Croquet mallets and balls in Worthing
The short answer: Worthing croquet players can have an Invictus mallet made to their handle length and delivered to West Sussex, and either of the town's clubs can order Invictus X balls a set at a time. For players who share club sessions across the week, the Invictus Rise is our usual first suggestion.
Croquet in Worthing
Worthing has two clubs in the Croquet South East federation. West Worthing Croquet Club is the croquet section of the West Worthing Club on Titnore Way, at the Goring-by-Sea end of town, with two lawns. Worthing's sporting record notes that the West Worthing Club opened at Downview Road in 1886 with tennis and croquet grounds for the then new town of West Worthing. Today the section hosts drop-in sessions on Monday mornings and Wednesday and Friday afternoons, runs internal competitions and plays friendly and league matches with nearby clubs.
Worthing Croquet Club plays on a single lawn at Field Place, off The Boulevard, whose Grade II listed house now stands in a public park.
What Worthing's lawns and weather mean for your mallet
Worthing lies on the flat coastal plain between the South Downs and the Channel, with mild winters and a good share of sunshine. Sea breezes are a regular feature of an afternoon game. In a dry summer coastal lawns firm up and run quickly, so the stroke that matters is the gentle one: a soft approach or a controlled hoop shot. After autumn rain the grass slows and asks for a firmer swing.
Which Invictus mallet suits Worthing players
Invictus Rise, £525. Our most popular model carries an aluminium head of about 3 lb. A fractionally larger sweet spot keeps it manageable. Our standard advice is the 11 inch head.
RF Pro, £975. Created with World Champion Robert Fletcher, the flagship sets brass weights and composite faces into a 3D printed aluminium head. It weighs around 2 lb 12 oz and feels lighter and very precise on quick summer lawns.
Either is made to order to the handle length you need, with a choice of 11 or 12 inch heads. Graphite Black is standard; Snow White, NRA Blue, Rose Gold and Deep Purple are £89 extra. The weight is set. To decide, see compare mallets.
Balls for Worthing clubs
Invictus X balls have World Croquet Federation championship approval, weigh 450 g, are made entirely in Australia and are £479 a set. As a guide, budget one first-colour and one second-colour set per lawn. Our guide to choosing balls for a club covers the rest.
Delivery to Worthing
Mallets are made after the order is placed, so allow typically 4 to 8 weeks for delivery to Worthing. That figure is an estimate only.
Questions Worthing players ask
Can a one-lawn club justify championship balls? Yes. The guide is two sets per lawn, so the outlay scales with the club.
Is the RF Pro too light in a sea breeze? Wind affects the swing more than the head. If you prefer a heavier feel, choose the Rise.
What if I pick the wrong one? The optional 30-day satisfaction guarantee, £75, gives you a month of play first.
More English towns: croquet mallets and balls in England.
Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.