The secrets to a great technique in Polo by The Polera

Mallet Rest position
The rest position is the way to keep the polo stick during the match, when not in use or on standby. It must be considered the starting position of every stroke.

The mallet is secured by placing the cigar in a high position. The mallet grip should be firm but never forced, otherwise over-demand the muscles of the forearm and hand, which can eventually lead to overexertion injuries in the elbow and wrist.

The hand holding the Mallet is close to the one holding the reins to help manage the horse. The elbow and wrist should be at the same height, and closest to the body. Then the mallet is balanced, wrist and shoulder muscle with very little demand, thus the possibility to come into play quickly is much greater than in any position.

A serious flaw many players make in their grip and angle of arm is to separate the elbow from side of the body, bringing it up (abduction), to seek greater balance. However, this position generates an enormous sustained tension of the muscles of the shoulder. Fatigue or exhaustion of the deltoid may negatively affect the precision and power of the stick and ball. – DON’T RAISE YOUR ELBOWS WHEN YOU PLAY -

A very common mode of holding the mallet, especially in times where the game is stopped, is supporting it on your right shoulder, as engaging in the clavicle. Others, in this situation, drop the stick and support the rod in the inner arc of the boot, between the foot and the stirrup. If the plug is left hanging (a defect very common), it takes time and extra effort to restart an action. While these positions make the doll look somewhat forced with lateral tilt, the limit imposed by the support allows temporary relief from the grip of the dowel, which can be positive.




Initial position of the stick and ball
It is the position of the rider in the saddle, which is made from the blow to the ball. It can be considered as the position of body tension prior to the initiation of swing stick and ball or "brace". This initial position is the necessary component of the swing, which precedes, accompanies and follows with bodily action. Indeed, for a coup is successful, power and accuracy, the stick and ball must be done with the whole body. The brace can only be achieved when the rider "to" the stirrups, dumping body weight in them. This enables the asymmetrical action of the lower limbs in swing which is performed as follows:

• The leg side close to the ball stays still so that acts as a support center to swing. Can be considered the "pivot" of the stick and ball.
• The leg opposite the side impact moves back to secure a position, or "brace", firmer, ie a better basis for the final movements of the trunk. Is the lower limb more mobile and in charge of finding the balance in stock.

The greater the power of the blow, steadiness was found in the support bracket on the side of the coup and more mobility in the other member.




Timing or Temporo-spatial coordination
The "timing" as expected, is the ranking runtime swing and is given by the Player to start the swing and creates the expectation that the proximity of the ball.

The classic definition of the timing is "the exact moment when, having coordinated the speed of the horse's head and block the ball, hit it reaches the latter in an effective (full)". This last definition we must stress the fact that the temporo-spatial coordination, necessary for an effective stick and ball, to be generated from the backswing, preparation or movement of the ball. At the top of the swing the mallet head must point to the target (goal posts, team mate or place of escape).

It is wiser to make a complementary fit in the run-time swing, slowing at the top of the swing, the time prior to the decline of the dowel (downswing), which accelerate the arrangement of the block in the backswing. It is advisable to make advance preparation of the swing (backswing). It is easier to take contact with the ball at the top of the swing to anticipate it and, secondly, it ensures a correct starting position for the blow. However, the ideal is that stroke is integrated in succession, without jumping in head acceleration of the block. This only backswing and incorporating it as a stage at which it happens, without stopping, the rest of the movement (downswing and follow-through).

Finally, it is noteworthy that an early swing usually reflected in a decrease of the strength and direction of the shot. This is caused by an uncontrolled and short preparatory movement. The speed should not affect accuracy. Fitts's law dovetails nicely these two variables, in circumstances determined by pre-existing focus control the movement itself. In this sense, the neurophysiological processes prior to movement play an important role in reducing the execution time, in plasticity, or continuity of movement and in the temporo-spatial coordination.




The view of the ball
At the beginning of the game, every player is presented with a myriad of stimuli to which must be adapted through training. Among the strongest stimuli and difficult to control, are the visuals. In order to control this important factor in the stick and ball, the player must keep an eye on the ball from the time before initiating the ball, the decision of sending to execution. The impact can cause you to lose for an instant view of the ball, but if you come on to follow in advance, is in danger of failing to properly hit. 

One of the most common causes of missed shots (no impact) due to the fact that too much time keeping an eye on the goal (ultimate goal) and not enough on the ball (goal). Without going into details to neurophysiology, just remember the enormous importance of sight in the body balance system, like the movements of neck, closely related to this task. For this reason, the fact stare at the ball causes the neck to maintain a proper position to provide the necessary balance to strike. The fact track the ball with your neck and eye, does not prevent that act as a pivot or center of motion of the shoulder girdle. On the contrary, predisposes to a finer adjustment of the stroke.




