17. If the striker plays the wrong ball of their side, or the striker's partner plays their own ball instead of the striker playing the correct ball, then the balls are replaced to their positions before the stroke in error, and play continues by the right person playing the correct ball, without penalty. However, if the striker or their partner plays any ball other than their own, or if another player plays, then play is stopped and no points scored.
The opponent chooses whether to have all the balls that were moved left as they are or replaced where they were before the error, then re-starts the sequence with either of their balls. Playing for the Next Hoop18. Players may play towards the hoop after the one being contested if desired, but may not go more than halfway - otherwise it becomes an 'offside ball'. Immediately after the hoop in order is scored, the opponent(s) of any ball beyond the halfway line between the hoop just run and the next hoop in order may choose to have the offside ball placed on one of the two penalty spots, unless one of the exceptions in paragraph 20 applies.
19. The penalty spots are the half-way points on the East or West boundaries. 20. Balls are not offside if they reached their position as a result of: (a) the stroke just played, or (b) a stroke, wrong ball play or fault by an opponent, or (c) contact with an opponent's ball, or (d) being directed to a penalty spot. Faults21. The striker must hold the mallet by its shaft and swing it so as to attempt to hit the ball cleanly with an end face of its head. A fault is committed if, when playing a stroke, the striker:
(a) touches any ball or the striker's mallet touches any other ball, or (b) hits their own ball more than once, or (c) squeezes their ball against a hoop or the peg, or (d) plays a stroke in which their mallet causes actual damage to the court. 22. If a fault is committed the striker's turn ends, no points are scored in the stroke, and the opponent chooses whether the balls are left as they lie or replaced to their earlier positions. Other Forms of PlayHandicap Games
23. In handicap play, the stronger side gives the weaker side a number of extra turns. One or more of these can be taken at the striker's option at the end of their normal turn, but only playing the same ball. No hoop point may be scored for the striker's side during an extra turn. 24. In singles, the number of extra turns to be given is the difference between the handicaps of the two players. In doubles, extra turns are given to a player, not a side. The number given by the lower-handicapped player on one side to the lower-handicapped player on the other side is half the difference between their handicaps. Similarly, the higher-handicapped player on one side gives the higher-handicapped player on the other side a number of extra turns equal to half the difference between their handicaps. Longer or Shorter Games 25. Games may also be played as 7 or 19 point games. In these, the winner is the side which first scores 4 or 10 points respectively. In a 19 point game, after the first 12 hoops are scored, hoops 3, 4, 1, 2, 11 and 12 are played, followed by hoop 3 again as the 19th hoop if required. |