Croquet Buying Guide
Croquet is a fantastic lawn game that help you spend more time outdoors, get some exercise in and spend time with friends and family. In a nutshell, the idea is that each player gets two balls through a series of hoops before any of their opponents. Precision is more important than strength – some shots will need a bit of welly, but most will require a lighter touch, which is why croquet is a game for all ages and abilities.
With so many options available, buying a croquet set can be overwhelming, especially for those who have never played the game before. To help you make an informed decision, we have created this handy croquet buying guide.
The most important question you should be asking yourself when choosing a croquet set is: ‘How often am I planning on using it?’ Those planning to have an occasional, fun game in the garden will have significantly different requirements to those who play more often. If you are planning to play regularly, you should look for sets made from durable materials that can withstand regular use.
Another key question to ask yourself is who will be using the set. This will help you to determine what size mallets and balls you will need to purchase. Full-size mallets are 3lbs each and can be as large as 36 or 38 inches. Whilst these are perfect for most adults, younger kids may struggle to use them. Similarly, the regulation, competition croquet balls weigh 16 ounces and can be too heavy for smaller children to hit. If you are planning family croquet games, you may want to consider sets with mixed-sized mallets and lighter balls.
Once you have answered these two questions, you will narrow down your choices.
Depending on how seriously you want to take the game, there are croquet sets for everyone. If it’s just for a bit of fun and you have a limited budget, the entry-level basic 6 player set is a good one to start with. It’s not full size, which means it’s suitable for the kids as well as the adults, and with plastic balls, your prize flowers should survive a few games!
If you’ve got children who are too young to handle a standard set, you can get them a dog-themed Junior Croquet Set so they don’t feel left out.
If you would prefer a traditional style, premium Croquet set, you should take a look at the Garden Games Hurlingham Croquet Set. This set will provide croquet enthusiasts with a beautiful and extremely robust equipment that will last a long time.