Croquet mallets and balls in Dublin
The short answer: yes, a Dublin player can get an Invictus mallet, or Invictus X balls for the club, made to order and sent from Australia to your door in the city. For Dublin's soft, damp lawns we usually suggest starting with the heavier Invictus Rise.
Croquet in Dublin
Dublin's croquet record is a long one: Croquet Ireland's history pages date the first Irish Championship to 1861, and until about 1920 the game was run from Kenilworth Square. Today the best-known venue is Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in South Dublin, whose four lawns host most international matches and the larger tournaments. The Championship of County Dublin was first played there in May 1909 and still takes place every summer, usually in the week after Wimbledon.
Nearer the centre, Herbert Park Croquet Club plays on two lawns inside the public park, and Trinity College keeps two full-sized lawns in New Square. North of the city, Newbridge House in Donabate has two lawns, one of international standard, refurbished by Fingal County Council in 2016-17.
What Dublin's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Dublin's weather is mild and changeable, with rain spread through the year and few hard frosts. Grass grows for much of the season, so lawns are often lush and slow. A dense head carries the ball through that grass with less effort, and aluminium copes with a wet kit bag far better than timber; see product care.
Which Invictus mallet suits Dublin players
Invictus Rise, US$695. The heavier of our two mallets, and the most popular. Its aluminium head is around 3 lb, and its sweet spot is a little larger than usual, so it is slightly more forgiving on a heavy lawn. We generally pair it with an 11 inch head.
RF Pro, US$1,295. Robert Fletcher, the World Champion, helped develop this flagship. Its head is 3D printed aluminium, weighted with brass and faced with composite, and comes in at about 2 lb 12 oz, which makes it lighter and very precise.
Your handle length sets the build, and you pick an 11 inch or a 12 inch head. The standard finish is Graphite Black; choosing Snow White, Deep Purple, Rose Gold or NRA Blue instead costs US$119. Our fitting guide shows how to measure, and you can weigh up the pair on compare mallets.
Balls for Dublin clubs
Invictus X is approved by the World Croquet Federation for championship play. Each ball is 450 g, every part of it is made in Australia, and four cost US$635. As a rough guide a club needs one set in first colours and one in second colours per lawn. See how many ball sets a club needs.
Delivery to Dublin
Every mallet is made to order in Australia. Allow usually 4 to 8 weeks from order, an estimate and not a promise. Ball sets work differently: we tell you the delivered price to Dublin first, and you pay only once you have agreed it.
Questions Dublin players ask
Can I try a mallet before committing? Not in person in Dublin, but a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, a free extra, lets you use it at your own club first and then decide.
Rise or RF Pro for a wet Irish summer? On slow, damp grass most players do better with the 3 lb Rise. If you mainly play on a fast, closely cut lawn and like a light mallet, look at the RF Pro.
Can a club order balls and mallets together? Yes. Send one list; we price the balls to your club's address before payment.
Other places in Ireland: croquet mallets and balls across Ireland.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.