Dr Ian Plummer
This page summarises additions and changes to the Oxford Croquet web site to allow frequent visitors to keep up to date.
Pages without links still have to be checked out by their authors
10.v.13 |
Printable lookup tables for quick calculation of doubles handicaps. |
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28.iv.13 |
In the CA's domain a new method for calculating doubles handicaps is being trialled. An interactive calculator is offered. Ian Plummer, UK |
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10.iv.13 |
Louis Nel revisits Dynamic Grading and the implicit assumptions on which it is based. Identifying a flaw he suggests abandoning the oDG and iDG models. Louis Nel, Canada |
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1.iii.13 |
Top players give advice to a scratch player on how to beat high handicap opponents with bisques. |
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26.i.13 |
A note on playing on indoor croquet carpets and where to get one. Ian Plummer, UK |
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23.i.13 |
World Champion Reg Bamford discusses his mental preparation for top-level play. Absolute Gold Dust! |
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2.xii.12 |
Don Oakley comments about playing on an artificial surface and appends notes from another correspondent about the costs of an artificial surface. Don Oakley, Canada |
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8.xi.12 |
An analysis of croquet strokes based on a three step model. Measurements made from high speed video and separate experiments are compared with the models. |
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22.x.12 |
A5 booklet which interleaves the Laws and the 'Official Rulings on the Laws of Croquet' (ORLC - the interpretation of the Laws). |
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16.x.12 |
A recommendation of ball colours produced for the Croquet Association. |
Technical | |
5.ix.12 |
Louis Nel proposes an enhancement to Dynamic Grading
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30.viii.12 |
Using before and after photographs to monitor hoop displacement. |
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26.viii.12
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A collation of suggestions to make hoops more challenging. |
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23.viii.12 |
Tool to allow continuously updated commentaries to be published to a web page. Viewers can set an optional update rate. |
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14.viii.12 |
David Kibble and Samir Patel advise. |
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11.viii.12 |
A discussion of Dynamic Grading |
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10.viii.12 |
Online Knockout Management Program |
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10.vii.12 |
A solution to a question posed on the Nottingham maillist. |
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8.vii.12 |
Players discuss second break options |
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15.vi.12 |
A web form which generates the process order, which is clearer than in the Tournament Regulations. |
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15.vi.12 |
An example of how the process order is obtained. |
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25.v.12 |
Ailments which can affect and terminate playing croquet. James Temlett, Aus |
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14.v.12 |
John Riches describes some of the problems with artificial lawn surfaces. |
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13.v.12 |
Reg Bamford indicates how he assesses the likelihood of a sextuple being a winning manoeuvre. |
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11.v.12 |
From Imperial College Croquet Club |
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21.iv.12 |
David Maugham shows why the strongest player is not guaranteed to win a knockout. |
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12.ii.12 |
A disappointing attempt at trying to find a correlation between players' handicaps and game duration for handicap play. |
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22.i.12 |
Top players discuss how to make a triple peel after a missed lift. |
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20.xii.11 |
Advice offered in the December 2011 (issue 335) edition of the Croquet Gazette. |
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3.x.11 |
A report by the World Croquet Federation (WCF) announcing the adoption of the Dynamic Grading System (see next item). [PDF format]. |
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17.ix.11 |
Lists of clubs selectable by country. Simple links to allow data to be updated. |
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11.ix.11 |
The page for International Website Links has been re-written to include all websites known in the gazetteer (see below). |
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6.ix.11 |
World Croquet Clubs (map-based) |
An interactive gazetteer of world croquet clubs giving their location and club details. A new 'search for a location' function has been added. |
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6.ix.11 |
A companion to the updated service above - this web page allows new or updated clubs details and locations to be submitted to this site. |
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29.viii.11 |
Advice offered in the Aug/Sept 2011 (issue 333) edition of the Croquet Gazette. |
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29.viii.11 |
Advice offered in the June/July 2011 (issue 332) edition of the Croquet Gazette. |
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5.vi.11 |
David Appleton investigates the probability of hitting targets based on a measurement of the likelihood of hitting a ball 13 yards away. (PDF version) |
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25.v.11 |
Notes on providing equipment, facilities and coaching for disabled people. |
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5.v.11 |
Advice offered in the April/May 2011 (issue 331) edition of the Croquet Gazette. |
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21.iv.11 |
Dave investigates the aiming accuracy needed to produce a successful cut rush in a desired direction. He demonstrates that for small cut angles the aiming accuracy is relaxed (!) however for big cut angles more accuracy is required. David Kibble, UK |
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20.iv.11 |
A simple derivation involving the separations and angle of balls in a rush shot. |
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20.iv.11 |
Nick Furse demonstrates that short rushes can be more accurate than a single ball stroke in some circumstances. |
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22.ii.11 |
What to do if you get around to 4-back in second turn. |
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9.ii.11 |
