Should the break continue through Hoop "4 back", the opponent gets a Lift AND Contact. This is provided the Striker's backward ball has not made Hoop "1 back"- In which case otherwise there is only a lift.

          Therefore, Experts Stop at Hoop "4 Back":
          So EXPERTS do not run 4 back with their forward or first ball. Instead, "leave" their opponent's  balls wired and/or in a very difficult but handy, position. Then, set up for their next ball manoeuvre near or on the boundary.

(See Glossary of Terms if the language is a tad complex. Words with a Capital are found there for your perusal)

            The Ultimate:
            The ultimate is a Sextuplet - a New Zealand invention which Peels the forward ball through from Hoop "1 back".  i.e. Peels partner ball through sex (6) hoops - and Pegs both balls out. Thus the opponent gets no Lift and usually has only two shots for his effort. Score 26 to 0

            Triple Peel Objective:
            The objective is to Peg out both partner balls in just two "ins" with only one Lift or no Lifts at all, as in a Sextuplet Peel.

           Choreography - Layout:
          We use a piece of cardboard with a drawing of a Croquet Lawn and Coloured pins to act as balls to follow directions and plan and play each step.

            No Primary Colours:
            Rather than use colours to describe the balls we employ just their usage i.e. "Striker" ball and its forward ball being "Peel ball" or "Peel". These remain so for the remainder of the game. The opponent balls are "Pilot" and "Pioneer". They do inter-change, alternating as each Hoop is made. It matters not, really, what colour they are - so long as they are opposition and alive when we need them.
 

            Clear Function:
            Hopefully, their function at each Hoop is made clear. The Peel ball would normally act as Pivot, Pilot and/or Pioneer as in Handicap play - were it not for these Championship play Triple Peel Tactics.

            Assume a Few Things:
            We have to assume a few things.

        First, that you know the names of the Hoops and the direction both balls are going.
        Second, can we assume you can move balls around with utmost precision. Then able to make all round breaks - often.

            We can?  Really!

           OK!          We start.

          (1) Make Hoop "3 back" with the first ball break. In which case you are in "control". Your Hoop exits are made precisely for Tactical rushes etc.

          (2) Make an impressive "Leave".  Lay- up, with a rush on Hoop "1" for the backward ball. It will now to be known as "Striker" while the forward ball is "Peel ball" or just "Peel".

            Assume the Opponent misses with his Lift shot.

          (3) Make Hoop 1 with control. Play for a rush on Hoop 3 ("4 back") with the now to be called  "Peel" ball.

          (4) Pick up opponent's ball and load Hoop 3 with another ball as "Pioneer".
          (Pioneer is always located near "next Hoop + one")

          (5) Pick up the opponent's other ball if not already a Pilot at Hoop 2.
         (Pilot is the ball located near "next Hoop in turn")

            (6) Run Hoop 2 setting with a rush on the "exPilot" to Pioneer (verb) Hoop 4.
           (Pilot becomes exPilot after the Hoop is run and then sent diagonally as a Pioneer)

           The introduction to the Triple at Hoop 3 ("4 back") does not have to be this way. It is possible to begin later in the game. Particularly if the opponent "hits in" on the Lift shot. The important thing is to have three balls at Hoop 3 and an opponent ball at Hoop 4

           The Triple Peel Chorography begins.

          (7) Split to the Pilot at Hoop 3. Rush/roquet it into the position as the "Escape" ball at 5 or 7 O'Clock from Hoop 4 back - about a yard. (or where you feel best for it)

          (8) At the same time, position Striker ball for a rush on Peel ball to advantage on Hoop 3.

          (9) Croquet Peel ball to the front of "4 back" by about a foot or a little more. Hold Striker to run the 3 Hoop. Hoop 3 and "4 back" are the same Hoop going in different directions.

         (10) Run the 3 Hoop. Trying to either Roquet the Peel ball or get behind it  for a small rush to position Peel ball for the Croquet shot to Peel Hoop "4 back".

         (11) Peel this forward ball. But not so hard it goes out over the boundary. Use a split passing or stab roll to get a rush on the Escape ball to Hoop 4 or 5. Alternately, use a Stop Shot.

         (12) Load Hoop 5 with the Pioneer. At the same time position the Striker on the rush line - Pilot to Hoop 4.
        (Rush line is the line extending across the lawn through Pilot to its Hoop)

         (13) Rush/Roquet the Hoop 4 Pilot to just off the left side of the Hoop about 200mm out and abreast the Hoop. At the same time making the Hoop approach with Striker.

