Croquet mallets and balls in Sydney's Inner West
The short answer: Inner West players can order an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online, each mallet built to order. When you stop borrowing club mallets, the Invictus Rise is the model we normally suggest.
Croquet in the Inner West
The Inner West is home ground for the sport in this state. Cooks River Croquet Club, at 3 Richardson Crescent beside Mackey Park and the river, opposite Tempe station, shares its four lawns with the headquarters of Croquet NSW, which uses them for state fixtures and training. Golf croquet runs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, association croquet on Fridays and gateball on Wednesday afternoons, and a free two-hour come-and-try session is held every month for anyone fourteen or older. New members take lessons first through a trainee membership. Marrickville Croquet Club, formed in 1926 in what is now Marrickville Park, still plays today. Further west, Strathfield's croquet goes back to 1904, when lawns were added at the old Strathfield Recreation Club. The croquet players went their own way in 1941 and in 1946 moved to council land at 50 Redmyre Road, where their clubhouse opened in May 1947. It has two lawns, plays gateball on Sundays and lends club mallets to beginners.
What the Inner West's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
A few kilometres back from the sea, summers are hot and sticky, with fewer cooling breezes than the coast, and winters are mild with only light frost on the coldest mornings. Storm rain leaves courts slow; a dry January makes them quick.
Which Invictus mallet suits Inner West players
Invictus Rise, A$990. The most popular Invictus mallet. It has an aluminium head of close to 3 lb and a sweet spot made slightly larger than usual, which makes it a little easier to control. We would suggest the 11 inch head.
RF Pro, A$1,980. The flagship, built in collaboration with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its aluminium head comes off a 3D printer, gets brass weights and composite faces, and ends up at about 2 lb 12 oz, so the mallet is lighter and very precise.
Give us a handle length, choose an 11 inch or 12 inch head, and pick a finish. Graphite Black is standard; NRA Blue, Snow White, Deep Purple or Rose Gold is an extra A$130.90. Start with mallet fitting, then read compare mallets.
Balls for Inner West clubs
Invictus X balls cost A$990 a set, weigh 450 g each and are made entirely in Australia, with World Croquet Federation approval for championships. A four-lawn venue like Cooks River would, as a guide, keep four sets in first colours and four in second; our ball sets guide explains.
Delivery to the Inner West
Each mallet is made after the order is in; expect it about 4 to 8 weeks later, an estimate only.
Questions Inner West players ask
I have done the monthly come-and-try. What next? Join a club and borrow mallets while you learn, then start with the Rise.
What if I order and regret it? Choose the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee (A$99) and use the mallet in club play before you decide.
Can a hot summer lawn harm the head? No; it is aluminium. Read our product care page for upkeep.
More places in New South Wales: see the New South Wales page.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.