Croquet mallets and balls in Norwich
The short answer: Norwich players can order an Invictus mallet or a set of Invictus X balls online and have it delivered anywhere in the city or wider Norfolk. For members at Eaton Park, where many start on social mornings and some play on through the winter, the Invictus Rise is the mallet we would suggest first.
Croquet in Norwich
Norwich Croquet Club was formed in 1981 and plays on two lawns in Eaton Park, off South Park Avenue, close to the park's model boating lake. Its season normally runs from April to October, with winter play, as the club puts it, for the hardy. The club makes it easy to start: social sessions run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 12, and coaching is usually offered on Thursday evenings at 5.30pm, each at £5 a session with equipment, tea, coffee and biscuits included. Members use club equipment and get coaching from more experienced players, and the club also hosts corporate events. Its open fixture is the Chalkhill Mallet Handicap, an Association Croquet weekend held in early August. The club is part of the East Anglian Federation.
What Norwich's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Norfolk is one of the driest counties in England, and a public park lawn in a dry August can turn firm and fast. Spring and autumn bring heavier dew and slower grass, and the cold easterly winds of an East Anglian winter make that season's lawns slower still for anyone who keeps playing. A Norwich mallet must stay accurate when the lawn is quick and still carry the ball when it is not.
Which Invictus mallet suits Norwich players
Invictus Rise, £525. Our most popular model. Its aluminium head weighs around 3 lb, giving carry on slow, dewy lawns, and because the sweet spot is slightly larger it is a little easier to control for players who learned on social mornings. We usually advise the 11 inch head.
RF Pro, £975. The flagship mallet in our range, developed with World Champion Robert Fletcher. A 3D printed aluminium head is fitted with brass weights and composite faces; total weight is roughly 2 lb 12 oz, lighter and very precise for Association players on fast summer lawns.
We build each one to order, cutting the handle to your length and fitting an 11 or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is the standard finish; for £89 you can choose Snow White, Rose Gold, NRA Blue or Deep Purple. See the fitting guide and compare mallets.
Balls for Norwich clubs
Approved by the World Croquet Federation for championships, the 450 g Invictus X ball is made entirely in Australia, and £479 buys a set. Two lawns would usually take four sets in all, first and second colours on each. Read how many ball sets a club needs.
Delivery to Norwich
Each mallet is made after you order, then sent to the UK, generally reaching Norfolk 4 to 8 weeks from order; that is an estimate. We confirm the delivered price of ball sets before you pay.
Questions Norwich players ask
I have only been to the social mornings. Should I buy now? If you mean to keep going, yes; start with the Rise and let your game catch up.
Can I try it before committing? The optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee, at £75, lets you play club games with it first.
Is the RF Pro better for the Chalkhill Mallet Handicap? For experienced Association players on a fast summer lawn it often is; others keep the Rise.
Other English towns are listed on our England page.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.