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Croquet Hoops

2009-11-05T23:10:00.000-08:00

Traditional croquet hoops

Championship croquet hoops are traditionally made from 5/8” diameter metal. They form a 12” high hoop. The gape of the wicket is usually 3-3/4” between the jaws. Generally the hoops are painted white but they can also be of bare metal. The first hoop usually has a blue top and the last hoop a red one. The final hoop is commonly referred to as the rover. You will find a carrot shape at the end of the hoop leg. These carrots are normally heavy and form a conical shape. Traditional croquet hoops are made from cast iron and have a rough finish. These are favoured by both Jaques and Townsend.

Croquet Set | Garden Games | Giant Garden games

Giant Dominoes

2009-11-05T03:24:00.000-08:00

The dominoes game is an ancient form of entertainment dating way back to the year 1120. It actually saw its first origins in China but is now a worldwide activity. The game requires a 28 piece dominoes set. Each oblong piece is unique in that it has a different combination of dots on the two sides, ranging from zero to six. Players divide the pieces up evenly and then attempt to match like ends. The winner of the game is the person who is the first to use up all his or her pieces. There are more complicated ways of scoring to make the game even more intriguing.

Who can play dominoes?

The popularity of the dominoes game has remained due to the fact that it is a game that can be played by children as young as four years old. The complexity of the strategies involved however makes it appealing to a much older generation as well.

Giant Dominoes Sets

The new millennium has revisited many age old traditions and revolutionised them. The dominoes game has now been up scaled to enormous proportions adding a new and fun spin on the game. Small pieces are now replaced by giant wooden dominoes which can be taken outdoors and enjoyed in the sunlight and fresh air. Each individual piece may measure 14 x 6.5 x 2cm.

Domino Rally

Another fun variation of the dominoes game has been to build a domino rally. This entails standing dominoes up in a long line, pattern or formation. You have to make sure that they are close enough to one another so they will knock each other down should they fall over. Once all the dominoes are neatly placed, the first one is knocked over. This results in a chain reaction of dominoes tumbling in a beautiful sequence. This fun way of enjoying dominoes has captured the imagination of many and even resulted in world records being set. To get started you should buy a wooden dominoes set and experience the fun of the game first hand.

Giant Jenga

2009-10-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

The standard form of the game saw its origins in the seventies, but has been trademarked and marketed since the mid 1980’s. The concept is to take the fifty-four blocks and build them up to make a tower. Each story is created by placing three blocks adjacent to one another. The following story will be perpendicular to the previous one. Once the tower is built, competitors will attempt to remove blocks and place them on top of the tower without knocking the tower down.

Giant garden jenga – A game for the whole family to play

Jenga is a simple yet marvellous game that surpasses all age gaps. It has risen to popularity all over the world due to the fact that it can keep members of the entire family busy for hours, be they six years of age or sixty! It requires both mental skill and a steady hand and is therefore a great game for kids to play as it improves their eye hand co-ordination and problem solving abilities.

Giant garden jenga is fun due to the fact that it requires the players to use their entire bodies. It is also easier for the younger members of the family who may find the blocks of the smaller version too small to handle.

Taking it outdoors

The original form of the game requires the family to stay indoors due to the likelihood of the small blocks getting lost. However, the new millennium has brought outdoor jenga that can be enjoyed in both a large sitting room or in the garden. Our current lifestyles are almost entirely focused around being inside a location complete with a television screen, sound system and internet access. It is so refreshing to see a new development in entertainment that draws the entire family together out in the fresh air. By investing in garden jenga, one ensures that there is always a stimulating and fun game to play outside.

