To become a Straight Shooter in Croquet you need to have a routine, practise it, perfect it, and not err from it.
Below are the main principles to include in your routine.
Stalk – the main aim of hitting a croquet ball is to hit it straight. Stalking requires you to take a few steps back from your striker ball to enable you to align the centre of the striker ball with the centre of the target. This is the most critical part of becoming a Straight Shooter. Many players fail to take the time to line up the shot and consequently miss the simplest of targets.
Stance – place your feet equidistance from the ball aligned directly below your hips and shoulders. Don’t get too close to the striker ball – have your toes behind the end of the mallet. This will provide some room between your arms and tummy.
Swing Back – from the Shoulders. Swinging from the shoulders provides a more fluid swing and allows the weight of the mallet to do the work. If you want to hit the ball further, use a larger backswing rather than extra umph!
Stay Down– keep your eye on the ball at the point where the mallet will hit the ball. Keep your head down. Lifting your head will most likely result in you lifting your shoulders. If you raise your shoulders it is more than likely the mallet will not have clean contact with the ball, resulting in topping or mis-hitting the ball.
Swing Through – ensure the mallet follows through like a pendulum, especially when you are attempting to run hoops. Whatever the backswing is the mallet should follow through by at least this amount.
