Croquet mallets and balls in Houston
The short answer: Houston croquet players can order an Invictus mallet, or a club set of Invictus X balls, through our website and have it shipped to them in Texas. Because Gulf Coast storms can leave a court soft and heavy, the roughly 3 lb Invictus Rise is the model we recommend to most Houston players.
Croquet in Houston
The city's six-wicket game centers on Memorial Park, the 1,466-acre park that opened in 1924 on the grounds of the former Camp Logan army training site and has been run by the Memorial Park Conservancy since 2016. Its croquet courts sit next to the Memorial Park Tennis Center and are the home courts of the Houston Croquet Association; bookings are subject to availability and handled by the City of Houston. A local magazine feature, photographing the association's players on its regulation court there, reported that the United States Croquet Association named it 2021 Club of the Year.
What Houston's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Houston is hot, humid and wet. Long, steamy summers and heavy downpours, sometimes from tropical storms coming in off the Gulf, can leave turf soft and slow, while the mild winters mean outdoor play is possible in most months. A head with real mass behind it keeps the ball moving across damp grass without the player having to force the swing.
Which Invictus mallet suits Houston players
Invictus Rise, US$695. Our most popular mallet has an aluminum head of about 3 lb, and its sweet spot is a touch larger than usual, which makes it a little easier to keep on line. We generally recommend it with an 11 inch head.
RF Pro, US$1,295. For the tournament player who prizes touch, our flagship was developed together with World Champion Robert Fletcher. A 3D printed aluminum head carrying brass weights and composite faces brings it to about 2 lb 12 oz: lighter, and very precise.
Both mallets are produced to order to fit your handle length, with either an 11 or a 12 inch head. Graphite Black is included; switching to Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold or Deep Purple is US$119. Start with the mallet fitting page, then read compare mallets if you are torn between the two.
Balls for Houston clubs
Invictus X balls are approved by the World Croquet Federation for championship play, weigh 450 g and are made entirely in Australia. A four-ball set costs US$635, and a lawn is usually served by one set of first colors and one set of second colors. Our guide to choosing croquet balls for a club covers the rest.
Delivery to Houston
We make each mallet only once it is ordered and then ship it to Houston; expect around 4 to 8 weeks from order, which is an estimate rather than a guarantee. On ball sets we confirm the delivered price before payment.
Questions Houston players ask
Will the humidity damage an aluminum head? No. Unlike timber, it will not swell or split; wipe it dry after a muggy evening game and follow our product care notes.
I play mostly golf croquet. Does that change the choice? Not much. Pick the Rise if you want forgiveness on slower grass, or the RF Pro if precision matters most.
What if it does not feel right? Add our free 30-day satisfaction guarantee and you can play with it before deciding to keep it.
More places in the United States: croquet mallets and balls across the United States.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.