What kit to get and from where

This page contains information about suitable equipment to buy for ordinary college and personal use, based on OUCC's experience of using similar equipment, and details of some special Oxford University student discounts. For information about how to learn the basics of the game, where to go to see the OUCC demonstration match and how to receive free OUCC coaching, please follow this link.

If you are considering buying kit, and would like to try out similar items before you buy or would like some further advice, then do not hesitate to get in touch with the OUCC Committee.

Where to buy equipment

Croquet kit can be bought 'ready boxed', but this is rarely the best way of buying kit, nor the cheapest. The most economic way of buying equipment is to buy the best value pieces of kit separately.

Separate pieces (and sets) are available from various shops, but for many items the Croquet Association Shop offers better prices than the high-street. Ted Isaac, who runs the shop, will be pleased to help. Contact him on 01242 242318 or email sales@croquet.org.uk. The shop is operated online at: http://www.croquet.org.uk/shop/index.html. For details of a discount that the CA Shop has kindly made available to Oxford University students, over and above the already discounted prices that the CA offers, see the section below.

If you need to get a set, mallet or ball in an absolute rush then Elmer Cotton on Turl St. have an extensive range of Jacques' croquet equipment. They offer a 10% discount to students showing a valid student card.

Oxford University Student Discounts

The following shops and manufacturers offer discounts to Oxford University members:

The Croquet Association Shop
To encourage student croquet, the Croquet Association Shop offers negotiable discounts on purchases for Oxford colleges. The available discount will depend on the nature of the purchase. For further details please contact Ted Isaac, mentioning that you would like to receive the Oxford University student discount.

John Hobbs Croquet Mallets
John Hobbs is kindly offering his mallets to OUCC members with a £20 reduction. This brings down the price of his standard model to £150 + £10 p&p. As standard features Hobbs mallets offer a choice of head length, width and weight, a detachable and rotatable lightweight handle, a built in shock absorber, a padded lower grip and an unusually large selection of different head woods. Optional extras include a curved bottom and a variable weight head. For more details see the John Hobbs Croquet Mallets website.

There is a John Hobbs mallet available to try-out at the OUCC clubhut, amongst the members' general use mallets.

Elmer Cotton Sports Shop, Turl Street, Oxford
Elmer Cotton offers a 10% discount to students showing a valid student card.

Croquet Association Membership
Student membership of the CA is only £10 (available to all students). Joining the CA entitles you to play in the dozens of tournaments that are held at clubs all around the country. For more details the CA by telephone 0207 736 3148 (during office hours) or email caoffice@croquet.org.uk

Suitable Equipment for College Use

The sections below contain details of items suitable for college use, and which are commonly used at OUCC. For other information about buying kit see http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/equip.htm. The prices in the sections below are only given for guidance: for up-to-date prices (with Oxford University student discount, where appropriate), please contact the supplier.

Balls

There are currently 2 types of CA approved balls you can purchase:

• Dawson International
  Priced at around £210 for a set of four, and available from the Croquet Association Shop. These are generally regarded as being the best balls and are a favourite amongst tournament organisers. However, these are quite expensive for colleges to be able to afford. On the other hand they are very durable and should last for many years.
• Sunshiny
  Priced at £117 for a set of four, again available from the Croquet Association Shop. These are more suitable for college purchases given their lower price. As with the Dawson's, these are of the approved by the CA and match tournament ball specifications.

Many other balls do not meet the CA specifications. If you have to economise ensure that the balls weigh 16 oz, e.g. Townsend (£60) (OUCC has no experience of these).

Mallets

When buying mallets there are several factors to consider, as well as price:

• Handle length
  The most common length is 36", but if you are buying several for a college, it may be useful to include one that is slightly longer, for example 38", which may be more comfortable for taller players. Conversely, a shorter one can be useful, although this is less critical since players can always hold their hands slightly lower down.
• Handle material
  Although mallets with wooden shafts are sometimes cheaper than other types, for general use in a college it is often worth spending a little extra to buy a mallet with a ber shaft, such as of fibreglass or metal, which will not break as easily, if it receives rough treatment from inexperienced players. Having replacement shafts fitted is expensive.
• Weight
  The typical weight is approximately 3lb, since this often provides the best compromise for the demands of different strokes.
• Head length
  Basic mallets often have approximately 9" long heads. However, where a longer head-length is an available option, it is well worth considering since longer heads are more 'stable' and more accurate to play with. For this reason the mallets used by the top players all tend to be about 12" long. Bear in mind also that longer length heads are easier to catch on the ground as the mallet is swung - for this reason for college use it is not advisable to buy a mallet with a head that is longer than 11".
• Head width
  Narrower heads enable some shots to be played that might be hampered by a wider head, and most more expensive mallets tend to be quite narrow. However, for inexperienced players, such as for general college use, it is advisable to have a mallet with a relatively wide head to reduce the likelihood of miss-hitting.

The following is a selection of mallets that are widely used at OUCC and at some colleges:

• Jaques "Hurlingham"(£120) wooden shafted mallets, made exclusively for, and only available from the CA Shop (see above for the CA Shop's Oxford Univerity student discount). It has a hardwood head with Tuftex reinforced faces, prime English ash shaft and a Takair grip.
• Manor House's "Basic" (£90) carbon fibre mallet. Longer heads are available. Supplied by the manufacturer: Prof. Alan Pidcock. As well as owning many of the standard (approx 9") head-length mallets, OUCC has recently purchased some with longer heads. For more details on his range of available mallets see this page.
• John Hobbs Mallets. See the Hobbs website for details.

Don't forget that there are also charges for postage. If you buy a number of mallets, where applicable, postage is charged at bulk rates.

Hoops

The ones made by Jaques are not fully CA recommended as they have X cross-section carrots (the part that pokes into the ground): solid carrots are recommended.

• Aldridge" (£185/set) steel hoops made with round solid carrots are best. Available from the CA Shop (See above for their Oxford Univerity student discount)

Lighter weight hoops can be used if the budget will not stretch. For further information see the CA Shop's webpage: http://www.croquet.org.uk/shop