The document provides instructions for improving stroke play in croquet. It recommends a preparation process that includes using a walk line to align the shot, taking a normal stance position, and employing a smooth, flat swing motion followed by a follow through. It describes the basic strokes of single ball, clearance, stun, split, and jump shots and emphasizes the importance of the preparation process for each shot.

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How to
Improve Your Stroke
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Before you take any shot there is a preparation process that must be
completed and practised until it becomes second nature. Only then
can you be confident that you will play the shot that you intended!
Must Do List.
1. Use the Walk Line
2. Stalk the ball
3. Take the normal stance position
4. Employ a smooth flat swing
5. Keep your body and head still throughout the stroke
6. Follow through with the mallet
For all stroke the standard ‘Must Do’ list must be completed.Click to move
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STROKE PREPARATION

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Stalk Line
Walk Line
Always walk to the beginning of the stalk
line, at least 3 meters from the object ball.
Walk along the stalk line which aligns the
object ball and its target (in this case the
hoop). Ensure your aim is aligned and
adjust the positioning of your feet if
necessary. Run the hoop!!
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Once you have stalked the ball, your feet
must be parallel with the aiming line and
equidistance either side of the aiming
line. The mallet will always travel along
the line defined by the position of the
feet!
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If you walk directly to the object ball
there is every chance that you will not
align your feet correctly, with the
inevitable resultant miss!
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If your feet are not correctly aligned,
remember, the mallet will always travel
along the line defined by the position of
the feet!
The line that
the mallet will
travel because
the feet are
misaligned!The intended
aim line!
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Basic Strokes
1. The Single Ball Stroke
2. The clearance Shot
3. The Stun Shot
4. The split Shot
5. The Jump Shot
For all strokes the standard ‘Must Do’ list must be
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TYPES OF STROKE

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The Single Ball Stroke
Once you have completed all the preparation for the shot, swing the mallet
back between the legs and then forward, through not at, the ball, in a smooth
action with follow through. Throughout the whole of this process, keep your
body and head still and do not look up to see where your ball has gone. If all
your preparation was correct the ball will go exactly where you wanted it to.

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The Clearance Shot
To clear the opponent's ball, take up the standard stance, and strike your ball with
a ‘flat’ swing. Ensure that your aim is straight and accurate. The object of the shot
will not be achieved if you do not aim directly through the centre of the object ball.
Executed correctly, the object ball will be sent a considerable distance.

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The Stun Shot
To clear the opponent's ball from a runnable to an un-runnable position and at the
same time stop your ball in front of the hoop.
Take up the standard stance, move your feet back 2 or 3 inches and strike your ball
with a ‘very flat’ swing. This will cause your ball to skid rather than roll, imparting all its
energy to the object ball, sending it a considerable distance with your ball stopping in
front of the hoop.
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The Split Shot
This shot is most useful when both your ball and an opponents (or your partner) ball
need to be repositioned and exact places in the same stroke.
Take up the standard stance, and strike your ball with a ‘flat’ swing. The angle at which
your ball strikes the object ball will determine the direction in which each ball will
travel. Use the practise lawn to become familiar with the direction of aim and the
resultant angles.

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The Jump Shot
To jump over an opponents ball and maybe also run a hoop, take up the standard
stance, then move forward until your mallet head is at 45 degrees to the horizontal
when addressing the ball. Strike down and hard without hitting the lawn but still
with some follow through. Your ball will jump over the opponents ball.
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