Croquet Set Buying Guide
Playing croquet has always been associated with
upper classes and a bit of a mystery to the rest of us. But the
fact is that this is a great game for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Croquet is an extremely tactical sport that will
give your brain an impressive workout. Much like snooker it is
essential to be able to strategise and plan ahead, and then you
will require excellent skill and judgement to execute your plan
– and win.
Croquet can be played socially with family and
friends. There are a lot of etiquette rules in the game, which
creates a laid back and relaxing pace to the game, perfect for
a summer picnic.
However there is also a huge competitive following
of croquet. In fact croquet is a very well developed sport, with
recognized clubs and associations, and is actually played competitively
in over twenty countries.
What you need?
The equipment can vary significantly in size,
weight and quality, so you need to decide how much you are willing
to pay. Consider whether you have professional aspirations or
are just looking for a great family activity and balance this
against the cost.
There is quite a good range of croquet sets available
on the market and to suit most budgets so you’re bound to
find the perfect croquet set. In fact some croquets sets sell
for just £100.
The basics you will need are:
Balls
Each set will include 4 balls: red, black, blue
and yellow. The regulation balls are 35/8 inches in size and weigh
1lb, which is an important consideration for those of looking
to play competitively.
Mallet
Classic mallets are made of wood with cylindrical
heads. The heads on these classic mallets are approximately 9’’
long.
However there are many other designs and materials
used nowadays. For example you can use mallets with smaller heads
that are generally suitable for garden play. Shafts are now also
produced with fibreglass, carbon fibre, metal or nylon, which
affect the weight of the mallet and may suit some players better.
And for competition purposes the heads tend to be rectangular
and made with hard synthetic end-faces.
Hoops
The hoops come in different materials, but the
best quality hoops are those made of solid cast iron. They set
rigidly into the ground and so will not shift around during play.
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