Best Croquet Set – Buyer’s Guide

Croquet is another summer game. I already wrote about field hockey sticks. Now consider croquet.

There are many things to consider when purchasing the best croquet set. Depending on the type of gameplay you have planned and the skill level and age of the players, you may need different accessories, styles, and quality of the game pieces than you initially thought you needed.

Here are a few tips on what to look for in the best croquet set for sale in 2023 and a few reviews to help you start shopping.

Best Croquet Sets For Sale in January 2023

Brand, Model	Handles	Mallets	Balls	Wickets	Carrying Case
Juegoal Six Player (Best Budget Choice)	26"	6	6	9	yes	[amazon fields="B07597J7NL" value="button"]
Amish-Crafted Deluxe 8 Player (Editor’s Choice)	28" or 32"	8	8	9	yes	[amazon fields="B00HIL51T4" value="button"]
Baden Deluxe Series Croquet Set	27"	6	6	9	yes	[amazon fields="B004A135S4" value="button"]
GoSports Premium Croquet Set	36"	6	6	9	yes	[amazon fields="B075QVT6RM" value="button"]
Wood Mallets Premium Garden Croquet Set	36"	4	4	6	yes	[amazon fields="B06XP87N9D" value="button"]

1. Best Cheap Croquet Set: [amazon link=”B07597J7NL” title=”Juegoal Six Player Croquet Set”]

When you are looking for a fun game for your family and friends that all ages can enjoy, try a croquet set that not only gives you outdoor fun but will also help to improve motor skills. The Juegoal Six Player Croquet Set is a great game for parties, picnics, and family events.The set comes equipped with six 26 inch hardwood handles and six molded balls that are weather resistant. Plus, you get nine steel wickets that include a vinyl coating.

The mallet and their handles are simple to put together as the handle only needs to be screwed into the mallet which will take only a couple of seconds.

Customers liked how easy it was to carry, that it was lightweight, and came with a carrying case. Others liked the quality and how easy it was to set up.

[amazon box=”B07597J7NL”]

2. Best Croquet Set: [amazon link=”B00HIL51T4″ title=”Amish-Crafted Deluxe 8-Player Croquet Game Set”]

It is not uncommon to see Amish families out enjoying a croquet game in their yard on a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Your family can also have these same fond memories with the Amish-Crafted Deluxe 8 Player Croquet Set. This set is constructed by Amish Craftsmen right in the middle of Amish Country in Pennsylvania at Groffdale Machine Shop for incredible quality and durability.

Every set comes equipped with eight Maple mallets that are not only lathe-turned but the section rings are hand painted with matching colors to the corresponding balls. On each mallet head, there are two rings made with polished brass adorn that keep the wood from breaking apart or cracking. Also, lathe-turned are the two stakes made of hardwoods that feature multicolored sections.

Mallet and ball game

There are nine wickets that measure 5/32″ in diameter made of metal with a vinyl-coating so they do not bend easily and are pretty substantial so they can take a beating. Made from plastic polymer, the eight balls measure 3-5/16″ in diameter.

Plus, there are three different handle lengths on the mallet including standard 24-inch handles that are great for kids or smaller adults, 28-inch handles that fit the average adult, and the 32-inch handles for taller adults.

Also included is a beautiful pinewood holder that includes a carrying handle making your croquet set portable and well-organized.

Customer loved how good the quality of the product is and the materials that were used in its construction. They also felt it was a good price considering the quality.

If the Deluxe 8-Player Croquet set is out of stock, these Amish also make a 31-inch handle length set made in Ohio.

[amazon box=”B00HIL51T4″]

3. Best Wooden Croquet Set for the Price: [amazon link=”B004A135S4″ title=”Baden Deluxe Series”]

Summer becomes more enjoyable when you add the classic game of croquet to your backyard fun.
The Baden’s Deluxe Series Croquet Set is very portable making it ideal for a leisurely afternoon game play with family and friends in the park or in the comfort of your own yard. This set comes equipped with all the pieces you need to set up a game quickly whenever you are ready to play.

With the detachable croquet mallet heads, the Baden Deluxe Series Croquet Set easily packs up into its nylon carrying case. Still, it is also straightforward to put together with the included connector pieces.
You also get durable steel wickets that keep their shape even after being hammered into the ground. This set is designed more for backyard croquet and is also a very affordable set for casual family use. Plus, it is excellent for camping, social events, and family picnics.

Customers felt that this was an excellent inexpensive set that was perfect for casual play in the backyard. Not everyone was happy with the quality but thought acceptable for the price.

[amazon box=”B004A135S4″]

4. Best Quality for the Money Croquet Set: [amazon link=”B075QVT6RM” title=”GoSports Premium Croquet Set”]

Even though many consider croquet a game of the past, some manufacturers have been updating this classic game so families and friends can once again enjoy it. The GoSports Premium Croquet Set includes a modern color scheme and design that helps them to stand out from the dates sets on the market.

