After the birth of CROLF on June 4, 1999, the game was played with ordinary croquet

mallets bought from various sources. These mallets proved to be unsatisfactory for this game.

On September 12, 1999, I made a rude mallet on bois d'arc

with an oak handle. This mallet was formed with a draw knife from native timber. This mallet,

though looking like the back-side of ugly, gave a far better performance than any other that had

been tried. This crooked mallet was used as a trial from September 12, 1999, to November 7,

1999, achieving the following record. Seventy-nine games, 1,106 holes, 3,706 strokes, and six

hole-in ones, for a 3.350 average per hole.

From this trial period the present mallet has been made with some refinements, which

appear to be far superior to the original ones. The present mallet turned on a lathe, weighs

approximately 2 pounds, 34 inches long with a 2 3/4 inch diameter head that is 9 inches long.

The head is drawn down on each end to give a 2 inch striking surface. A band is added to both

ends to prevent splitting of the head. From November 13, 1999, to January 1, 2000, this mallet

had achieved the following statistics. Sixty-eight games, 952 holes, 3,112 strokes, two

hole-in-ones, for a 3.268 average per hole.