Finding the perfect Croquet set can be really hard work. If you are new to the sport or even if you have played for a while, the number of sets and variations of equipment can be daunting.
Simple advice is not that readily available and so I am making it my mission to help people to buy a set without being flummoxed by all different Croquet sets on the market.
Choosing your set is a simple process. They are many, many sites and they all claim to be experts. If you like a set and a site and you are thinking of buying NEVER be afraid to call them and ask about the set you are interested in. Never hand over a lot of money for a set without speaking the retailer. Honestly this rule doesnt matter for cheaper garden sets, but I think it is key to the High end or tournament set purchase.
If you have recently taken the game up as a sport and wish to compete then the best advice for getting a Croquet set would be to get in touch with a local association or club of which I believe there are 176 registered with the Croquet Association.
Clubs and Associations will normally be happy to help you select a set that will be perfect for you skill level and the competitions you wish to compete in. I would be prepared to budget 300 + for this style of
Croquet set, but prices can be over a thousand pounds and they should be considered and investment piece.
If you are just starting out or interested in playing as a hobby without any real interest with competing with anyone other than family and friends then consider the more full sized sets that are available that are normally between 100- 400. Many sets are available with the standard 16oz composite balls, but also there are cheaper versions that have 12oz wooden balls. Composite balls are nicer overall as their build from composite plastic givens and much more even weight distribution. This makes their response to your mallets impact more predictable during play. Also wooden painted balls will flake and chip over time.
Buying a croquet set for the garden or for an event such as a family wedding or Barbeque is a wonderful idea and simple wooden full sized sets are perfect for this.
If you are looking at buying a set to play with children and adults there are a nice range of Family sets now available. Look for a set with full sized and childrens mallets, but also check out the ball sizes. There are now sets on the market that have smaller childrens balls AND full sized adult balls. This gives the adult and challenge and gives the children enough of an advantage to play alongside.
Key points to remember are -
1) Talk to your retailer - ask the questions, check the contents.
2) Think about how you are going to use the set - Dont spend Thousands on a set that will get used at a wedding and they not touched.
3) Stick your budget - there is a set out there for every budget!!!
