The best instructional polo book I’ve found
In a previous post, I mentioned that I’ve spent a great deal of money on polo books since I began playing. Unfortunately, few of these books have proven helpful. There is one glowing exception, however. Hugh Dawnay’s book, Playmaker Polo, is the single best book for the novice or intermediate player I have yet found. Dawnay is an internationally recognized polo coach and has been intimately involved with the sport for many years. In Playmaker Polo he explores basics such as striking, beginner horsemanship, muscle memory, preperation on and off the field, and playmaking as well as more advanced concepts such as team strategy and formations, set-piece positions, learning to emphasize the strengths of your team (and the weaknesses of your opponents) on-the-fly, and many more.
Dawnay has organized the book in such a way that the reader is best served by going through from start to finish, rather than skipping from chapter to chapter depending on personal interests. There are many concepts in this book that would benefit almost every player, not just the novice. Even those sections that seem remedial commonly offer up gems of wisdom that you won’t find anywhere else.
I’ve read the book cover-to-cover twice now and I imagine I’ll read it many more times through the years. Dawnay highlights key concepts with excellent diagrams and with “action” photographs of well-known players executing the concepts in real play (Cambiaso, Gracida, Peres, are a few names you may recognize). Indeed, Dawnay’s diagram of the Ball Clock and Pony Clock is one I will reference many times in future posts here. Dawnay also inserts amusing anecdotes from his own experiences to highlight the easily forgotton nature of some the more basic concepts, and the benefits of taking these lessons to heart.
And finally, Playmaker Polo includes a large number of excercies the reader can practice individually on the stick-and-ball field, with a partner, or with an entire team to improve striking, horsemanship, and tactics. I simply cannot recommend this book enough.
2 Comments
Will definitely have to pick up a copy. But what is on there that won’t be on here eventually?! Haha, kidding of course, I’m sure he will appreciate the plug.
Have you read the book Polo Tips by Justo del Carrill. Any word on that on?
It’s true that within a few more months pologringo will probably have covered all of the topics Playmaker Polo covers. That said, the articles that I write will be written in the way I would want them explained — in other words, explanations will be given in the way that would have benefited me the most. That doesn’t mean they’ll be written in the best way for *you*.
Dawnay’s book is good enough that I would encourage everyone to buy it, even despite the fact that pologringo and Playmaker Polo cover the same topics. Sometimes a different way of looking at things is all it takes for a subject to “click” into place.
I haven’t read Justo del Carril’s book yet. Honestly, I’ve been hoping he’ll get his website a little further along so I can see whether or not the book looks worthwhile. I don’t think that’s going to happen though, so I’ll probably pick up a copy in a few weeks. I’ll post a review as soon as I’m done reading it.