Croquet mallets and balls in Ilkley

The short answer: croquet players in Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and the rest of Wharfedale can order an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online for delivery to their door. For a club that began as a U3A group and still coaches newcomers every year, our usual first recommendation is the Invictus Rise.

Croquet in Ilkley

Ben Rhydding Croquet Club started life in 2006 as an Ilkley U3A group playing at Ilkley Tennis Club. It moved to Burley Cricket Club in 2008 and in 2011 settled at Ben Rhydding Sports Club on Coutances Way, becoming a section of the sports club. Since 2012 it has run annual coaching courses for U3A members, which the club says have grown interest. Its two near full-size lawns can take 16 players on a busy day. There is a pavilion and gazebo, and members can use the sports club's main clubhouse and bar. The grounds are shared with the tennis club. Players of every standard are welcome, and the club belongs to the Yorkshire federation.

What Ilkley's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

Ilkley lies in the Wharfe valley beneath Ilkley Moor, and Pennine showers are part of most seasons. Valley lawns stay green and soft, especially early and late in the year, and they run quick only after a settled dry spell. A mallet with weight in the head lets a newer player send the ball the full length of a soft lawn without rushing the swing.

Which Invictus mallet suits Ilkley players

Invictus Rise, £525. Chosen more often than any other mallet we make. Roughly 3 lb of aluminium head and a sweet spot that is a fraction larger make it a little easier to control. Our normal advice is the 11 inch head.

RF Pro, £975. The flagship of the range, shaped through our work with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its head is aluminium, made by 3D printing, set with brass weights and fronted by composite faces, for about 2 lb 12 oz in total: lighter, and very precise.

Both are made to order to the handle length you send, with an 11 inch or 12 inch head. Standard finish is Graphite Black; Snow White, Rose Gold, NRA Blue or Deep Purple adds £89. Weight comes with the model. See our fitting guide and comparison of the two.

Balls for Ilkley clubs

Invictus X balls weigh 450 g, are made entirely in Australia and carry World Croquet Federation approval for championship play. A set costs £479. Two lawns call, as a guide, for two first-colour sets and two second-colour sets. See how many ball sets a club needs.

Delivery to Ilkley

We make each mallet after your order and send it to the UK. Expect it in Wharfedale usually 4 to 8 weeks from order, as an estimate. For balls, the delivered price is set out and agreed before you pay.

Questions Ilkley players ask

I have just done the coaching course. Should I buy now? If you plan to keep playing, yes; a mallet fitted to your handle length helps your stroke settle.

What if I change my mind? Add the optional satisfaction guarantee for £75 and you have 30 days to decide.

Will Pennine showers affect the head? No. Wipe the faces dry after play, as product care describes.

Elsewhere in England: the England hub.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.