The official rules
Bush Croquet is a New Zealand established game and any alterations to these rules must be referred to Bush Croquet.com
These rules were established in 2000 updated 2024.
Starting a game
The turn and order of play
Passing through a hoop
Roquet rules
Playing from boundaries and obstacles
Going for poison
Playing with a poison ball
Ending the game
Penalties
Sledging and gamesmanship
Refereeing and dispute settlement
Let’s get started…
1.0 Starting a Game
1.1 At the start of play, players must line up roughly adjacent to the "start stick," facing the first hoop.
1.2 The order of play is determined by agreement between the players. If no agreement about start order can be reached, players should
follow the dispute resolution procedures set out in section 11 below to determine the order of play.
1.3 Each individual player advances around the course by passing through the course’s six hoops in the correct order. In other words, the
first shot is generally made as an attempt toward or through the first hoop.
1.4 The order of play is maintained throughout the game. To aid play, players should take note of who they follow with their first turn.
2.0 The Turn and the Order of Play
2.1 A turn is made up of one or more strokes or shots, where a stroke or shot consists of a player striking his or her ball with a mallet.
2.2 A turn consists initially of one shot only. However, extra shots can, in general play, be earned in two ways:
2.2.1 If a player’s ball passes at least halfway through the next hoop in the sequence, the player is entitled to another shot (termed a “through
shot”).
2.2.2 If the player’s ball hits another ball (makes a “roquet”) the player may take one additional shot, according to the rules for roquet play set out in section 4 below.
2.3 A player’s turn ends when she has made all the shots to which she is entitled, or if a penalty is incurred. The next player, as determined by the start order, then begins his turn.
2.4 Any player who does not take their shot within two minutes of their turn coming around will forfeit that turn, and will generally be asked to fetch drinks for the other players.
3.0 Passing Through a Hoop......
3.1 Players move around the course by passing through the course’s six hoops in the required order.
3.2 A player’s ball must pass through a hoop from the side (that is, in the direction) designated as the correct side by the course designer, before that player can shoot for the next hoop.
3.3 A ball is held to be through a hoop when more than half of the ball has passed through.
3.4 Whether a ball can be said to have passed through a hoop is determined by where the ball finally comes to rest. This means that if a ball passes more than halfway through a hoop, but then rolls back and comes to rest so that less than half of the ball is through the hoop, the ball will be held to not yet be through.
3.5 A player taking any shot, including a roquet shot, may also take another player’s ball through a hoop. This act is known as “making a friend”.
3.5.1 When making a friend, the player who made the through shot is entitled to an additional shot, as described above.
3.5.2 The player who has been taken through the hoop must wait for his next turn, and is then free to shoot for the next hoop in the sequence or, if applicable, the poison stick (see "Rules for Ending a Game" below). Making friends is, in life, generally an admirable pursuit. And so it is in bush croquet. Note, though, that bush croquet friendships seldom last ...
3.6 Players may pass through a hoop in the incorrect direction as a means of gaining position on the course. A player who attempts this does not earn a through shot, and must still pass through the hoop in the correct direction before moving on to the next hoop.
4.0 Roquet Rules
4.1 A player performs a roquet by striking another player’s ball during general game play. This includes any instance in which a player’s ball ricochets from any obstacle or boundary marker prior to hitting another player’s ball.
4.2 The exception to the above rule is that a roquet shall not be granted if a player’s ball hits any hoop before hitting another player’s ball. If this should occur, the player’s turn comes to an end.
4.3 Once a player makes a roquet, the player can then pick up his ball and place it so that it is touching the displaced ball. The player is then allowed to take one additional shot (termed a roquet shot).
4.3.1 Note that a player may decide to decline the roquet, in which case her ball remains where it has come to rest following the shot, and her turn comes to an end.
4.4 When taking a roquet shot, a player must strike her ball so that the ball to which it is adjacent also moves. If the other ball fails to move when a player is taking a roquet shot, the player incurs a penalty, as set out in section 9 below.
