Croquet mallets and balls in Basingstoke

The short answer: Basingstoke players can order an Invictus mallet or a set of Invictus X balls online and have it delivered in north Hampshire. The club itself notes that most players eventually buy their own mallet; for that first one, the Invictus Rise is what we would suggest.

Croquet in Basingstoke

Basingstoke Croquet Club was founded in 1984 and is now part of Thornycroft Bowls and Basingstoke Croquet Club, sharing a green and clubhouse with the bowlers in St Andrew's Road, South Ham. It plays both Golf and Association Croquet, enters the Southern Federation's GC and AC leagues, and offers regular coaching in both. Its 2026 season ran from 30 March to the end of September. Newcomers can drop in on Saturday mornings to try the game, and a U3A section plays informal Golf Croquet on Mondays and Tuesdays. The club makes an annual croquet tour to clubs outside its region and is twinned with clubs in Borås in Sweden, Benalla in Victoria and Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, not far from where Invictus mallets are designed.

What Basingstoke's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

Basingstoke sits on the chalk of north Hampshire, inland and a little cooler than the coast. Playing on a bowls green means a flat, closely mown surface, and in a dry summer it can run quickly. Early-season grass is softer and slower, so a Basingstoke mallet needs some weight behind it as well as accuracy.

Which Invictus mallet suits Basingstoke players

Invictus Rise, £525. This is our most popular mallet. Its 3 lb aluminium head (approximately) moves the ball on soft spring turf, and a slightly larger sweet spot makes it a little easier to control for players buying their first mallet. We generally recommend the 11 inch head.

RF Pro, £975. The flagship we created with World Champion Robert Fletcher. An aluminium head, made by 3D printing, holds brass weights behind composite faces; at about 2 lb 12 oz it is lighter and very precise, for league players who want a finer touch.

Each mallet is made to order for your handle length, with either an 11 or a 12 inch head. Graphite Black is standard and Snow White, Deep Purple, Rose Gold or NRA Blue cost an additional £89. See the fitting guide and compare mallets.

Balls for Basingstoke clubs

Invictus X has World Croquet Federation approval for championship play. Each ball weighs 450 g, and the balls are made entirely in Australia; a set is £479. For a club with one lawn, one set in first colours and one in second colours is the usual guide. Our page on croquet ball colours explains the difference.

Delivery to Basingstoke

Mallets are made one by one after you order, then sent to the UK; most reach Hampshire around 4 to 8 weeks later, an estimate and not a promise. Ball set orders carry a delivered price that we confirm before you pay.

Questions Basingstoke players ask

The club lends mallets. When should I buy my own? Once your stroke settles, a mallet fitted to your handle length helps you repeat it; the fitting guide explains how to measure.

Can I try it at the club before committing? Yes, with the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee for £75.

I play mostly U3A Golf Croquet. Which one? The Rise, for its forgiveness; the RF Pro suits players chasing precision.

For more towns, see croquet mallets and balls in England.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.