Croquet mallets and balls in Pinehurst
The short answer: croquet players in Pinehurst, Southern Pines and the wider Sandhills can order an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online, and we ship to North Carolina. If you are stepping up from resort or club equipment, start with the Invictus Rise, the most popular mallet we make.
Croquet in Pinehurst
Pinehurst is best known for golf, but croquet has a settled home at the resort. It keeps two croquet courts beside a lawn bowling green, open to resort guests, and the Tennis Club arranges lessons for individuals and groups with instruction, equipment and lawn fees included. Guests may book their own court time or join a game with Pinehurst Country Club members, and up to 24 people can play at once with players rotating in. The resort says it has hosted many national and international croquet and lawn bowls tournaments over the years. North Carolina as a whole has one of the country's stronger concentrations of croquet clubs.
What the Sandhills' lawns and weather mean for your mallet
The Sandhills take their name from deep, sandy soil that drains fast, so courts tend to recover soon after a summer downpour. Summers are hot and humid; spring and fall are the comfortable months, when lawns tend to be at their firmest and quickest. Winters are mild enough for play on many days. Expect a surface that changes pace through the year rather than one that stays slow.
Which Invictus mallet suits Pinehurst players
Invictus Rise, US$695. An aluminum head of about 3 lb, plus a slightly enlarged sweet spot that makes it a little easier to control. It is the natural next step after a resort mallet, and we usually suggest the 11 inch head.
RF Pro, US$1,295. Developed with World Champion Robert Fletcher, our flagship uses a 3D printed aluminum head with brass weights and composite faces. It weighs about 2 lb 12 oz: lighter, very precise, and aimed at tournament players.
Each mallet is built to order to your handle length, with your choice of an 11 inch or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is included; Deep Purple, NRA Blue, Snow White or Rose Gold is a US$119 option. Measuring help is in the fitting guide, and compare mallets sets the models out side by side.
Balls for Sandhills clubs
Invictus X balls have World Croquet Federation championship approval, weigh 450 g and are made entirely in Australia. A set is US$635, and one set each of first and second colors per court is our guide. For background, read what WCF approval means.
Delivery to Pinehurst
Because mallets are made individually, delivery to the Sandhills usually takes 4 to 8 weeks from order, as an estimate. With ball sets, you see and approve the delivered price before any payment.
Questions Pinehurst players ask
I learned on resort mallets. Which feels closest? The Rise: its weight and forgiveness ease the change.
What if it does not suit my swing? Choose the free 30-day satisfaction guarantee and decide after a month of games.
Will humid Carolina summers damage it? No; aluminum does not swell. Wipe the faces after play and see product care.
More American places: croquet mallets in the United States.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.