but two circumstances, both adopted from AC rules. First, accidental contact before an intended strike does not automatically count as a stroke. Second, any offside balls, regardless of how they reached their position, are relocated to either the middle of the east or west boundary.
If you’re looking for a fresh challenge that expands the strategic element of GC, Ricochet is definitely worth a try!
In the following video it’s black to play from behind the hoop. Fortunately, he can see a path to getting his ball in front of the hoop and scoring it. Once black runs the hoop taking the point it’s yellow’s turn who now makes his way to the next hoop.