5 Best Croquet Set For Your Backyard

One enjoyable activity you might want to check out is croquet! Whether for random days in your backyard or a gathering with friends, this backyard game will surely have you enjoying it a hundred times more.

Croquet was said to have originated from French peasants in the 13th century where it was played by hitting wooden balls with wooden mallets through a willow branch croquet hoop. Then, it surfaced in Ireland in the 1800s and was then called “crooky.”

After that, it made its way to England where it became popular with the upper class. Then, it made its way to the American coastal upper classes until it was redesigned as a backyard activity for children in World War II.

Croquet is extremely easy to play, easy to set up, and conveniently portable. Plus, it’s a good means to get that sweat on.

Take note, though, that this game requires more skill and strategy than strength.

Playing this game holds health benefits as you can walk up to a couple of miles in a single game. Add to that the benefits of just spending time outdoors! Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you’ll surely enjoy this game.

Best croquet sets

GoSports Premium Croquet Set for Adults and Kids

An Amazon Bestseller is this set from GoSports. It is one of our top picks when it comes to mid-range croquet sets highly raved by its users. The set comes with:

• 6 durable hardwood mallets
• 6 textured polyethylene balls
• 9 plastic coated wire wickets
• 2 end posts
• Set of play rules
• Carrying case

You will also not go wrong with its vibrant colors. The GoSports premium set is available in two sizes: deluxe or standard. The deluxe set fares well for taller players while the standard one for shorter ones.

Another key difference is the mallet handle, with the deluxe being 35” in size with a padded leather grip as opposed to the standard one that’s 28” and without any special grip.

The deluxe balls are also quite bigger at 10 oz. and 3” diameter compared to the standard balls weighing 7.5 oz. and measuring 2.5”.

Pros

• Tall mallets to accommodate taller players
• Great customer service
• Lifetime guarantee

Oakley Woods Extreme 6-Player Croquet Set

If we’re talking long term, this set from Oakley Woods is worth looking into. While the price can steep, this one will surely last you a long time and you can even pass it on to your children.

It comes with:

• 6 extremely durable mallets with polyethylene heads connected to ash shafts with an octagonal upper grip
• 6 3-5/16” polymer balls
• Durable wickets with a steel rod core and a chip-resistant powder finish
• Goal stakes that are naturally finished ash with a steel ground pin for easy stacking
• 9 wicket rule book and instructions
• Nylon Cordura carrying bag

Pros

• Great customer service
• Customizable
• Indestructible mallets
• Great longevity

Six-Player Deluxe Croquet Set from Crown Sporting Goods

The Crown Sporting Goods’ Six-Player Deluxe Set features the following:

• 32” hardwood mallets with rubber caps
• 6 pieces 3” diameter all-weather polymer balls
• 2 pieces 21” hardwood goal stakes
• 9 pieces of vinyl-coated steel wickets
• Carrying case

This set comes at an affordable price but is sturdy enough to last through the use of children. In our opinion, this comes at a great value.

However, the mallets somehow won’t fit into the carrying case once assembled, so that’s quite a hassle. This doesn’t matter much if you use this occasionally, but for more frequent uses, you might want to check some portable options instead. 

Pros

• Durable hardwood stakes and mallets
• Rubber-capped mallets lessen the risk of ball damage

Harvil 6-Player Croquet Set for All Ages

The company Harvil is a trusted brand when it comes to outdoor and indoor game products, so you can trust this croquet set to be reliable. This 6-player set comes with:

• 30” mallets with chip-resistant bamboo heads and hardwood shafts
• 9 steel wickets with a white vinyl coating
• 2 durable hardwood end posts
• 6 colorful and well-weighted polymer balls
• Carrying case

This is another great mid-range croquet set with some downsides: balls dent a little easier than others and require disassembling to have everything fit in the carrying case. But if you’re just playing for recreational purposes, this should be good enough!

Pros

• Sturdy hardwood and bamboo mallets
• Customizable color scheme
• Carrying case

Juegoal Six-Player Croquet Set

Another affordable option is this Juegoal croquet set. This is a good introductory set for kids, included:

• 26” mallets with hardwood and rubber-capped handles
• 6 weather-resistant molded balls
• 2 hardwood goal stakes
• 9 steel wickets with vinyl coating
• Carrying case
• Instruction manual

This wins our best for value and is perfect for occasional use. Just take note that the carrying case is not as sturdy as others. Otherwise, this should serve you well!

Pros

• Affordable price
• Vibrant colors
• Rubber-tipped mallets for protection of the balls

Buyer’s Guide for Croquet Sets

Now that you have a general notion of the greatest croquet sets available let us assist you in narrowing down your options. This buyer’s guide section will provide you with all of the information you need to choose the best croquet set for you.

What should you look for in a croquet set?

Before you buy a set, ask yourself the following questions to guarantee you get the perfect one for you and your garden.

