TACTICS AND STRATEGY
For Basic Backyard Croquet
Winning strategy depends largely on how many bonus
strokes a side earns, how effectively they are used to score points, and
how successfully the winning side prevents the losing side(s) earning bonus
strokes and scoring wickets.
Attacking - hitting the opponent balls - is often
the best path to winning the game. By attacking, you gain additional bonus
strokes for scoring wickets and putting the opponent balls out of scoring
or attack position.
Attack possibilities are best at Wicket #1 and
following the Turning Stake, when it is possible to clear two wickets in
one stroke and earn two consecutive bonus strokes.
Attacking through a single wicket is frequently
effective by "punching" close enough to an opponent ball for
an easy roquet using the Wicket Bonus Stroke.
A good tactic to impede the other side's progress
around the course is to set a "guard" ball at a strategic point
(positioned to clear the center wicket, for example) that will either prevent
the approach of the opponent or force him/her to waste strokes trying for
a long-distance hit-in.
Avoid scoring a wicket when there is no effective
play to be made with the Wicket Bonus Stroke and your side is not under
threat of attack. Often, a better turn can be played with another partner
ball.
Rover balls are often useful to help a slower
partner complete the course by threatening or attacking opponent balls,
knocking them out of position and allowing partner(s) to proceed more quickly
and safely around the course.
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© 2000 Alwyn Vleesch Dubois, ASB - e-mail us
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