Two distinct forms of the game are played. In Golf Croquet, you will generally see sets of four players on the lawn, with all four balls contesting the same hoop. They play the best of six hoops, a draw being decided with a seventh hoop.

In Association Croquet the game is played between two sides, one taking the blue and black balls and the other the red and yellow. (There are also alternate colours - green and brown against pink and white - which can be used to allow two games to be played on the same lawn). The lawn is laid out with six hoops and a central peg. The object for each side is to strike all its balls through all the hoops in both directions in a standard order and then against the peg. The first side to achieve this wins the game.

In both Golf and Association the hoops are played in the order shown opposite, starting with the hoop with the blue top.