Polo Tip #31: Proper Timing

Ok, I’ve worked on my riding, my swinging form is ok, why am I having trouble hitting?

Answer – Three reasons:1) Timing 2) Timing 3) Timing

We are running towards the ball at speed, when we get to the ball, our mind (clue is our mind) tells us-ok, now, swing, hurry, NOW !! We swing and guess what? Way too late. When we swing late, which most of us are pretty darn good at doing, we hurry our swing and catch the ball on our downward portion of our swing. All that does is drive the ball down into the ground or at best, our mallet rolls across the top of the ball and produces what we affectionately call the worm burner (for you worm lovers, that is slang for a grounder). That shot makes a louder noise and is tougher on the arm as you are hitting the ball against the ground as well as forward due to the late swing. … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #29: Belly Shots – Don’t They Do Those in Mexico?

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. Well, thankfully, in today’s polo, our intent is to hit the ball, not the legs.

So how can one pull off a belly shot and why would one even want to.

The second part of the question is a good one as belly shots are a low percentage shot. It is like that between the legs tennis return that looks cool, but falls in the low percentage category.

A neck shot or tail shot would both be higher percentage. Even if you execute a belly shot correctly, there are lots of moving parts for that ball to pass through. However, there are times when a belly shot may just come in handy if you need it. Kind of like that sand wedge in your golf bag. You don’t use it that often, but it sure comes in handy when you need it. … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #23: Under-The-Neck Shots

Ok, you want me to hit the ball in front of my horse’s galloping front legs? I thought you said we weren’t supposed to hit the horse’s legs? Make up your mind, which is it?

Hitting a successful neck shot, or rather hitting the ball as opposed to the legs of your horse requires three things:

1. Preparation & Timing
2. Starting your swing up front from the side of your horse’s head
3. A little more commitment up onto your horse’s neck
4. Sinking deeper into your heels as you move further up the horse’s neck.

You want to be making contact with the ball well forward of the horse’s chest, about underneath or just to the side of the horse’s head. That means you need to prepare early and begin your swing well before you arrive at the ball.

The most common problem players have is they begin their swing like they are taking an off-side forehander, starting the mallet from either behind them or from their hip. You have to force yourself to put your arm to the front of your saddle, just alongside the horse’s head and neck and slightly to the side to whichever side you will be swinging.

You need to get a little help from your horse’s neck with a little shorter rein and lean a little more forward.

However, you need to sink a little deeper in your leg so that you do not lose your balance. This is a swing that you should swing a little easier on until you get more confident for the safety of both you and your horse.

Finally, you need to be careful with your follow-through. You do not want to hit another player or their horse accidentally. This shot is a good one to develop at a walk and trot initially, and then move to your faster speeds.

Polo Tip #18: Open And Away Shots

Open and away do not mean the same thing, do they?

Further evidence to the madness of our wonderful sport, these two terms do mean exactly the same when referencing cutting the ball at angles away from the horse’s body for backhanders. When hitting away or open on forehanders, the more correct term is cutting the ball on either side. “Open” is actually referencing the position of the mallethead whereas “Away” is that the shot will travel away from the horse.

Like the tail shots, this technique calls for opening the head of the mallet as you stroke through the ball. So on a nearside backhander open, you swing down at the ball with the heel of your mallet leading at a slight angle. This will cause the ball to rebound off away from your mallethead at that angle. As with the tail shots, you can also spin your mallet head clockwise on the nearside backhander open as you are making contact. This will put additional spin on the ball gaining you even more angle away from the horse. … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #16: Hooking Mallets

Hooking is the second best alternative in the list of defensive plays. If we place our self in position properly as soon as the play turns, we should be able to get advantage on our opponent with a ride-off and have the ball on our free side to hit. However, many players will try to race to the ball as we all have at least one of the fastest horses in polo. If we all have at least one of the fastest, often times more than one, that means there are a lot of “fastest horses in polo”.

No wonder we are often hooked by others when we don’t take the man first.

Hooking is usually the next best option when you have missed your man, as you have the best chance to stop the hit on the ball. Riding a man off on the far side from the side that they are hitting is not always very effective. Hooking is. When you go to hook a mallet, you need to be prepared to hook several times on the same play if you are up against a skilled player. We use the term hooking, but you are not really hooking the mallet, you are actually hitting their cane to deflect it from being able to get to the ball. If you do get hooked and stuck together, try to untangle the mallets quickly. If you are riding away from each other and your mallets are hooked, remember that dropping your mallet hurts a lot less than falling off!! … Continue Reading

Polo Tip Video – Striking On The Near Side Without Fouling

In this video, Christian demonstrates how to execute a nearside shot without crossing over the line of the ball, a common foul. He shows how to practice the shot with your horse so that its performance, as well as your own, will be consistent on game day. Another great video by Christian Moon demonstrating how sound horsemanship will lead to good striking in polo.

Polo Tip #11: Turning Over Your Backhander — Good or Bad? Why?

It is a common sight to see a player begin their back stroke and to see the horse turn into the direction of the swing before the shot is completed. Sometimes, it is a conscious decision that a player makes before he gets to the ball. They see there is no one in close vicinity, so they take the opportunity to deliberately turn the ball and their horse together to get around quickly. Great play. So if you did yours by accident, and drew a foul, just use this excuse to combat the disapproving looks you are getting from all of your teammates.

More often, turning over the backhander during the shot is simply because you are putting too much weight in that stirrup and the horse reacts to your shifting weight. They may even be anticipating that when they feel you make the move for a backshot, it is time to turn, because that is what happens everytime you back it. Horses learn by repitition. If you always turn into your shot, guess what ? … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #10: Near-side Forehander

By Tom Goodspeed 5dt6j4zg9u

One of the most common topics that make the desired agenda by students in my clinics is the dreaded near-side forehander. The following tips will help you make the best of the weakest shot in polo. First, why is it the weakest? The nearside forehander, when executed correctly, is more of an arm shot as opposed to a shoulder and hip rotation that is available to us in the other shots, including the near-side backhander. Our body rotation is what gives us power in the stroke combined with the stride of the horse. … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #9: Playing Position Number Four — The Back

By Tom Goodspeed

This player, similar to their opposing number one must be highly disciplined to proper positioning; carefully watching for any offensive drives being mounted and quickly moving into a position of advantage to defend the attack. Your goal is to get your leg up on your opponent and be able to control the play by getting the ball into possession of either your quarterback or your number two. Having the ability to feel comfortable with either turning the ball or backing the ball is a real asset. You will hear some players mandate to always back the ball. … Continue Reading

Polo Tip #8: A Tail Shot? What Kind of Alcohol Do You Use For That?

By Tom Goodspeed

One of the most difficult shots to learn in polo is the tail shot, especially on the near-side. If you have been handicapped with short arms and long backed horses, a tail shot may not even exist in your inventory. There is no question that gorilla arms and short backed horses are two assets in executing tail shots effectively. But for those of you with ancestors that took to two feet several millennium ago, there is a technique to still accomplish the near impossible. … Continue Reading