4.5 Players may roquet from more than one ball during a given turn. However, during each turn a player may roquet only once from each other player’s ball.
4.6 If during a turn a player’s ball passes through a hoop, the player may then again roquet once from all other balls.
4.7 No player may make a roquet before his or her ball has passed through the first hoop.
4.8 Once a player’s ball has passed through the first hoop, that player can then roquet from any other ball, including those that have not yet passed through the first hoop and all those that have passed through subsequent hoops.
5.0 Playing from Boundaries and Obstacles
5.1 If a player’s ball comes to rest in, over, or within two mallet-head lengths of any obstacle or boundary, such that the player’s next swing will be obstructed, the player is allowed to seek relief.
5.2 Relief is gained by moving the ball two mallet-head lengths from the obstacle or boundary.
5.2.1 The course proprietor must state before the start of play whether relief will be taken at right angles to the obstacle, or along the path of entry to or into the obstacle.
5.2.2 The course proprietor must also state which of the following two spots relief will be granted from:
5.2.2.1 the spot at which the player’s ball first struck or entered the obstacle or crossed the course boundary; OR
5.2.2.2 the spot at which the player’s ball ultimately comes to rest.
5.3 A ball that leaves and then re-enters the field of play, or that strikes an obstacle but ultimately comes to rest in a playable position, will be played from the position at which it finally comes to rest.
5.4 Relief must be taken before the next player takes their turn, so that all balls are in play at all times.
Rules for ending a game
6.0 Going for Poison
6.1 Once a player’s ball has passed through the final hoop, the player is allowed to take a single shot at the poison stick. This shot at the poison stick is a through or continuation shot, and is to be taken immediately upon passing through the final hoop.
6.1.1 The continuation shot through the final hoop does not have to be a shot at the poison stick. This continuation shot may instead be used to reposition the player’s ball, if, for example, a clear shot at the poison stick is not available. That player’s turn will then be over.
6.1.2 The player may not roquet when taking this continuation shot, regardless of whether the player is shooting for the poison stick.
6.2 If the player misses the poison stick when taking her shot, the player’s turn is over. The player must again pass through the final hoop before another shot at the poison stick can be taken.
6.3 If the player hits the poison stick her ball becomes a poison ball.
6.4 if a players next shot after missing poison accidentally strikes another ball then a roquet shot cannot be taken.
7.0 Play with a poison ball
7.1 Upon becoming poison, a player can then pursue and kill (i.e. eliminate) the balls of the remaining players.
7.2 The first “poison shot” or “kill shot” is to be taken immediately following the striking of the poison stick, as a continuation shot.
7.3 Any ball that is struck by a poison ball has been killed and is to be removed from the course. The player whose ball has been killed is eliminated from the game.
7.4 Any player who accidentally hits a poison ball with their own ball is also killed and eliminated.
7.5 Every time a poison player kills another player a continuation shot is granted.
7.6 If a ball that is already poison strikes the poison stick a second time, then the poison ball is killed (and the poison player eliminated).
7.7 If a poison ball strikes any of the hoops, the poison ball is “de-poisoned” (i.e. loses its status as a poisoned ball) for three turns.
7.7.1 With a de-poisoned ball in play, all players must continue to play in turn, with the de-poisoned ball being played as though it is a ball in normal play.
7.7.1.1 This means that players can roquet from a de-poisoned ball
7,7.1.2the player with the de-poisoned ball cannot perform roquets and must not interfere with general play.
7.7.2 On completion of the de-poisoned player’s third turn after striking the hoop, their ball is again poison.
7.8 A player with a poison ball must generally make a reasonable effort to hit another player’s ball with each shot. A poison player is, though, granted a number of “wuss shots” – shots that are not genuine attempts to hit another player’s ball.
7.8.1 A poison player starts with two available wuss shots.
7.8.2 Before taking a shot, a poison player must announce to all other players whether the shot will be a genuine shot or a wuss shot.