The WCF Ranking Review Committee shows the development of the Dynamic Grading system which applies a variable smoothing to the grade history. |
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21.i.11 |
A few notes on a series of controlled croquet strokes where pull is seen. |
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9.i.11 |
Web site updated |
New styling (CSS) was added to make the pages render consistently across different browsers. I have added the ability to make donations. Apologies for any side effects. |
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30.xii.10 |
John Hobbs gives details for making a device for encouraging a straight swing. |
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2.xii.10 |
By Walter Jones Whitmore. A short book detailing the skills of the game as it was then. 1MB PDF file. |
History | |
28.xi.10 |
Given a number of players and optionally a list of names this web form produces the play sheet for the event. Ian Plummer, UK |
Tournament Management | |
26.xi.10 |
Geoff Taylor offers a Windows-based block scoring program as well as a round-robin planner based on an Excel spreadsheet. |
Tournament Management | |
19.xi.10 |
Louis Nel comments on the format where games are played between members of different blocks |
Technical | |
19.x.10 |
David Maugham argues as to why a seeded draw is an approximation to a 'fair draw' for a knock-out. |
Technical | |
18.x.10 |
The Use of World Rankings for the Association Croquet World Championships |
A report by the WCF Ranking Review Committee (2008) which looks at the use of the ranking system for selecting players for top events. [PDF format]. |
Technical |
12.ix.10 |
Tactics used in the 2010 President's Cup Competition |
How to Play | |
6.ix.10 |
The location of the '19 yard' positions used in advanced leaves. |
How to Play | |
3.ix.10 |
Diagrams showing stroke directions where crushes are and are not possible |
Technical | |
2.ix.10 |
Chris Clarke analyses the openings used at this top level competition |
How to Play | |
18.vi.10 |
Editorial: On-line Tournament Management and Public Display of Results |
A report of the use of an online multi-manager, multi-venue tournament management package is described. It has the benefits that viewers around the planet can observe the real-time progress of the tournament. Additionally the results can be projected or viewed on a large screen at the venues.
Also no software needs to be installed on computers accessing the program since its interface is a simple web page or web form. |
Editorial |
2.vi.10 |
Find your Nearest Club |
The mapping software for "Find your Nearest Club" has been updated to a new version which supports more browsers (including Safari and portable devices iPhone,s etc.). Additional clubs have been added including some on the continent. A separate demonstration map (not portable device aware yet) for the USA is included. |
Clubs |
24.iii.10 |
Mid-Point Aiming |
Why aiming at the mid-point of the final resting places of the balls in a croquet stroke is only an approximation. A simple illustration of one of the issues. |
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29.xi.9 |
Nick shows that neither aiming at half the angle nor at the mid point between the final resting points of the balls is correct in most instances. For a take-off his conclusion is that you can hit much more into the croqueted ball. Nick Furse, UK |
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20.ix.9 |
Jonathan Kirby reports on the tactics used under these rules |
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8.viii.9 |
A guide produced by the Croquet Association amplifying on a previous publication by John Beech. |
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17.iii.09 |
UPDATED 29.iii.09: Description of the 'Super Advanced Laws' (introduced February 2009, refined March 2009). |
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17.iii.09 |
Don Gugan has analysed the high speed video taken in 2006 by Bill Arliss and his team. For 38 clips (available on the WCF website) he has measured velocities, ball spin, elevation, etc. He draws a number of significant conclusions which will support future analysis. He also presents the background theory in convenient appendices. These cover simple collisions without friction, spin imparted on balls during striking due to friction, spin due to the angle of the mallet face and the equations governing the onset of roll due to friction. Don Gugan, UK |
Technical | |
10.ii.09 |
Web site updated |
1). The address bar of your browser now shows the URL of the page you are viewing. 2). Printing works as expected in the Firefox web browser. 3). The short web address http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/ is still the main preferred address for the site. 4). The old full address http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/index.htm is now retired and will NOT WORK; if you want a full address use http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/index.asp, but the short one above is preferred. |
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20.ii.09 |
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14.ii.09 |
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1.i.09 |
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4.xii.08 |
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3.xii.08 |
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19.xi.08 |
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13.xi.08 |
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12.xi.08 |
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1.ix.08 |
Superceded 6.ix.11 (above) |
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17.viii.08 |
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24.iv.08 |
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11.iv.08 |
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29.iii.08 |
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13.iii.08 |
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9.iii.08 |
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31.i.08 |
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23.i.08 |
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23.i.08 |
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2.i.08 |
With the proposed changes in the Laws, this article discusses where to place a ball which has collided with a stationary one. |
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22.x.07 |
Don Gugan reviews Jonathan Kirby's paper. The review is appended to bottom of article. |
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8.viii.07 |
An insight into two top players' thoughts during a game where the innings changed frequently |
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21.vii.07 |
Robert Fulford gives his perspective on using Sextuples as a Winning Tactic. |
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20.vii.07 |
Reg Bamford explains why the sextuple peel (SXP) is a winning tactic for him |
