Croquet mallets and balls in Stourbridge and Dudley
The short answer: players in Stourbridge, Himley and across Dudley borough can order an Invictus mallet or Invictus X balls online for delivery to the door. For park lawns used four times a week from April to September, the Invictus Rise is where we would start.
Croquet in Stourbridge and Dudley
Croquet has been played in Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge since 1968, and Stourbridge Croquet Club, with about 35 playing members, keeps that going today on lawns that Croquet England's directory counts as one and a half. The season runs from April to September, weather permitting. Golf croquet is played on Monday and Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings, and association croquet on Tuesday mornings; covenants on the park mean no play on religious holidays. Introductory coaching is free to members: it begins with golf croquet and, after six lessons, moves on to both forms of the game, with all equipment provided. A few miles north, Himley Croquet Club plays on three lawns in the grounds of Himley Hall and Park near Dudley, and both clubs belong to the West Midlands Federation.
What Stourbridge's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
The Black Country sits on high ground west of Birmingham, inland and moderately wet, with cool springs and the occasional hard frost. Park lawns open in April on soft, slow grass and only quicken in a dry summer. With golf croquet most days, the stroke that matters is a firm, accurate one through the ball, which a heavier, forgiving head makes easier to repeat.
Which Invictus mallet suits Stourbridge players
Invictus Rise, £525. Our most-ordered mallet. Around 3 lb of aluminium makes up the head, with a sweet spot opened up slightly so it is a little easier to control. Pair it with an 11 inch head, as we normally recommend.
RF Pro, £975. The flagship model, which we developed with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Very precise and lighter at about 2 lb 12 oz, it has a 3D printed aluminium head holding brass weights, with composite striking faces.
We make each mallet after you order, to the handle length you send and with an 11 or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is free; Deep Purple, NRA Blue, Snow White or Rose Gold cost £89. Weight is not something you choose. The fitting guide and side-by-side comparison will help.
Balls for Stourbridge and Dudley clubs
At £479 a set, Invictus X brings 450 g balls made entirely in Australia, with World Croquet Federation approval for championship play. As a guide, each full lawn needs one first-colour and one second-colour set, so three of each at Himley. Read what WCF approval means.
Delivery to Stourbridge and Dudley
Once ordered, the mallet is built and sent to the UK, usually reaching the Black Country 4 to 8 weeks after you order; that is an estimate. Ball sets come with a delivered price you agree before paying.
Questions Stourbridge players ask
I have finished the six introductory lessons. Which mallet? The Rise; it is forgiving while your stroke settles.
Can I use it at club sessions before deciding? Yes, with the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee for £75.
Will a cold April morning affect the head? No. Dry the faces after play; see product care.
More across England: our England page.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.