The open goal allows us to focus on hitting straight. We are not forced to hit hard due to someone rushing out, trying to defend. So don’t hurry yourself. You are only allowed one approach, so start back a ways so you can get a good line to the ball. Some canter, some walk.

Polo resumes play with a throw-in after every out of bounds and some whistles where no foul is the determination. Some infractions of procedure also are resolved with a throw-in, so it is rather obvious that throw-ins are a key factor in the play of the game. At the very least, it is a necessary evil.

Learning the proper strategy for this play is not difficult and has a high payout — it can set the tone for the chukker or even the game. Blowing through your opponents’ defense, or conversely, presenting a solid and consistent defense of your own during the knock-in can be a major psychological victory for your team, which can continue to pay dividends throughout the entire game.

It is true that sometimes just hitting that ball seems to be a noteworthy accomplishment. However, for effective play in any sport, ball placement and ball possession is what it all comes down to. There have been many an armchair quarterback on the sidelines of polo fields that feels the only acceptable shot is a long one with plenty of loft, you know, the crowd pleaser.

The polo field is an incredibly large area of play in the world of sport. An outdoor field is ten acres, which defines itself as nine football fields. That is more than an acre for each mounted person in the game. It is easy to see how we can do a lot of running without a great deal of progress.

The Masters do not look backwards, they look forward. They are able to place their entire focus on the remaining minutes of the game. They do not waste a single ounce of emotional energy on what has already passed.

This shot used to be called the millionaire’s shot. Because swinging into the legs of the horse would usually require getting new horses to replace the ones you lamed up.

You should know the shots you are most comfortable with in making from your stick and balling. Those are the ones you should depend on in competitive play.

I would advise for the most part, that players learn to turn with the direction of the flow of horses, so that you are in better position to defend the attacking players.

You are running after someone carrying the ball down the field. They are almost at the ball and you are trailing ten or more yards behind. Consider trying to anticipate which direction they will try to hit and plot a better course to that next play as opposed to following the footprints of the player you are pursuing.