Choosing the correct Croquet Mallet For You If you are an experienced played or just looking to replace the mallet from the Croquet Set you have in the Garden getting the correct mallet has a lot to do with who you are both in terms of your body dimensions (height, arm length etc) and playing style. Mallets have three major components top a croquet Mallet that need to review in order to pick the correct mallet for you. Firstly you need to look at the mallet head. Most competition mallets have a square head, where garden mallets tend to have a cylindrical head shape. It is best to select a mallet with rounded edges to the face as this will prevent the wood from chipping around the face and make the mallet a lot more hard wearing. The actual material that the mallet head is made from is not that important but, from a personal point of view I believe that soft woods are simply not up to the wear and tear of a match. Most serious player now favour a square headed mallet that would normally have face dimensions of between 5.7cm and 6.5cm square, although there are player that prefer this to be narrower. Narrower faces can be challenging to play and shots can be rather inaccurate. New players to the game would be best to avoid the narrower mallet heads to begin with. The major reasoning for taking a square mallet head over a round one would be the ability to play hampered shots with more ease, although this is a really personal choice and the real differences in play are marginal. Square faced mallets can be made of many different materials, including carbon fibre and the sky is the limit on the price, the ends tend to be plated in Perspex or Tufnell plastic composite. The ends can need to be replaced and cheaper plated mallets can lose this section. The mallet head length also depends upon playing style and ability for most beginners or occasional garden style game players it is best to have a shorter mallet head of around 23 – 25cm in length. More able player sometimes prefer a longer mallet head, this gives more accuracy and make it harder to accidentally twist the mallet during player, which keeps the stroke truer, but in beginners can mean that you take divots of the lawn out and this is never a good thing! The Second thing to consider is the Mallet handle or shaft. These come in a variety of materials, most garden sets with come with a wooden handle; these can be either solid or spliced and vary from round through oval and even octagonal. Solid hard wood handles are extremely strong and comfortable. Hard wood offers strength and movement. Spliced wooden handles combine the strengths of two woods and can vary in the stiffness but can be cost effective. Most Wooden mallet shafts are made from Ash which is light and strong. Carbon Fibre and Fibre Glass shafts are also available for more tournament mallets. They offer great strength and a light weight construction. More experienced players will want a lighter weight in the handle so that the weight is in the mallet head itself, giving a better pendulum swing and a nicer feel. Wooden Handles are great but should be made of good quality wood. The Length of the Mallet Shaft should reflect your own personal preference although it is always best to go longer if unsure. The general rule for getting the correct length is to measure from your wrist (as it sits by your side loose) to the floor and then add about an inch to this measurement. This will give you a comfortable grip height. If in doubt the best policy is to go longer. At the end of the day you can take away but you can't add! Handles have different types of grips from plastic tape style banding in garden or family Croquet Sets and really the leather is better in terms of wearing and comfort. The third and last thing to consider in your mallet choice is the Weight of the mallet. Weight again is a personal choice, a heavier mallet will be better at longer shots and a lighter mallet with be better for stop shots or more delicate strokes if the lawn is faster. Most players will be looking at a mallet which is around 1.25kg to 1.50kg. It is mostly recommend that players aim for a mallet around the 1.40kg mark. The weight should sit mostly in the mallet head and if you have a longer mallet with a good weight in the head but you want to reduce this, taking some length (without making you stoop) can be a good way to achieve this. Croquet Mallets are a very personal matter and the correct choice can make your game. Beginners should look to a good compromise and experts should think seriously about that style of play they employ and choose a mallet that reflects this. 
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