7.8.2.1 If the player accidentally strikes another player’s ball while taking a wuss shot, that player’s ball will not be killed, but will instead remain in the game. In other words, a poison ball can only kill another ball when the player has taken a genuine shot.
7.8.3 If a player is hiding his ball in or behind an obstacle, a poison player can make a genuine shot by making a reasonable attempt to hit the other player’s ball.
7.8.4 Every time a poison player makes a genuine attempt to kill another ball, his wuss shot counter resets to the maximum allowable two wuss shots.
7.8.5 A poison player’s wuss shot counter will also be reset to two if another player strikes the poison stick and becomes poison.
7.9 If more than one ball becomes poison in any game, the poison players must try to kill one another’s balls to win. All of the above rules apply.
7.9.1 A wuss shot must be at least one full mallet length long. If the wuss shot is shorter than this then the player forfeits their place in the game.
8.0 Ending the game
8.1 The game ends when one ball remains. A player wins by having the last remaining poison ball.
Penalties, sledging, and dispute resolution
9.0 Penalties
9.1 The following actions will result in a penalty:
9.1.1 Striking another player’s ball when attempting to take a shot;
9.1.2 Striking a hoop prior to hitting one’s own ball when attempting to take a shot;
9.1.3 Pushing or double-hitting one’s own ball, rather than striking the ball with a single sharp blow;
9.1.4 Failing to cause the adjacent ball to move when taking a roquet shot;
9.1.5 Moving or otherwise interfering with one’s own or another player’s ball.
9.2 If a player incurs a penalty, the player's turn is over. His ball must be picked up and moved one whole mallet length back (i.e. away from the next target hoop or poison stick) from the point of the infraction. All other balls shall be left in their post-infraction position.
10.0 Sledging and other forms of gamesmanship
10.1 Bush croquet is a game that, at its best, transforms the best of friends into the fiercest of opponents. This aspect of the game is encouraged via various forms of gamesmanship. The following forms of sledging (vocal expressions of rivalry) are essential parts of a bush croquet game:
10.1.1 Bitter croquet-related arguments about the interpretation of rules, placement of hoops and obstacles, etc (see dispute settlement below);
10.1.2 Cutting comments about the style of play, equipment, dress, or demeanour of other players;
10.1.3 Distracting comments about anything unrelated to bush croquet, particularly if these comments have to do with drinking or a particular player’s poor showing in other forms of sporting contest.
10.2 The subtle art of effective sledging is a large part of bush croquet’s allure. Ultimately, though, bush croquet is a highly competitive game played by groups of friends. The spirit of the game should always be protected. As such, the following forms of gamesmanship are discouraged:
10.2.1 Physically interfering with another player’s shot, either by altering the course layout just prior to or during a player’s turn, or by taking some other physical action to obstruct a player’s clear swing of the mallet (e.g. standing behind a rival player and placing one’s own mallet head in the path of the rival player’s swing);
10.2.2 Loudly talking or otherwise making distracting noises while a player is taking his or her shot. (Sledging, in other words, should only take place before and after a player’s shot has been completed);
10.2.3 Any interference with a player’s drink, or any other form of misplaced aggression.
10.3 Unofficial bush croquet sanctions can be harsh. In particular, players who routinely breach the above-stated guidelines may find that they don’t get invited to too many bush croquet parties.
11.0 Refereeing and dispute settlement
11.1 All players (and spectators) at a bush croquet game are responsible for refereeing the actions of all other players (and spectators).
11.2 Any disagreement concerning rules, play, etiquette, or any other matter, is, in the first instance, to be settled by consensus on the basis of group discussion. All of those playing the game, along with all spectators, are encouraged to participate in this first attempt at resolution of a dispute.
11.3 The dispute will be considered resolved when a consensus decision has been reached, or, if consensus cannot be reached, when the instigators of the argument have stopped whining.
11.4 If the whining does not abate following a group discussion, a binding determination shall be made by the proprietor of the course. In tournament play, the current holder of the trophy shall also be consulted when interpreting and enforcing the rules.