Croquet mallets and balls in York

The short answer: York croquet players can buy an Invictus mallet, or Invictus X balls by the set, online with delivery inside or outside the city walls. On the soft, often dewy lawns of a Yorkshire spring, we usually start people on the Invictus Rise.

Croquet in York

York Croquet Club began in 1988 and plays at Scarcroft Green on Scarcroft Road, near the walls. It has three full-size lawns, two small practice lawns and a clubhouse with kitchen. The emphasis is association croquet, which the club calls the Queen of Games. Newcomers can book taster sessions, introductory courses early in the season or a one-day Play-in-a-Day, with Croquet 4 Kids and group sessions too; equipment is supplied and flat-soled shoes are the only requirement. The main season runs from late March or April to September, with a social programme through the winter. York U3A runs a croquet group too.

What York's lawns and weather mean for your mallet

The flat Vale of York is cooler than southern England, and the start and end of the season bring dew that lingers into late morning and lawns that run slowly. Midsummer can quicken them considerably. One mallet for a damp March opening and a September finish needs head weight for heavy days and a forgiving face for fast ones.

Which Invictus mallet suits York players

Invictus Rise, £525. The Invictus mallet people buy most. It has an aluminium head of about 3 lb and a sweet spot that is a little larger, so it is slightly easier to control on a slow lawn. The 11 inch head is our usual partner for it.

RF Pro, £975. The flagship model, brought to life with World Champion Robert Fletcher. Its head is 3D printed aluminium, weighted with brass and faced with composite, at roughly 2 lb 12 oz: lighter, and very precise.

Neither is held in stock: we make yours to your handle length, and the head can be 11 or 12 inches. Graphite Black is standard; for £89 you can have Rose Gold, NRA Blue, Snow White or Deep Purple. Head weight is part of the design, not an option. Read the fitting guide and compare mallets first.

Balls for York clubs

£479 buys a set of Invictus X. These 450 g balls are made entirely in Australia and the World Croquet Federation has approved them for championship use. A three-lawn club would plan, as a guide, on three first-colour sets and three second-colour sets. Our guide to choosing club balls explains more.

Delivery to York

Each mallet starts life when your order arrives and is then sent to the UK; expect it usually 4 to 8 weeks after ordering, an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ball sets are priced to your door, and you approve that figure before paying.

Questions York players ask

I learnt on club mallets at Scarcroft. Which should I buy? The Rise; its forgiveness helps while your own stroke settles.

Can I see how it plays before committing? Yes. A free satisfaction guarantee gives you 30 days with it.

Is dew a problem for the head? No; aluminium is unaffected. Towel the faces off after play, as product care suggests.

More of England: towns and clubs on our England page.

Designed in Queensland, made in Australia.