Croquet and is the game most recreational players in those countries call simply "croquet". In this version of croquet there are nine wickets, two stakes, and up to six balls. The course is arranged in a double-diamond pattern, with one stake at each end of the course. Players start at one stake, navigate one side of the double diamond, hit the turning stake, then navigate the opposite side of the double diamond and hit the starting stake to end. If playing individually ("Cutthroat"), the first player to stake out is the winner. In partnership play, all members of a team must
Spooning (croquet) Spooning (croquet) In croquet, the term spooning has historically been used to refer to two ways of setting the ball into motion. The term is rarely used in the modern game and is not defined in the official laws. In one sense, it is simply pushing the ball with the mallet instead of tapping. It is recognized by making no noise. This was at one time considered an unfair but good technique, upon appeal the umpire must declare whether the ball was spooned or tapped. In modern Association Croquet, pushing the ball would generally constitute a fault under rule 28.a.4,