Croquet mallets and balls in Leicester

The short answer: Leicester players can order an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online for delivery anywhere in the city or county. For a club lawn that plays slow in spring and quicker by midsummer, our standard suggestion is the Invictus Rise.

Croquet in Leicester

Leicester Croquet Club was founded in 1985 and plays at Monks Rest Gardens on Vicarage Lane in Old Humberstone. It belongs to the East Midlands Federation and plays on a single lawn. Learn-to-play courses run throughout the season from April to October, groups can book taster sessions, and the club has offered croquet as entertainment for weddings and garden parties when space allows. From May to September 2023 it also ran sessions funded by LRS Active Together, offering gentle exercise for people living with long-term conditions on alternating Wednesday mornings and afternoons. For bigger tournaments, Nottingham's nine lawns at Highfields lie within the same federation.

What Leicester's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

Leicestershire is in the middle of England, a long way from any coast, and among the drier parts of the country. That still leaves an English season of contrasts: April lawns hold moisture and play heavily, while a run of dry summer weeks can make the same grass firm and quick. A mallet with real weight in the head and a forgiving face handles both ends of that range.

Which Invictus mallet suits Leicester players

Invictus Rise, £525. The one most people choose from our range. The aluminium head is roughly 3 lb, and a sweet spot that is slightly larger than usual makes it a little easier to control. We usually recommend the 11 inch head with it.

RF Pro, £975. Our flagship, with development input from World Champion Robert Fletcher. We 3D print its head in aluminium, add brass weights, then fit composite faces; it ends up close to 2 lb 12 oz, the lighter and very precise one of the pair.

You order, then we make it: handle length to suit you, head length 11 inches or 12. Graphite Black is the standard colour; Snow White, NRA Blue, Deep Purple or Rose Gold is £89 more. Head weight cannot be chosen. Use our fitting guide and compare page.

Balls for Leicester clubs

The World Croquet Federation has approved Invictus X for championship play. Each ball is 450 g, every one is made entirely in Australia, and a set is £479. As a rule of thumb, one lawn calls for one first-colour set and one second-colour set. See what WCF approval means.

Delivery to Leicester

Your mallet is built when you order, then sent to the UK; it usually lands in Leicester 4 to 8 weeks after ordering, offered as an estimate only. Ordering balls, you will know and accept the delivered price before paying.

Questions Leicester players ask

I have just finished a learn-to-play course. Is it too early to buy? No. A mallet made to your handle length helps a new stroke settle; the Rise is the forgiving choice.

Can I play with it before deciding? Yes, if you take the satisfaction guarantee: £75, optional, 30 days.

Does a damp spring lawn harm the head? No. Wipe the faces after play; see product care.

Looking further afield? Try our England croquet guide.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.