You Will Win In Croquet if Your Master These 3 Shots
Learn the three shots that form the foundation of winning croquet. An expert guide to the strategic lag, the controlling roquet, and the confident hoop run.
You might hear members mention "the tournament next month" or ask if you're "playing pennants this year." It can sound like a closed world with its own language.
It isn't. Here's how it actually works.
Level 1: Gala Days
This is where most people start. A gala day is a social tournament — usually hosted by a club, open to anyone, and designed to be fun.
You turn up. You play a few games. You have lunch. You might win a prize. You definitely have a good time.
There's no pressure, no ranking implications, and no expectation that you're any good. Gala days are the "try before you buy" of competitive croquet.
Level 2: Club Championships
Every club runs its own internal championship — usually once a year. You play against other members of your club to see who's the best that season.
This is where friendly rivalries form. You'll hear stories about "the year Margaret beat the club champion in the semi-final" for decades.
Club championships are competitive, but the stakes are local. You're playing for bragging rights at morning tea, not a national title.
Level 3: Interclub Pennants
This is team croquet. Your club fields a team, and you travel to other clubs to compete in a season-long competition.
Pennants are where the "us vs. them" energy kicks in. You're not just playing for yourself — you're representing your club. The wins feel bigger. The losses sting more. The bus trips home are full of "what if" conversations.
Many players say pennants is where they fell in love with the competitive side of the game.
Level 4: State, National & International
Beyond pennants, the pathway keeps going:
- State Championships — the best players in Queensland compete for state titles
- National Championships — represent your state against the rest of Australia
- World Championships — yes, they exist. Australia has produced world champions.
Most club players never go past pennants. And that's completely fine. The point isn't to reach the top — it's to find the level where you're challenged, engaged, and having fun.
So Where Will You End Up?
Some people play gala days forever and love every minute. Others get hooked on pennants and can't imagine missing a season. A few discover they have a talent for the game and chase state titles.
There's no wrong answer. The only question is: what sounds fun to you?
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