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Croquet Equipment and how to use it

2009-09-21T23:40:00.000-07:00

Each player requires a croquet ball. The object of the game is to hit the croquet ball and allow it to progress from the starting post to the finishing post. Obviously the first person whose ball reaches the finishing post is considered the winner. Croquet balls each have different colours identifying the various players. Regulations specify the bounce height of the ball. Most modern day balls are made of plastic and the quality of the material used affects its durability, bounce and weight.
The croquet mallet
The croquet mallet is the tool that the player uses to hit the ball. Each player is usually assigned his or her own mallet for the duration of the game. These are often colour coded to match the ball that the player has chosen. It is available in the range of 2lb 12oz to 3lb 4oz. If you want a long mallet then it helps to have a heavier one as the pendulum motion depends upon the weight. Professional players use a square cross-section head while amateurs can use a wooden shafted croquet mallet. The cheaper and plain garden mallets can be fitted brass rings to bind the wood and prevent splitting.
The croquet game
Croquet requires the player to move his or her ball through each and every hoop. The direction that the ball moves through the hoop is also of importance. Hoops come in sets of six. The crown of the hoops should lie 12’’ above ground level. There should be a gap of 4" and 3 3/4" wide and uprights of 5/8" diameter. Each hoop leg usually has a carrot shape at the end. If the ball moves through the hoop successfully it is called “running the hoop”. In the case of running the hoop, the player gets another turn to hit the ball. This is called a continuation shot. If however the ball stops within the hoop, the player has to await his or her next turn. Often another player will hit that ball out of the hoop providing a setback. This is how a competitive croquet game is played.

Croquet Balls

2009-09-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

The professional game of croquet allows each player to move two separate croquet balls over the course. However, most commercially available and recreational forms of the game offers each player only one ball.

Wooden croquet balls

Wooden croquet balls roll smoothly and easily. The lighter the wood, the further it carries and therefore the more superior the ball. The modern championship ball is usually 3-5/8" in diameter and weighs exactly 16oz. Croquet balls can be made from a variety of wood. Naturally harder wood is preferred due to the fact that it does not split easily.

The best wood to make a croquet ball is one that is both light and hard. This is easier said than done. Hard wood such as oak, ash, elm or beech is of better quality but they tend to become too heavy. Willow is a lovely light wood but it tends to split very easily and therefore the balls may need to be replaced often.

Though sycamore provides the correct combination and is the heart wood of an old tree and not the sap wood of a young tree, it may get dented especially when played by a stronger player. Chestnut wood is fairly similar to that of sycamore and is therefore suitable for making wooden croquet balls. These two kinds of wood are internationally considered as the best materials available for making wooden croquet balls. However, it must be noted that plastic is the preferred material when it comes to croquet balls since it is light and it does not chip.

Vintage croquet balls

Due to the long history of the game, vintage croquet balls are considered a prize possession. They are collected by enthusiasts all over the world and sold for very high prices at antique auctions and on the Internet. Vintage croquet balls are likely to be of superior quality to modern ones and are seriously hardened to play. Often they are found to have a metal mesh on the outside to protect the wood from chipping.

The standard croquet set

2009-07-18T02:38:00.000-07:00

The standard croquet set

A standard croquet set consists of between four to six mallets and a corresponding amount of balls. The amount of balls and hammers present indicates the amount of players that may take part in the game. A regular croquet set would at least have one winning post, but may also have a similar starting post. All croquet sets will have at least six wickets or hoops.

Different types of croquet sets

The historic game of croquet dates back to around 1866. It was originally played with a wooden croquet set. In more recent times manufacturers have produced plastic alternatives which are superior for a number of reasons. Today you can purchase adult or children’s croquet sets, indoor or outdoor sets, George Wood garden sets, Townsend garden sets, Jaques garden sets and competition croquet sets. Most suppliers are willing to switch a few items to customise the set according to your requirement.

Why buy a croquet set?

As old as the game of croquet is, it still enjoys enormous popularity all over the world today. This is due to a number of factors. Firstly, croquet can be played by people of all ages. A young child of five years will be able to grasp the basic concept of the game and master some of the basic skills. It can however become very competitive and can therefore be enjoyed by experienced professionals who have spent years mastering the game. Croquet does not involve long distance running or extreme fitness and is suitable for people of all ages. All you need is a good quality croquet set that can get you started. When you buy a croquet set remember to look for all the key ingredients as well as the kind of packing you want. Some sets come in wooden boxes while others in bags. A croquet set may also contain clips and corner flags.