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19.vii.07 |
What motivates a croquet player to try more difficult manouevres |
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16.vii.07 |
Hitting a ball off-centre induces a rotation of the mallet head and a slewing of the ball from the direction of swing. This is emphasised in mallets without peripheral (end face) weighting. |
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26.vi.07 |
A number of players give tips |
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18.vi.07 |
Samir Patel suggest that a lawn speed of 10 Plummers is normal and >10 is desirable for top level events. |
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18.vi.07 |
Georg Schorr, of the Austrian Croquet Federation, has produced a manual for German players. |
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18.vi.07 |
Louis Nel introduces a form of the game for playing on areas where hoops cannot be used. |
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12.vi.07 |
Dr Ian Vincent reveals the mechanism for deriving the matches in the Process-half of a Draw and Process competition. |
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9.vi.07 |
John Riches proposes that teaching Ricochet, croquet without the croquet strokes, is a fast and fun way for beginners to be introduced to the full game. |
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13.v.07 |
Four problems: How do you make a four ball break from here with bisques? Solutions to the classic four balls in the centre of boundaries and in the corners. |
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10.v.07 |
Croquet Club Finder Superceded 6.ix.11 (above) |
Find the English croquet club nearest to where you live - just type in your postcode. Additionally it will give you the route to drive there. Only works in Internet Explorer. |
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11.iv.07 |
Comparisons are made between the Lambert and Plummer systems of lawn speed measurement. |
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17.iii.07 |
The full current Laws of Association Croquet as a single large HTML file (190KB) . |
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18.ii.07 |
What to do if you get around to 4-back in third turn. |
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24.i.07 |
How a very light grip and pendulum action can help |
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24.i.07 |
Advice and routines to help running hoops |
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21.i.07 |
Louis Nel proposes that promotion out of the blocks proceed globally
rather than block-by-block |
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15.xi.06 |
Marcus Evans considers some of the options |
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16.x.06 |
Louis Nel advocates a new ranking system which considers the mean level
of play and its certainty |
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17.viii.06 |
Methods of deterring foxes |
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20.vi.06 |
A new Section dealing with English Clubs has been added |
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2.vi.06 |
Hints from the South Australian Coaching Committee |
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31.v.06 |
A facimile of the booklet plus its transcribed contents. |
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2.v.06 |
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1.v.06 |
David Maugham gives reasons and data. |
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12.iv.06 |
Frequently Asked Questions - an archive of some of the less mundane queries I have received |
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26.iii.06 |
John Riches poses some wrong-ball questions for doubles play |
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26.iii.06 |
Suggestions for ball stops around the lawns |
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23.iii.06 |
Experts suggest leaves and tactics |
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21.i.06 |
Different methods of playing the stroke including hitting off-centre |
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20.x.05 |
Removing worm casts, discouraging worms and killing worms. |
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20.vi.05 |
Louis Nel provides a simple method for measuring the speed of a lawn using a plank, a ball, a tape measure and a hoop. |
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7.vi.05 |
Initial measurements of the surface temperature of croquet balls left in the sun. |
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17.iv.05 |
Louis Nel gives the probability that someone will win a game based on the difference in the grades of the two players |
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14.iv.05 |
How to line up balls in a croquet stroke and the type of stroke to play. |
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13.iv.05 |
John Bevington of Wrest Park Croquet Club has produced a PowerPoint presentation introducing croquet which then goes on to illustrate break play and even a triple peel. |
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4.ii.05 |
Experts discuss their methods of executing a Sextuple |
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22.i.05 |
Louis Nel models how the positions of players in the Rankings change even if everyone's ability to win remains constant. |
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16.xi.04 |
Don Gugan investigates whether there is any evidence of a 'home advantage'. |
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29.x.04 |
Brian Murdoch describes measures for reducing severe thatch in a lawn. Full of useful practical tips |
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24.viii.04 |
Advanced Play. Leading players offer their advice on continuing the triple peel. |
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27.vii.04 |
An example of the tactics and play preceding a sextuple |
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27.vii.04 |
A computerised handicap card which calculates the steps, index changes and updates the index for you. It is based on Microsoft Excel hence you will need Excel on your machine to use it. |
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27.vii.04 |
Don Gugan discusses the methodology for testing how easy different types of hoops are to run. |
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20.iv.04 |
A brief explanation about lawn speeds is accompanied by a simple derivation and experimental measurements. |
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27.iii.04 |
A shockwave presentation which introduces the basics of croquet [147KB]. You need to download the shockwave plugin [3.8M] if you do not already have it. |
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24.iii.04 |
Duffer's Tice, Anti-Duffer's |
A couple of openings, a leave and a shot used in Advance Play which have special names. |
