Croquet mallets and balls in Stratford and South Taranaki
The short answer: croquet players in Stratford, Hawera and the rest of South Taranaki can have an Invictus mallet made to their own handle length and delivered to them, and clubs can add Invictus X balls with championship approval. For most players here, the Invictus Rise is the place to start.
Croquet in Stratford and South Taranaki
Stratford Croquet Club was started in 1906. Its game day is Tuesday, with club association croquet from 10am and golf croquet from 1pm, and the Stratford Press has reported the club welcoming 11 new members in a single year to reach 27.
Stratford sits in a busy local circuit. Hawera has two clubs, Hawera and Hawera Park, and Inglewood is not far away. Papers Past shows Hawera beating Stratford in a 1921 match, and in 1927 the South Taranaki croquet association, formed by ten clubs, was granted its headquarters at Hawera. The rivalry carries on in the South Taranaki Johnstone Shield, with Stratford and Hawera teams meeting again in 2025, and in 2024 Stratford hosted the Taranaki Masters Games golf croquet with players from five clubs.
What Stratford's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Stratford lies on the eastern side of Mount Taranaki, where moist westerlies bring a lot of rain, so lawns are often green and soft. The club's courts were renovated in 2017, and players from other clubs at the 2024 Masters Games called them very good and true. Expect slower grass for much of the year, and a quicker run in a settled summer spell.
Which Invictus mallet suits South Taranaki players
Invictus Rise. Our most popular mallet. Its aluminium head weighs close to 3 lb with a slightly bigger sweet spot, giving a bit more control when the lawn is wet and heavy. We generally fit an 11 inch head.
RF Pro. Our flagship, designed with World Champion Robert Fletcher: a 3D printed aluminium head carrying brass weights and composite faces, roughly 2 lb 12 oz overall, lighter and very precise.
Each is built to order to your handle length, with an 11 or 12 inch head. Graphite Black is the standard finish, and Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold or Deep Purple cost extra. Weight cannot be chosen. The mallet fitting page shows how to measure.
Balls for South Taranaki clubs
Invictus X balls are World Croquet Federation championship approved, 450 g each and made entirely in Australia. A sensible guide is one first-colour and one second-colour set per lawn; how to choose croquet balls for a club covers the rest.
Delivery to Stratford
Every mallet is made for one player, so delivery to Stratford or Hawera is usually 4 to 8 weeks from order, as an estimate. See each product page for prices.
Questions South Taranaki players ask
Which mallet for Tuesday golf croquet? The Rise. Its forgiving face makes steady hoop approaches easier on soft grass.
Will rain damage the mallet? No, but dry it after play and keep it indoors; see our care notes.
What if I am unsure? Add the optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee and play your club fixtures with it first.
Nearby: New Plymouth and Whanganui. All towns: croquet mallets and balls across New Zealand.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.