        (14) Run the Hoop with control. Plan to have a good rush on the exPilot to the north/east boundary corner 3.         This is so you can now relocate the Peel ball towards Penult.

        (15) Croquet exPilot to Pioneer Hoop 6 while getting on the rush line - Peel ball to Penult.
    (same Hoop - Pioneer becomes Pilot - then Escape ball)

        (16) Take off to the Pilot at Hoop 5. Run the Hoop with some control so that the exPilot is Rushed or Split to Hoop "1 back" as Pioneer.

        (17) At the same time Striker gets a rush/roquet on Pilot at 6/Penult.

        (18) The Pilot is croqueted to 9 or 3 O'Clock as Escape ball while Striker is placed for a rush on Peel ball to advantage at Hoop 6.

        (19) Now, the Peel ball is croqueted just to the back of Hoop 6, (in front of its Penult) while Striker makes the Hoop approach.

         (20) Run the Hoop with control to roquet or have a rush on the Peel ball to peel it back through Penultimate.

         (21) The Peel is a Croquet Passing Roll shot, Drive or Stop shot so that a rush can be made on the exPilot/Escape ball to the North boundary. The Peel ball should have gone through Penult Hoop in much the same direction as Striker towards the Peg or better, Rover

         (22) If the Peeling was effective the Peel ball is now near Rover or at least near the Peg.
       (If Jawed at Penult, it will require a rush out - after Hoop "1 back")

         (23) The ex-escape ball, rushed towards  the North boundary, is now loaded to Hoop "2 back" as Pioneer. The Striker obtains a rush on the Pilot at Hoop "1 back"

         (24) Striker runs Hoop "1 back" so to rush the exPilot towards the Peg for loading to Hoop "3 back". Striker Croquets it to Hoop "3 back" as Pioneer and obtains a good rush on the Peel ball to Rover Hoop.

         (25) Striker might Peel the forward ball through Rover. At the same time getting a rush (with a Passing Split Roll) to the Pilot at Hoop "2 back".  

          Or possibly Jaws the Peel ball or just sets it up for another attempt at Peeling Rover.

         (26) Runs Hoop "2 back" for a rush on exPilot towards Rover. Croquets it to Hoop "4 back" as Pioneer. With great precision he might Rush/Roquet the Peel towards Rover. Peels Rover, and Split Rolls, Drives or Stop Shots depending on the location of the Pilot for Hoop "3 Back".

         (27) Runs Hoop "3 back" and puts exPilot to Penult as Pioneer while picking up the Peel ball for the Peg.

        (Options here depending on raid on 4 back and if Rover has already been Peeled)

         (28) Takes Off or Splits from Peel ball to Rush/Roquet Pilot at Hoop "4 back" Runs Hoop with control so that he has a Rush on exPilot towards Rover.

         (29) Rush/Roquets exPilot of Hoop "4 back" to Rover as a Pioneer with a Rush/Roquet on the Pilot at Penult.

         If the Peel ball has not yet been Peeled the exPilot must be sent to Rover with more Precision to help in the Straight Peel necessary at Rover.

          If it has been Peeled the hard work has been completed and the following shots are just a normal Four Ball break to finish.

 Consider it has not yet been Peeled then:-

         (30) Striker Runs Penult and Rush/Roquets exPilot to beyond Rover as a Pivot near the South Boundary. The Striker meanwhile, must get a good Rush/Roquet position on the Peel at Rover. The Pilot at Rover in this first case is the Peel Ball.

         Depending on the distance from Rover the Croquet shot is set up determines the Straight Peel.

         (a) Should it be too close then an Irish Peel is used.

        (b) Should the Croquet be further back and you and your mallet are able to do a good close Stop Shot, then a Stop Shot it is.

         The problem arises when the Peel ball does not go far enough through Rover to allow the Striker to make the Hoop without making Roquet also. It is therefore almost impossible to Peg both balls out in the turn. So the Triple Peel has been wasted.

         (c) If the Peel ball has not gone through Rover far enough, it might be possible to Jump through the Hoop and over the Peeled ball without Roqueting Peel ball. In this case you have already put the exPilot ball, from Penult, down towards the Boundary for just this occasion.

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        Otherwise

         (d) If you put the Peel through a few feet and can run the Hoop without "Hoop and Roquet" you are alive on the exPilot from Hoop "4 Back". You can Requet this ball and get a rush on the Peel ball to the Peg and Peg out.

         You win with a Triple Peel and the Score should read "26TP to 0" and so noted on your AHS score card.

