Croquet mallets and balls in Gisborne
The short answer: Gisborne players can order an Invictus mallet made to their measurements, and the club can order Invictus X balls, online with courier delivery from Australia. Most Gisborne golf croquet players will be best served by the Invictus Rise; the RF Pro suits those wanting a lighter, sharper mallet.
Croquet in Gisborne
The Barry Memorial Croquet Club on Aberdeen Road has been part of the Gisborne community since the 1940s. It began as an association croquet club and earned a name for producing strong players: it is the home club of Joe Hogan, who in 1989 became the first world singles champion. Golf croquet has since become the main game, and the club runs levels golf croquet tournaments; Gisborne players have won the Lower North Island golf croquet teams championship. It welcomes players of every level.
Gisborne is a long way from most other clubs. For administration it sits with the Bay of Plenty Croquet Association, and Croquet New Zealand lists it in its Hawke's Bay region, but the nearest other clubs are hours away by road.
What Gisborne's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Tairāwhiti is one of the sunniest parts of the country, with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Through the dry months the lawns firm up and run quickly, which rewards a clean, accurate stroke; after rain the grass grows fast and the pace drops. You want accuracy for quick lawns and carry for slow ones.
Which Invictus mallet suits Gisborne players
Invictus Rise. Our best-selling model. The head is aluminium, close to three pounds, and its enlarged sweet spot, only slightly bigger than usual, is what makes the Rise a little easier to keep on line. It is generally ordered with an 11 inch head.
RF Pro. The flagship, designed in partnership with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its aluminium head is 3D printed, then weighted with brass and faced with composite, and the finished mallet is near 2 lb 12 oz: lighter, and very precise when the summer lawns are quick.
Each one is made for its owner. Send your handle length, pick 11 or 12 inches for the head, and decide between standard Graphite Black and the extra-cost Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold or Deep Purple. Weight is not adjustable. The fitting guide explains how to measure yourself.
Balls for Gisborne
We make Invictus X balls entirely in Australia; each is 450 g and approved by the World Croquet Federation at championship level. As a starting point, hold one set of first colours and one of second colours for every lawn. What WCF approval means sets out the standard.
Delivery to Gisborne
A made-to-order mallet normally lands in Tairāwhiti somewhere between 4 and 8 weeks after you order. That range is an estimate and we cannot guarantee it. Ball sets are couriered, and you will know the delivered figure before paying.
Questions Gisborne players ask
Nobody nearby stocks them. Can I still try one? Add the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee and you can use it in Aberdeen Road club play before deciding.
Will the strong sun harm it? No. Aluminium does not dry out or crack in heat; see product care.
How do the two differ? Compare mallets explains, and each product page shows the price.
For the rest of the country, visit croquet mallets and balls in NZ.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.