|
|
A feature of the game of croquet is that, like snooker, it is possible to stay in play and score more than one hoop in a turn. Making more than one hoop in a turn is called making a break.
The sequence Roquet-Croquet-Continuation enables you to stay in play to make a break. This can happen quite early in the game of Aussie Croquet when you have introduced the Take Off into the game. The player quickly discovers that the Take Off croquet stroke can transport the striker's ball to a distant site with a continuation stroke to use when it gets there.
In the diagrams below, the court is set up by hand with the Black ball placed at Hoop 3, Yellow at Hoop 2 and Blue at Hoop 1.
.
Diagram A shows a practise break for when the player has just learnt the Take Off croquet stroke.
This practice break not only practises the take off stroke, it also demonstrates how the take off can transport the striker's ball long distances to another target to continue a break. The player will notice that when they go through a hoop it is not always easy to roquet again because the croqueted ball is left behind. This prepares the way to introduce the split croquet stroke as a hoop approach. The break also demonstrates that the break is limited because you run out of pioneer balls at hoop 4.
Diagram B: Using the Split shot as
a hoop approach.
Once the split shot croquet stroke
is introduced as a hoop approach stroke, this practise break can
be repeated. I usually introduce the split stop shot approach after a few
games of Aussie Croquet with the Take Off
(to get the player used to the Roquet-Croquet-Continuation process).
I introduce this stop shot hoop
approach at Hoop 2 during a game of Aussie
with Take Off. The player can see the limitaions of the Take Off
as a hoop approach, except when the ball roqueted is already behind the
hoop, and appreciates the need for the split stroke approach. I teach it
quickly so the game can progress. You reinforce it as each player does
their hoop approach.),
This practice break allows the player to practise the stop shot approach to a hoop and get used to aiming both balls in the split stroke. The player will notice again that the break is limited because they run out of pioneers after Hoop 3. This can be a good opportunity to demonstrate how a RUSH (R) can transport a ball to a distant destination where they can pick up the striker's ball and take croquet, in this case at Hoop 4.
Diagram C: Using the croquet stroke
to place the pioneer ball.
If there is no ball waiting at your
next hoop, the problem can be posed - "so how can you get a pioneer ball
to the hoop after the one you are approaching instead of relying on the
opposition to leave a ball there for you?"
Answer - use the split croquet stroke
to project the croqueted ball ahead to subsequent hoops.
The Black ball halfway between Hoops 1 & 2 is called a PIVOT BALL because, being around the centre of the court, the break pivots around it as you go from hoop to hoop. At this stage Red will keep returning to it to take off to the pioneer at the next hoop.
This practice break uses all the strokes introduced - the Take Off (T), the Rush (R) and the variety of ratios needed to place both balls in the croquet stroke. 1/5 for close hoop approaches, 1/3 to load Hoop 3, 1/5 to load Hoop 4. I introduce all these breakmaking sequences while playing AUSSIE CROQUET because it keeps players playing a game. Because Aussie Croquet starts the game in Hoop 1 to overcome the time consuming, defensive traditional start to a game of Association Croquet, players will not experience a hoop approach to Hoop 1. These Practice Breaks do give the player a chance to practise breaks from Hoop1 in preparation to playing with the traditional opening. Practise breaks also give the player a chance to practise strokes and ball movements without worrying about the competitive aspects of the game and can be valuable to do when practising by themselves.