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24.iii.04 |
Don Oakley discusses the forms of hoops he has made for synthetic courts |
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19.iii.04 |
This is a section from the Australian Croquet Associations' Referees Manual which provoked debate over the methods which should be used for deciding whether a ball is wired. It is reproduced here with its diagrams. |
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13.iii.04 |
A paper considering the computing requirements of a croquet organisation which could be readily applied to the IT requirements of a croquet club |
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13.iii.04 |
These are notes which were written when starting to contemplate setting up a new croquet club. They may assist others |
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13.iii.04 |
Garth Eliassen, Editor, National Croquet Calendar, has revised and expanded his guide on writing press releases |
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13.iii.04 |
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OxfordCroquet is moved to a faster server |
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20.i.04 |
A non-mathematical explanation of the how the Croquet Grading System works |
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19.xi.03 |
Peeling the Opponent to get a Stronger Leave, Dave Kibble explains. |
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27.x.03 |
John Riches' Coaching booklets: How to develope breaks, tactics ... Beginner - intermediate level |
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22.viii.03 |
John Riches' Coaching booklets: sports psychology. This is a superb collection - highly recommended. |
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20.vii.03 |
John Riches' Coaching booklets: analysis of basic strokes. This is at beginners - intermediate level. |
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25.vi.03 |
The first in a series of eight booklets produced by John Riches. These will be published at approximately monthly periods. This one is at intermediate to advanced level |
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27.v.03 |
A circular slide rule for calculating the number of handicap points exchanged when games are played under Advanced Rules |
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2.iii.03 |
Methods used to resolve ties including the Burchholz and Sonneborn-Berger systems |
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27.ii.03 |
General History from an American Perspective |
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23.i.03 |
The base in handicap games is set to one quarter of the sum of the handicap of the players ... |
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19.vii.02 |
Cryptic drawings illustrating common croquet terms |
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30.vi.02 |
This is a commentary on the Laws of Croquet; it attempts to say what the Laws mean! June, 2002 edition |
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28.vi.02 |
Experiments on the Game of Croquet; Bouncing and Rolling |
Don Gugan details experiments on the bounce characteristics of croquet balls and the analytical treatment of the transition from sliding to rolling. He includes a valuable appendix on lawn speed considering friction and the development of spin. |
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17.vi.02 |
Notes for clubs required to set up a trust or company to rent their lawns |
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11.v.02 |
Demonstration for the Croquet Association on a simple Tournament Vacancy Bulletin Board |
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1.v.02 |
A Guide written by Bill Lamb in 1996 |
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30.iv.02 |
Allows the suspension and resumption of a game, by recording the positions of the balls and the state of the game. Print only the first page! |
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29.iv.02 |
Course notes accompanying the Croquet Association's Silver Gilt Coaching Course |
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28.iv.02 |
The positions for pioneers in a 3-ball break are modified from the simple ideal given in the Intermediate coaching notes Section 2. The Three-Ball Break |
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25.iv.02 |
Croquet on Television |
Liz Williams comments on why Croquet is difficult to televise. Paper withdrawn. |
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22.iv.02 |
Gives the adjustments to the bisque difference if on 3/4 and 1/2 size lawns |
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15.iv.02 |
Discussion of the factors to be considered when chosing a mower for a croquet court. Pointers given to manufacturers |
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9.iv.02 |
Geoffey Cuttle discusses Handicap Play |
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5.iv.02 |
A few recruitment bullet-points for your next club flier |
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2.iv.02 |
Suggestions for practice routines aimed at players with a handicap of 12 or below. |
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23.iii.02 |
Oxford Croquet |
All pages modified to give their URL in the footer. Makes it easy to link to the page from elsewhere |
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20.iii.02 |
New section launched aimed at distilling advice on how to promote the sport and croquet clubs |
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15.iii.02 |
Basic hits counter added. This has necessitated the renaming of most pages from *.htm to *.asp |
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12.iii.02 |
Giving editors materials in the format they want. Bob Alman, USA |
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12.iii.02 |
The timing, content and presentation of press releases. Garth Eliassen, USA |
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12.iii.02 |
Liz Williams gives some pointers on how to get the attention of the media. |
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12.iii.02 |
Liz Williams continues her advice by covering the layout of press releases |
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10.iii.02 |
Advanced Play. David Kibble indicates what options are open to players facing a new standard leave |
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12.i.02 |
Handicaps from 5662 players worldwide were collected for use by the Croquet Association's Handicapping Committee. Some very basic observations are made about the relative handicaps in different countries. Ian Plummer. |
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25.ii.02 |
Oxford Croquet |
The Oxford Croquet Web site launched. It was derived from my writings on the University web site. Over 250 pages were modifed and revised to start the new site |
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