The handles and mallets are made from hardwoods to give you the most durability while the leather handles give you extra comfort.

Full Size for Adults & Kids

All ages can use the 35″ handles, and adults won’t hurt their back bending over too far. The set comes equipped with nine wickets, six balls, six mallets, a set of rules, and a carrying case so you can stay organized or take the game to the park. This set also comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Customers like that it was made of real wood and not plastic. Others found it sturdy and appreciated the long handles and carrying case.

[amazon box=”B075QVT6RM”]

5. Highest Quality Croquet Set: [amazon link=”B06XP87N9D” title=”Wood Mallets Premium Garden”]

Enhance your croquet experience with the Wood Mallets 4-Player Garden Croquet Set. Perfect for beginners or seasoned players, this set provides everything you need to have a fun-filled and competitive croquet game.

Using the finest materials, this handcrafted set includes four mallets measuring 36-inches long that are made from hardwood giving you an effective and accurate driving experience. The mallets were robust and durable enough to take on the hard play with handles octagonal shaped and cylindrical shaped heads. It includes four balls made of a composite of molded plastic that included a lightly milled surface giving the set a dynamic rebound and is the perfect choice for playing croquet at home.

The set also comes with six wickets that are powder-coated and constructed of tubular steel measuring ½ inch and a solid crossbar measuring 5/8 inch. The wickets also have a hard-wearing but smooth finish. The hardwood center stakes come in four colors that include a peg that won’t be damaged when knocked to the ground.

The Wood Mallets Premium Set also includes a beautiful pine box for storage that features steel latches, sturdy back hinges, metal corner plates, and reinforced rope carrying handles. This elegantly appointed storage box is finely crafted and feature finger joints. The set also comes with a 28-page rule and tactics book.

Customers that bought this product loved the quality of everything from the mallets to the box everything is stored in. They also felt the price was fair considering the quality of the set.

[amazon box=”B06XP87N9D”]

Frequently Asked Questions

[amazon box=”B002YRKEJY”] [amazon box=”B002YRKEJY”] [amazon box=”B00HIL51T4″] [amazon box=”B07K2D33C7″] [amazon box=”B002YRKEJY”] [amazon box=”B00HIL51T4″] [amazon box=”B00HIL51SK”] [amazon box=”B07K2D33C7″ description_items=”0″]

Buying Guide Croquet Set of 2023

How to Choose your Croquet Set

One of the most important considerations when choosing a croquet set is to think about the players’ age that will be using the set. Ages will differ if an entire family uses it, so a good choice is the [amazon link=”B07597J7NL” title=”Juegoal Lawn Croquet Set”]. Not only is it a lightweight set, but the hoops, balls, and mallets will weigh less than a set with full-size accessories which guarantees that both the adults and children will be able to use the set comfortably. The set is also a good choice for beginners. Even adults may feel more comfortable with the stable and lightweight croquet set until they gain some experience of moving around a weighted ball around for an extended time. Even though the Lawn Croquet set is easier physically, it still creates a game with great precision.

For those that are more experienced and confident in their playing abilities. You will want to purchase a set that has mallets that weight up to 1.3kg. More advanced croquet sets will have croquet balls that weigh sixteen ounces and include high-quality structured mallets and 16oz croquet balls. This type of set will guarantee the highest accuracy and precision and encourage fast skill development that provides for an exciting croquet game.

Considerations When Buying a Croquet Set

Mallets

Depending on the set’s specific purpose, the number of mallets will vary. A mallet is a stick you hit the ball with, and it features a round head that is attached to the bottom of a long stick.

Also, consider weight when buying the best croquet set. Mallets can come in different materials like aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber or woods like tawa, hickory, or ash. Wooden mallets will be heavier. Wooden mallets work well for older players, younger players, and beginners. Wood provides more power to your hits. The other materials are suitable for more experienced players with the strength to hit the ball with ease.

Other considerations when considering a mallet:

• Weight – Beginners tend to use a mallet that is too lightweight, so if you are having a hard time hitting shots a long distance. You may want to consider using a heavier mallet, especially if you aren’t particularly strong. The average weight of a mallet is between 2 pounds 10 ounces to 3 pounds 4 ounces while carbon fiber mallets tend to be the lightest.
• Length – The length of the shaft that is right for you will depend on your style and stance.
• Shaft shape – Many players tend to like octagonal or hexagonal shafts instead of round ones which will help them hold the mallet at a consistent angle.
• Rigidity of shaft – If you have a rigid shaft, you will usually have better control, specifically for stop shots.
• Peripheral weighting – If you have lead weights on the sides of the head or a shape that puts most of the material on the sides, you will have a mallet that swings in a straight line.
• Size of head – Mallets with a large cross-section is usually preferred by beginners. This size reduces the chance of hitting mallet’s edge while more experienced players prefer smaller cross-section mallets.
• Shape of head – Most of the modern mallets have a square head instead of a round one.
• Materials used – Cheaper mallets use wood, and more technically advanced mallets use carbon fiber or metal.

