Ted Flexman July 2025
Guidance for hoops and hoop holes during this dry hot spell resulting in rock hard ground
The hoops have been moved ready for the YCF Singles.
New holes have been drilled, and I thought it would be useful to mention a few points on hoop hole care!
It may seem pedantic but it is practical to start putting hoops in directly from the trolley, which you take round with you, at hoop 1, then cross to hoop 5, put in the centre peg, go to hoop 2 then back to hoop 6 and across to hoop 3, ending up at hoop four where the trolley can be left ready for playing from corner 4.
Do the reverse when taking hoops out; start at hoop 9/4, then 10/3, then 11/6 then 7/2, then the centre peg, hoop 12/5, and finish at hoop 8/1 nearest to the Shevillion. If we all do this, then the same hoops will always be in the same holes and the holes should not get over worn.
Putting hoops in
Gently place the hoops into the holes ensuring that on court 3 the Jacques name is towards the Shevillion, and on courts 2 and 1 the coloured mark is to the east boundary. Firm them in by hand and if more than two inches remains above ground take them out gently and ease the bottom of the hole with the long spike, the hoops should then fit in fine with only a couple of firm taps with the rubber mallet. Please note, DON’T thump the hoops with the rubber mallet if they don’t want to go in – the second rubber mallet is splitting and that one is fairly new!
Take hoops out
First try by hand but if the hoop refuses, use the hoop lifter. Get the base of the lifter as close to the bottom of the hoop without impeding its extraction and push down firmly. If the hoop still objects hold the handle down a little way from the end and gently but repeatedly tap the end of the handle with the rubber mallet until it eases, then gently remove the hoop.
With these procedures our hoop holes should last a good long time and hold the hoops firmly.