Croquet mallets and balls in Newport

The short answer: Newport players can order an Invictus mallet or a set of Invictus X balls online and have it shipped to Rhode Island. On the town's historic grass, where a sea fog can slow the morning and a dry August afternoon can quicken it, the Invictus Rise is our usual first recommendation.

Croquet in Newport

Newport's croquet is bound up with the Newport Casino on Bellevue Avenue, the club that opened to its first patrons in July 1880 and held the first U.S. lawn tennis championships the following year. Home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame since 1954 and a National Historic Landmark since 1987, it still keeps grass courts, and the Newport Casino Croquet Club offers championship croquet on them. The Casino has a real place in the American game: the United States Croquet Association ran a three-day croquet school on its lawns in August 1989, and in 1994 it hosted the USCA National Championships, a week-long event whose quarterfinals carried on through a rainstorm.

What Newport's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

Newport sits almost surrounded by water, and the ocean shapes the game. Summers are milder than inland, sea breezes are near constant and fog can roll in off the bay, leaving grass damp and slow until it burns off. Winters are cold, so serious outdoor play runs roughly from late spring into fall. Heavy dew asks for a little extra weight through the ball.

Which Invictus mallet suits Newport players

Invictus Rise, US$695. The most popular Invictus has an aluminum head close to 3 lb and a sweet spot slightly bigger than most, which makes it a little easier to control when the turf is wet. We usually fit it with an 11 inch head.

RF Pro, US$1,295. Our flagship, a collaboration with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its head is 3D printed in aluminum and fitted with brass weights and composite faces; at about 2 lb 12 oz it is lighter and very precise, for competitive players.

Each is made to order for your handle length, and you can have an 11 or a 12 inch head. Graphite Black is the default finish; NRA Blue, Rose Gold, Snow White and Deep Purple are US$119 upgrades. Measure with the fitting guide; see also compare mallets.

Balls for Newport clubs

Invictus X has World Croquet Federation approval for championship play. Each ball weighs 450 g, the balls are made entirely in Australia, and a set is US$635. Our guide for clubs is one first-color set plus one second-color set per court; what WCF approval means covers the standard.

Delivery to Newport

We build every mallet for its player, so delivery to Newport usually takes 4 to 8 weeks from order; that is our estimate, not a promise. For ball sets, we give you the delivered price to approve before you pay.

Questions Newport players ask

How should I look after it by the sea? Wipe the head and faces after a damp session; product care has more.

When should I order for the summer season? In early spring, so the mallet arrives before the courts open.

Can I return it if I am unsure? Add the free 30-day satisfaction guarantee and use it in real games first.

More places to play across the country: Invictus in America.

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