Croquet Balls

The next important part of the best croquet set is the balls. Available in a variety of colors, the balls usually come in orange, green, yellow, black, red, or blue colors and will correspond to the mallet you are using. Colors can be helpful to those players who get distracted when playing as well as the custom of croquet play. You use the same ball that you start with throughout the game. But in some variations, you may use more than one ball at a time.

Varying in weight, the ball can depend on the type of game you are playing. Serious matches will need a regulation ball weighing sixteen ounces while casual games can just adjust to your needs. Lighter balls can be a great way for older and younger players who don’t have the same strength as the other players, so you can always look for balls made of plastic or other materials.

Stakes

Next in the croquet set are the stakes. These are the actual target you are aiming for as you play, and they usually have the colors of the balls on them, which indicate that you are to hit them with your ball. After hitting every stake and zigzagging through the wickets, you have won the game. Make sure to buy stakes that are sturdy and can take a beating.

Wickets

One of the last parts of croquet sets to consider are the wickets. You navigate through the wickets in a specific direction to win the game.

You must have sturdy wickets since it is more than likely that they will get hit by both balls and mallets.

In some cases, a ball can hit a wicket so hard it can move if the wicket is poor quality. You also want a wicket that will keep its shape after being hammered into the ground.

Wickets can be made of plastic, wood, steel, or wired hoops. The least expensive wickets are the wired hoops, but they also tend to be the least sturdy over a long period. Wood, plastic, or steel are good choices that are long-lasting.

Add-Ons

There are also adds on that can help make your game a little better, including corner pegs and boundary string. Boundary string consists of construction nylon that you can purchase in 500-foot spools in either fluorescent pink or white yellow. Corner pegs are either made of narrow board or dowel and can be painted yellow, black, red, or blue. You can even add flags in these colors making your game look very official. Add some bright, colored wicket clips in each of your balls’ colors to help remind you where you and the other players are on the court. For those that are very serious, you may want to use the Carryover Deadness Challenging Optional Rule that requires a Deadness board that can be pretty expensive. They can also be hard to make, but you can use colored markers a dry erase board effectively.

Additional Information to Know About Croquet

Surfaces

One of the best parts of croquet is that you can play it on a variety of surfaces. Since the surfaces are all different, this can affect how you play the game. For example, “golf croquet” is played on a surface similar to a golf green where the grass is short, allowing the ball to move further and hit more accurately.

However, most games are in backyards so that the game will depend entirely on the condition of your yard. It may have low or high grass, which can have a significant impact on how the game will play out. Accurate players can have less ball control than when they play on tall or less well-kept lawns. You can also play on an artificial surface, which is becoming a more common trend for those living in weather that varies a lot or where the weather is cold, or it is hard to keep grass maintained.

Croquet is similar to bocce ball and is an excellent pastime for seniors making artificial turf a superb choice. The grass is then uniform and allows for the ball to be hit more accurately and struck harder. With artificial turf, you can play croquet indoors. You can also play on Clay, giving you a uniform surface that allows the balls to go further, although it won’t go as far as it would if it was on grass.

Variations

You can vary your game of croquet depending on the number of players you have. Most commonly, you will see the game played with either four or six players. You will also find most sets in either a four or six player configuration. If you think you will ever have six players, it’s good to get that six players set instead of getting the four-ball set and then buying extra mallets and balls later. If you go for the four-ball set, you can undoubtedly play a format where you rotate players in and out to keep the game fresh and allow everyone to play.

When you do want to purchase your set a la carte, find stores that have a good choice of sets and accessories that will let you add on as you go. Buying piecemeal can be more expensive than just purchasing a complete set. But it will give you get the pieces that you want when you need them. Purchasing individual parts can also be helpful if you have an older set that you may want to add a couple of mallets or balls to upgrade.

Formal or Informal

Surprisingly, there is quite a difference between the informal and formal versions of croquet. Official versions let a player only use their mallets while informal versions allow you to trade out your mallet. Casual games also enable the players to decide on the rules. All rules are pretty much negotiable and can change at any time in the game when there is a dispute where the players will then decide by voting on the decision. Formal croquet requires players to follow a set of etiquette and rules that cannot be changed.

Seasoned players, as well as kids and beginners, love croquet. Croquet is an exceptional game for the backyard. You can drink a cold beer and spend time with friends and family. It even gives you a great way to exercise and spend time outside during the summer. So it’s an excellent investment for anyone, even if you don’t enjoy anything too athletic.