The Fast Rolling Ricochet Game!

A two to four player game where players aim and roll steel balls down their chute so as to knock the wooden ball into their opponent’s goal. Rollet demands a good eye, timing, and teamwork. It penalises both fumbling and trigger-happy play. Hilarity is guaranteed for ages 7 to 107. Made in India by our fair trade supplier (Asha Handicrafts) using sheesham wood with a plywood base.

Origin

Rollet is our own creation, the fruit of hours of tinkering and creative procrastination. Frank Boggis-Rolfe helped with the prototyping, and even the first draft was a hoot. We must give credit to the 1990s classic Crossfire. But with its angled goal barriers and stabilised firing chutes, Rollet is a whole new ball game.

Rollet games are hand made in north India with help from our partners Asha Handicrafts. The artisans who made this game have been paid a fair wage, and Asha’s profits are re-invested to provide the workers and their families with medical care, education, and help with sanitation.

What They Say

"a highly entertaining gaming experience that can literally be enjoyed by almost anyone"

Tony Mastrangeli - Boardgamequest.com
"once you start playing it's addictively fun, especially with the right group. As you play more you start to learn some technique and even a bit of strategy."

George Jaros - gjjgames.blogspot.com

How To Play

Rollet is hilarious with four people (two teams of two), although singles games are fantastic with cannonball rules. Take up your positions with one team at each end.
With empty hands, clap “high five” style in a circle (ie. if there’s two of you, then “high ten”).
Roll steel balls down your chute(s), aiming to knock the wooden ball into your opponents’ goal.
When one side scores a goal, the wooden ball should be placed back on the starting dot. Team mates can re-distribute steel balls between them, but no steel balls should be passed from one team to the other. The next round begins with “high fives” as before.
The winners are the first to score 5 or more with at least a two point lead (just like tennis).

View Techniques

Techniques

Skim the Milk

The wooden ball often perches tantalisingly close to the mouth of the goal. This is called a “lark’s breakfast”. If it happens at your end, the best response is to “skim the milk” by aiming just behind the ball. Ambitious players may prefer “the Depardieu”, where you fire a ball so it bounces off the triangular “nose” at the back end of your own goal. Meanwhile, the team at the other end will be attempting a “full-fat” – a hole-in-one shot to turn the lark’s breakfast into a goal.

Attacking and Defending

Skilful Rollet play requires a careful balance between aggression and defence. Machine gun firing rates will leave you with no balls! Whereas, careful skimming of the milk will often knock the goal ball over the other side whilst your steel ball rolls back to you.

Smuggling Budgies

An illegal move beloved by small children, “smuggling budgies” means trying to hold on to one or more steel balls whilst you “high ten” at the beginning of a round. If your opposing team member has contorted fingers when they “high ten”, suspect foul play!

Gallery