Croquet mallets are generally made of hardwood and have weighted heads for balance. The heads are allowed to be made of any material though, as long as it isn't considered an advantage over wood. Mallet heads come in various shapes, such as round headed and square headed, and the ends are usually plastic or composite. There are no general rules regarding the weight, size or length of a mallet. Each mallet head is reinforced with chrome plated bands for extra strength and durability and to help stop it from splitting. The shafts are usually wood, fiberglass or composite. Mallets are exposed to hard impacts, cold and hot weather as well as moisture, soil acidity and the sun, so you need a sturdy one and it should be weather treated as well. Don't store wooden mallets in hot, dry places and store them vertically over the winter so the croquet mallet won't warp.
