How to Play Quoits

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Quoits is an outdoor throwing game in which players pitch flat rings at a target pin called a hob or mott. It is simple to learn, genuinely skilful to master, and plays well in a back garden, on a lawn, or at a village fete. Two players compete head to head, or four play as two pairs.

Its appeal is the same combination that makes bowls and horseshoes perennially popular: easy enough for children to join in, competitive enough to keep adults properly interested. A full game takes under an hour, the equipment packs away small, and no two ends play quite the same way.

A little history

Quoits has been played in Britain for several centuries and references to ring-throwing games appear in documents from the medieval period onward. Its precise origins are unclear, with some historians linking it to Greek and Roman discus traditions and others treating it as an independent British folk game. By the nineteenth century it was well established as a pub and fairground game across England, Scotland, and Wales, with regional rule sets that varied considerably in pitch length, ring weight, and scoring. The Northern and Scottish game traditions in particular developed their own formal codes that survive in organised club play today.

Setting up

1. Choose your pitch length. A standard garden game uses a distance of 9 to 11 metres between hobs; shorter distances (3 to 5 metres) suit younger players or limited space.
2. Push one hob vertically into the ground at each end of the pitch so it protrudes roughly 5 cm above the surface. If playing a single-hob format, set one hob at the far end only.
3. Mark a throwing line at each end directly in line with the hob, if the ground does not already show a clear standing position.
4. Divide the quoits between players. In a two-player game each player takes two quoits of a different colour or marking. In a four-player (pairs) game each player still throws two quoits per end.
5. Decide the target score before play begins. 21 points is the most common target; 11 and 15 are used for shorter games.

How to play

1. Decide who throws first by agreement or by each player throwing one quoit; the nearest to the hob goes first.
2. Standing at the throwing line, the first player pitches both their quoits underarm toward the far hob, one at a time.
3. The second player (or opposing pair) then throws their quoits from the same line toward the same hob.
4. After all quoits have been thrown, score the end (see Winning and Scoring). Both players then walk to the far end and throw back toward the opposite hob. This completes one round.
5. A quoit that encircles the hob with no part of the ring touching the ground around it is called a ringer and scores highest.
6. If neither player throws a ringer, the quoit lying closest to the hob scores. Only one player scores per end: if your nearest quoit is closer to the hob than any of your opponent's quoits, you score for every quoit of yours that is closer than their nearest quoit.
7. Measure disputed distances from the nearest inside edge of the quoit to the base of the hob. Use a straight rule or string; eyeballing is not sufficient when quoits are close.
8. Ringers cancel: if both players have a ringer, they cancel each other out and the remaining quoits are assessed for closest. If both players have two ringers, the end is a dead end and no points are scored.
9. Play continues, alternating throwing ends, until one player or pair reaches the agreed target score.

Winning and scoring

Only one player or pair scores per end, using the 'counting out' method: the player whose quoit is nearest the hob scores one point for every one of their quoits that is closer than the opponent's nearest quoit. A ringer scores 2 points in most garden-game codes; in some regional traditions it scores 3. The first player or pair to reach the agreed target (usually 21 points) wins. Points cannot exceed the target on a single end in some variants; check house rules before play begins.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns whether a quoit is genuinely resting on the hob pin or has merely leaned against it. A true ringer must encircle the pin and lie flat or nearly flat; a quoit propped against the side of the hob does not qualify as a ringer and is scored purely by distance. If two quoits appear equidistant from the hob, measure carefully from the inner edge of each ring to the base of the pin. If the measurement is genuinely equal, those two quoits cancel and the next nearest quoit determines scoring. No player should touch any quoit before all measuring for that end is complete.

In pairs play, partners throw from opposite ends of the pitch, so each player always throws toward the hob that the opposing pair has just thrown from. Partners may discuss tactics between ends but should not advise during a throw. If a quoit lands completely outside the agreed playing area or strikes an object outside the pitch, it is typically declared dead and removed from scoring, though house rules vary; agree this before play starts.

How to win more often

• Aim for a consistent release point and swing arc on every throw. Repeatability matters far more than power.
• Throw flat: a quoit that arrives level with the ground is more likely to settle close or ring than one that arrives at an angle and bounces.
• In competitive play, prioritise dislodging your opponent's closest quoit over attempting a speculative ringer. A reliable 'nearest' point is safer than a missed ringer attempt that leaves you behind.
• When you are already scoring, your second quoit can be used defensively to block the area directly around the hob, making it harder for your opponent to undercut your leading quoit.
• Adjust your throwing weight for wind. In a headwind, release slightly harder and flatter; in a tailwind, shorten your swing to avoid overshooting the hob.

Variations

Indoor Rope Quoits

Played on a table or a small floor board, typically with a single central hob and four lightweight rope rings per player. The pitch is much shorter (around 2 metres) and the game is commonly scored to 11. All other counting-out rules apply as standard. This version is well suited to wet weather and younger children.

Northern Long Pitch

A traditional format associated with the north of England and parts of Scotland, played with heavy metal quoits on a clay bed at a pitch of around 18 metres. Ringers typically score 2 points and the target is 41 points. Club-level play uses formal written codes and the game has an organised competitive structure in several northern counties.

Pairs (Four-Player)

Two players form a team and stand at opposite ends of the pitch. Teammates throw toward each other's end rather than walking to score. This speeds up play and introduces a cooperative element: partners must communicate which quoits to leave in place and which zone to target. Scoring follows the standard counting-out method.

Target Scoring Variant

Instead of counting out, each ring scores points based on where it lands: a ringer scores 3 points, a quoit within one ring-width of the hob scores 2, and any quoit on the board or within the agreed playing circle scores 1. All players score each end regardless of who is nearest. This variant suits mixed-ability groups and keeps younger players engaged throughout.

Quoits: frequently asked questions