What age group do you intend to buy the game set for?

One of the most significant factors to consider when selecting a croquet group is the age of the players that will use the group. If the entire family intends to use them, the Lawn Croquet Gaming Set is the best option.

It is not just a lightweight toy, but the handles, balls, and small bags weigh less than a full-size toy. Its purpose is to ensure that both adults and children can enjoy the game.

It is also an excellent alternative for novices since adults can feel more at ease with a steady, lightweight cricket game in order to obtain some experience moving around the ball by weight for a prolonged amount of time.

Although the Lawn Croquet Collection is more physically comfortable, it still produces a high-accuracy game.

The players

The number of mallets in your set influences the number of players who can participate in each game. Large croquet sets include eight mallets, whereas small sets include six mallets.

Materials and construction quality

Croquet sets with wooden components are the best. Natural woods with colored finishes are widespread and create the greatest croquet sets, but they might be pricey for some players who only need a croquet set occasionally.

Other sets may include components made of plastic or vinyl. While this makes the bundle more affordable, it lowers the game’s quality.

Handles for mallets

The most important aspect of playing croquet is matching the length of the mallet handle to your height. Long mallet handles may be difficult for children to use, so keep this in mind when choosing a set for your children.

If you want your children to join in on the fun, a 28-inch handle is excellent. If you want a croquet set for adults, however, stick to handle lengths of 35 inches or more.

Mallet head safety

During the game, the mallet head is subjected to some blunt force injuries. After a few years of usage, certain mallet heads may begin to split.

As a result, we recommend that you select a set that includes rubber tips for the mallet head’s ends. These tips increase the life of the mallets and eliminate feedback when striking the ball through the mallet handle.

The greatest croquet sets employ copper rings on the mallet heads to keep the wood from cracking in the mallet head.

Balls for croquet

Croquet players used to utilize wooden balls in their games back in the day. Wooden balls, however, are not suitable, and most sets now include plastic balls.

However, after extended use, certain sets may experience warping in the shape of the balls.

Depending on the set, the diameter of the balls ranges from 2 to 3 inches. As a result, if the balls become out of shape, you may always replace them with balls of a similar size.

Wickets and Stakes

Depending on the company, the remainder of the components in your croquet set may be designed and manufactured with either wooden or plastic elements. For a more realistic feel, we recommend investing a bit more in your set and going with one that includes hardwood 24-inch stakes and wickets.

Check to see if your set includes a carry bag for easy transport and storage.

Other factors to consider when purchasing a croquet set

Croquet games are typically played in backyards or gardens. Surprisingly, the height of the grass might affect how the game is played. People have started playing on artificial surfaces where the temperature is cold in modern times.

Variations: Most people play in groups of four or six. If there aren’t many people playing, it’s a good idea to invest in a four-ball set. Extra mallets and balls can be purchased later if more players like to come.

Setting up your court

Once you have a good croquet set, the next thing you should do is set up your court. A standard court is 100’ by 50,’ but if you don’t have that much a space, you can scale it down to fit.

Set up the 9 wickets patterned into two diamond shapes that touch in the middle, with an additional wicket behind each diamonds’ endpoint. You can also add some markings in the outer edges of the field with a string.

For more information, you can check the guide provided by the United States Croquet Association (USCA).

How do I play croquet?

The main goal of the game is to hit the ball with your mallet through the wickets following the correct order and direction with your croquet mallet, the head part specifically. Whoever gets the most points and finishes first wins!

Order is dictated by colors, but you can decide however you want it to be. To start, have your ball halfway between the finishing post and the first wicket.

Try to be the first one to be able to move your balls through the wickets in the correct order and accurate direction. The maximum number of players is six, and whoever finishes first wins!

Now if this sounds complicated, watching a video may help you better and our how to play croquet guide and our croquet rules article.

Remember that you only get one shot per turn unless if your ball goes through a wicket or hits the turning stake, then you will be given bonus shots. To make that better, hit one of your opponent’s balls, and you’ll get two bonus shots called a “roquet.”

Roquet

If you’ve successfully hit your opponent’s ball, you’ll earn two bonus shots which you can do in two ways:

• Mallet head: placing a ball within a mallet head’s length from the ball you hit
• Foot shot: placing your foot on your ball to hold it steady, then hitting and knocking the opponent’s ball out of place. If the opponents’ ball goes out of bounds, it gets positioned one mallet-length back.

Croquet clubs

Not enough space to play this game? No worries! You can join a croquet club which has a standard-sized court with meetups and events you can join in. 

FAQs

Last words

There you have it! If you’re interested in playing croquet or just simply looking for a good set, you may go back to our recommendations and see which one fits your needs and your budget.

For a set to last you a lifetime or more, go for the Oakley Woods Croquet Set. But for occasional use without breaking the bank, the Juegoal Croquet Set should be enough. 

Last update on 2024-04-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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