         (e) Often, the safest method of Peeling Rover (at any time - not necessarily on a Triple) is to Rush to position the exPilot from Hoop "4 Back" very close to the side of Rover. This is done before making Penult.

         While setting up this Pioneer, the Peel ball is located advantagiously in front of Rover. A Take Off to the Pilot at Penult will score that Hoop and all is getting ready for the Peel at Rover.

         Take Off from the exPilot at Penult for a precision shot for a Rush/Roquet of the Peel ball (Pilot) at Rover. In the Croquet shot to Peel Rover, the Peel ball is sent through Rover with a little force with a Split shot.

         The Striker ball is not intended to make the Hoop - yet.  Instead, the Striker ball angles away behind the still "Live" Rover Pilot. It rushes/Roquets the Pilot for a precision shot on the Rover Hoop.

         NB At this point, it must be considered if the Peel ball is sufficiently through the Rover Hoop to permit the Hoop "Running" without "Hoop and Roquet". If this is so - no problem. The Croquet shot sends the Pilot towards the Peel ball while setting up for the "Running".

         If it is determined that the Peel ball is in danger of being Roqueted with the running of the Hoop, the following is attempted.

         In the Croquet shot to approach the Hoop, the Croqueted ball is aimed at the Peel ball (or a position in front thereof) and "Bombarded" out of "harm's way" (or protected by the Croqueted ball from Roquet.

         Upon running the Rover the exPilot ball is Roqueted - or Hoop and Roquet. To position the Peel ball for a Rush/Roquet to the Peg, another Bombardment might be in order. This is to move the Peel ball out of the Rover Hoop's influence against a nice, straight rush to the Peg.

        Hurrah! A Triple completed.

        If the Peel ball has been Peeled prior to the Striker reaching Rover then the following proceedure is a go.

         (31) Runs Rover off Pilot and turns for home useing the exPilot as the Pivot - Take Off fora  Rush on the Peel ball.

         (32) Striker Rush/Roquets Peel ball towards Peg and - with an ostentatiously raised mallet - Pegs out both balls.

               END OF STORY                    

      Almost

        PROBLEMS:   (Click to Skip - it gets a bit boring if you haven't studied Physics at school)
         There is a problem trying to Peel a ball with a passing split roll as is usually done at Hoop "4 back" and Penult. And at Rover if using the Escape Ball method.

          The Physics of Momentum (Mass x Velocity MV1 = MV2 + MV3) is applied where three masses (mallet+balls) collide - particularly when the forces applied are not head on.

          Momentum is vector quantity and can therefor be defined on a graph and the forces expressed by the "X" and "Y" co-ordinates.
          In a Split Roll, both balls absorb the applied force (translated "g" force if using the mallet as a true pendulum) depending on the point of application of that force.
        

           Consider: in a Stop Shot, through the Centroids of both balls, most of the energy goes into the front ball because the Striker ball is hit below the centroid causing reverse rotation and forward propulsion - the balls mesh at centroidal transmission centre. The Target ball then has instant opposite rotation - no skid - no loss due to friction - rotating like a wheel)
         

           In this particular shot, the applied force is delivered to the Striker's ball at 2 O'Clock. Therefore, some of the energy is absorbed by the ground  (you might even leave a small dint in it) But it has also given forward spin to the Strikers ball (besides horizontal thrust - forward movement - velocity) This is caused by the ground's friction on the bottom of the ball stopping it, while the top of the ball wants to go forward - so rotation on a horizontal axis results. Is that clear? No way! Hey?
 

         (Next time you're fixing a bicycle wheel throw it forward off the ground but jerk your hand down and back imparting back spin. It will go forward due to initially forward thrust - skids with friction - stops - reverses - then comes back to you.

         You can't see it happen but the phenomenon is still there in the Striker ball in a Stop Shot. Its just mechanics of machines - and mallets and balls are just machines)
 

         The ball rolls like a wheel on you motor car - centrifugally as with Torque. However, as we are required to ensure that both balls are touching in a Croquet shot, this instant rotation meshes with the same rough surface of the Target ball. This tends to rotate the Target ball in the contra-rotation as does all two meshed gear wheels.
 

          At Penultimate Hoop then, if you are about 300mm out, it might be better to use a Stop Shot to get the Peeled ball up to Rover. This is the direct opposite of running a Hoop with one ball - but try both types of Shots until happy.
 
          But - dah de dah dum - the Hard Bit.

