croquet Hoops

Earlier, the professional game of croquet required a player to pass the ball through twelve croquet hoops. Over the years the game has developed into a backyard activity as well as a professional sport and is enjoyed by people of all ages around the world. This has resulted in the American six-wicket croquet version which allows for only six hoops on the course.

Traditional croquet hoops

Championship croquet hoops are traditionally made from 5/8” diameter metal. They form a 12” high hoop. The gape of the wicket is usually 3-3/4” between the jaws. Generally the hoops are painted white but they can also be of bare metal. The first hoop usually has a blue top and the last hoop a red one. The final hoop is commonly referred to as the rover. You will find a carrot shape at the end of the hoop leg. These carrots are normally heavy and form a conical shape. Traditional croquet hoops are made from cast iron and have a rough finish. These are favoured by both Jaques and Townsend.

Modern croquet hoops

These are made from welded steel bars and they offer a smooth finish. However, these hoops may let the ball slip through. This variety is favoured by Omega and Aldridge. Omega uses offset rotatable carrots to offer an adjusting mechanism to set the hoop gap correctly. Both traditional and modern croquet hoops are used for tournaments and are therefore more expensive.

Garden hoops

These croquet hoops have a wider gap, thinner uprights, extended legs and no ‘carrots’. You should opt for thicker uprights as they are more firm. A professional player may not favour the garden variety especially for hoop running practise as hard shots get through quite easily. It is best for garden play.

Do you need extra hoops?

The game of croquet relies heavily upon the presence of the croquet hoops. Due to the fact that hoops are a means to score points and are landmarks for positioning in the game, they do come under fire often. It is not uncommon for a croquet hoop to be battered by the mallet of an over ambitious player attempting to get his or her ball through the wicket. If you are having a tournament with friends, you should Croquet Mallets as backups just in case you happen to lose or break one.

For more information visit this Croquet Sets Giant Garden Games and Garden Games