Croquet mallets and balls in Milan

The short answer: players in Milan and the Varese area can order an Invictus mallet made to their measurements, or Invictus X championship balls, delivered to Italy from Australia. Both of our mallets suit Lombardy's lawns, and most club players start with the Invictus Rise.

Croquet in Milan and Lombardy

Organised croquet in Italy is young and began just north-west of Milan. According to the Federazione Italiana Sport Croquet, the sport was officially introduced to Italy only in December 1988, when the Associazione Italiana Croquet was founded in Busto Arsizio. The first Coppa delle Alpi was played in 1991 at Circolo Idea Verde in Olgiate Olona, and Golf Club Le Robinie in Solbiate Olona hosted the European Open in 1993 and 1994. The association became the federation in 1999, and in 2001 it built two croquet courts at Cascina del Lupo in Busto Arsizio, creating Club Italia.

Today the federation lists four clubs, three of them in Lombardy: Milano Croquet Club, Club Italia in Busto Arsizio and White-Green in Marnate, with the fourth in Lucca. Italy won the Coppa delle Alpi in 1993 and the Coupe des Lacs in 1998, 2000 and 2003.

What Milan's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

The Po Valley has hot, humid summers and cold, often foggy winters, with heavy showers and thunderstorms in the warmer months. In a dry, hot spell a well-cut lawn can play fast and firm; after a storm it softens quickly. A lighter, precise mallet earns its keep on the fast days, and a heavier one helps when the grass is soft. Summer heat and humidity do not trouble an aluminium head.

Which Invictus mallet suits Milan players

Invictus Rise, US$695: our most popular model. Its aluminium head is in the region of 3 lb, and the sweet spot is slightly larger than average, so it is a little easier to keep under control. We normally advise the 11 inch head.

RF Pro, US$1,295: the flagship we developed with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its head is made by 3D printing aluminium, then weighted with brass and given composite faces, to around 2 lb 12 oz, so it is lighter and very precise on fast summer grass.

We build every mallet for the person who will use it: give us your handle length and choose a head of 11 or 12 inches. Graphite Black is included; Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold and Deep Purple cost US$119 on top. Weight is not adjustable. The fitting guide explains measuring, and compare mallets helps you choose.

Balls for Milan clubs

Invictus X is a World Croquet Federation championship-approved ball, 450 g in weight and made entirely in Australia, priced at US$635 for a set of four. Clubs generally budget a first-colour set and a second-colour set for every lawn. Our guide to choosing croquet balls for a club goes into more detail.

Delivery to Milan

Each mallet is made once you order and sent from Australia; the usual time is 4 to 8 weeks from order, which is an estimate. If you order ball sets, we tell you the delivered price to Italy first, and you pay only after that.

Questions Milan players ask

Which mallet should a newer player choose? Usually the Rise. It is the more forgiving start; the RF Pro suits experienced players who want precision on fast lawns.

Will the summer heat affect the mallet? No. Aluminium does not dry out or split in heat the way timber can. See product care.

Is there a guarantee? Yes: an optional one, lasting 30 days, for US$99, so you can try the mallet in club play before deciding.

Other pages for Europe: Invictus across Europe.

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