          The initial force should always be delivered to the Striker ball by the mallet smack bang in that middle spot - where your eye is looking - or not, if you stuff your shot up.

          However, the most important feature or phenomena of unequal forces is the "off centre" delivery of that force to the Target ball. We showed the spin or rotation about the horizontal "X" axis of both balls. Now we have to consider the spin caused by the force being applied left or right of the centroid of the Target ball. Maybe on the "Y" axis. 

         The Centroid is that single molecule in the very geometrical centre of the ball equal distance from any point on the ball's circumference)

         This spin is about the perpendicular "Y" axis, best known as "Orbital" spin.

         As a little boy with a top, I was always envious of left handed kids. They could wind up their top string "backwards" and spin their tops anti-clockwise.

        Being a catholic, mine only went clockwise and so moved around in a clockwise direction - the only force involved was Torque. When you threw the top away from you, it unravelled the string, (like starting the lawn mower) turning or rotating the top.

          When a body freely spins on its perpendicular axis on a near frictionless surface it will itself describe a circle on that surface in the same clockwise direction - (Gleeson's 2nd Law of Top Spinning)

         The ball will rotate on its perpendicular axis and will then produce a circular orbit about a point  (the dancing or circling tops of the top EXPERTS)  

        We call this curving - "drag"/"pull"/"COT"/"DEV" (Centrifugal Orbital Transition/Deviation) It would follow the Algebraic expression "X" squared "Y" squared as opposed to Y = MX+B  The Formula for a straight line - which is what a Irish Peel would be.

           In Drag!
           This phenomenon has to be allowed for by realising that, if we split to the left with the Striker ball, the Target ball will curve out to the left or towards 9 O'Clock of a circle. Then it will go straight ahead a little - then waltz back right towards 12 O'Clock - given that there was no forward thrust of greater magnitude.

           Remember what happens to a Thick Take Off when the roll on the horizontal axis gives out but there is still a little orbital spin left - right!)

           Analogy:
           Think of old time dancers of a waltz on a dance floor. They gyrate individually, but clockwise ,collectively. You would be dancing backwards if going anti-clockwise. Watch the water go down the sink.

           SOLUTIONS:
           If the Escape ball is located on the left of Hoop "4 back" - at 9 O'Clock - about a metre radius, then the Split Passing Roll takes off to the left causing "drag" towards the left.

            Compensate in Front:
          (a) To compensate for a Peeled ball directly in front of the Hoop, aim through the centres of both balls slightly to the right of centre of the Hoop.  Aim the mallet to just miss the left upright so to make a Rush on the Escape ball to Hoop 4 or 5 (5 as Pioneer).

            NB. Drag is nil with a Drive - builds up to max at 1/4 ball and nil again with a still ball Takeoff - so the closer to a straight Drive or Stop shot is the less drag.
 
            Compensate to the Left:
           (c) To compensate for a Peeled ball to the right of the centre  of the Hoop, aim the centres of the two balls just left of the inside of the right upright.

            Aim the mallet so that the Striker's ball just misses the left upright to make a Rush on the Escape ball to Pioneer Hoop 5.

           (d) To compensate with the Escape ball on the right rather than the left as above, then all the forgoing is mirror image

          (e) Thus deviation compensation needs to be critically addressed as the Peeled ball swings in location from about 5 O'Clock to 7 O'Clock to the Hoop at differing distances from the Hoop.

           The deviation is not exactly the same for any two players/mallets/lawns/balls/Hoops /atmospheric condition/political affiliation/financial situation/religious persuasion/phase of the moon.

          This makes each shot unique and the calculations in your personal computer (between your ears) are truly incredible - if you succeed.

           If the Escape ball is located about the same at Penultimate as at Hoop "4 back", then the only real difference is the type of shot.

           Here, unlike Hoop "4 back" the border is a long way off and the Peeled ball needs to get closer to Rover in a straight line. So a stop shot might be more effective to move the Target ball further towards Rover and still have an easy Rush on the Escape ball to the North boundary.

           Give the mallet about 20 degrees of dihedral for the Passing Roll. Experiment with these aiming points until you have your own angle of attack of the mallet. The right compensation for running the Hoop and the force to locate both balls with control.

            If the Peeled ball is caught in either Hoop "4 back" or Penultimate it needs only a good rush after one of the other Hoops to get it on its way again.

            Small Print:
            Should the reader at anytime, be compelled to be my adversary on the field of combat, please refrain from refering to this privileged and vital information/advice. see Law 49
 

      (as presented in "Croquet Australia" 1998)