Categories / Outdoor & adventure
Croquet
Mallet and hoop lawn game.
How to start
Try a taster session at a club. You learn to hit a ball through hoops with a mallet.
How to progress
Play a game with friends.
What the evidence says
Evidence: limited
We found no trials of this particular activity. It is a gentle social activity.
Take care: Warm up your back and keep a stable stance.
Sources
12-week starter plan
A weekly game.
Tick each week as you finish it; your ticks are saved on this device only. Repeat a week if it felt hard. Weeks 4, 8 and 12 hold steady so you can settle. This is a general plan, not medical advice.
Add reminders to your calendar
Pick your days and time. You will download a calendar file that adds 12 weeks of reminders to Google, Apple or Outlook calendar.
Calories and weekly minutes
Enter your details for a rough estimate. Based on about 3 METs (Typical effort for this activity (estimated)). Real figures vary by 20% or more between people.
Tips and common mistakes
Tips
- Keep a stable stance.
- Play a taster.
- Enjoy the tactics.
Common mistakes
- Overswinging.
- Rushing shots.
- Skipping warm-up.
Kit and cost
Low Approximate UK prices.
- A garden set (about £30 to £100)
- Flat shoes
- Club fees
Frequently asked questions
Is croquet hard?
The tactics take time.
Is it for older people?
Yes.
Is it exercise?
It is gentle.
Good for: Fun & social Skill
Compare with similar options
| Croquet | Golf (Walking) | Archery | Geocaching | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical session | 90 min × 1/wk | 240 min × 1/wk | 60 min × 1/wk | 90 min × 1/wk |
| Effort | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ |
| Cost | Low cost | Moderate cost | Moderate cost | Free |
| Equipment | Basic kit | Some equipment | Specialist kit | Basic kit |
| Impact | Low impact | Low impact | Low impact | Low impact |
| Fitness needed | Any level | Any level | Any level | Any level |
| Evidence | limited | limited | limited | limited |