Strong support on the bracket
As with all the bumps, standing in the stirrups is one of the fundamental requirements for a good impact on the ball. This is controlled and are given based on the movements of the trunk from the hip, also is able to perceive with greater sensitivity, the horse's movements, which can more accurately coordinate the ball.

In the pre-swing position, the player must be standing on the running boards looking for a right brace. Then for the coup is necessary to affirm on the running side of the block. The abutment on the opposite side should not have the same pressure, especially in long shots, allowing the action of the trunk in the swing torque. Support is done, primarily, at the knee and the saddle. This way we can distinguish two different actions of the lower limbs:

• Side Strike: the lower member firm needs to have sufficient support.
• Opposite side: the lower limb requires some flexibility to ease the swing

While hip action is not as important at the pole as it is in the GOLF, by the fact that the player is in the saddle, standing in the stirrups can be some movement. It is a power factor of the coup and that may take effect, the player must get used to stand in the stirrups to stick and ball.




Purpose of dribbling
The goal must necessarily be unique and indecisiveness can lead to a hybrid technique that is wrong for any of the desired objectives. The decision must be "total", without any hesitation and you have to know abstract for fulfillment.

In order to make this stick and ball, in which the technique goes hand in hand tactics, you need to know and observe the positions previously heard requests from peers. But once you make the shot and started the swing, the shock should not be disturbed by anything or anyone. At the top of the swing the cigar should point to the goal and the whole movement should develop in the same plane so as not to disrupt that goal.

When we express the fundamental impact on the pole can be summarized in just four, the nature of the movement, we took for granted that the projection of the ball of online effected parallel to the direction of travel of the horse, either forward back oo . However, the shock may have another purpose entirely different from the projection of the ball in the line of travel of the horse. This range of possible directions that are printed on the ball, we can study and not four, but twelve strokes, those resulting from the subdivision of each of the key hits in three different variants, namely:

Stroke:	Direction of Ball:	Zone of impact:
Direct, Straight, Classic hit		The forward stroke is effected at the level of the hands of the horse
Cross backhand, “Cut”	Carries the ball through the line of the horse's body, from right to left or vice versa.	The inward stroke is performed as far forward as possible if it passes below the neck, and the way back if it passes behind the tail
Open or Opening	Move the ball out of the line of the horse's body, directing the ball into the same side, but away from the midline.	The ball was carried out as far as possible from the side of the horse.
“Pull”		Later, when goes back and forth when the ball goes forward.

Basic strokes: How to move the ball in a straight line in a forward direction

 

Team England take home The Churchill Cup at the Gaucho International Tournament

England retain their title and take home The Churchill Cup, beating Argentina on penalties 1-0 at the recent Gaucho International Polo tournament held at the o2 arena, London, UK.

During the nail biting finish, Nacho Figueras missed the crucial penalty for team Argentina and Jamie Morrison scored the winning penalty goal to win the Cup for England. 

From the outset it seemed clear that team Argentina were keen for revenge after their loss last year. There was plenty of great action with Argentina leading for much of the match and the great duo of Nacho Figueras and Oscar Mancini attacking and breaking down team England's defence to score highly.

However, half-time was the crucial turning point. Team England changed their tactics and saw them begging to dominant the attack against the Argentine goal and in the last few minutes of the match saw England equalise against Argentina making the score 15-15.

Spectators held their breath as the players prepared themselves for the penalty shootout and then got behind the teams shouting encouragement as they lined up for the shots. Unfortunately both teams failed to score in the first two penalties, leaving the pressure on the team captains, Figueras and Morrison to score and win. Nacho Figueras appeared calm and collected but his shot went wide of the goal, leaving Jamie Morrison with the opportunity to take home the Cup. Morrison hit his shot straight through the middle of the goal posts, securing victory for his team.

A great event that is increasing in popularity and spectator attendance, whichwe are sure will be a highlight of pre-season polo in England for many more years to come and a definite must-see for polo lovers and newbies combined. Make sure you look out for it next year, we will be booking our tickets once again and maybe it will be third time lucky for team Argentina.

Copyright 2012 The Polera Ltd

Copyright 2012 The Polera Ltd

Copyright 2012 The Polera Ltd

The Polera – Consideraciones especiales en Polo

Posición de reposo.

La posición de reposo es la manera de mantener el taco durante el juego, cuando no se utiliza, o en espera. Debe considerarse como la posición de partida de todo golpe.

El taco se sujeta colocando el cigarro en una posición alta. El agarre del taco debe ser firme pero nunca forzado, de otra manera se sobre-exigiría la musculatura del antebrazo y de la mano, lo que puede llegar, con el tiempo a provocar lesiones por sobre esfuerzo en las articulaciones del codo y la muñeca.

La mano que empuña el taco está cerca de la que sujeta las riendas para colaborar en el manejo del caballo. El codo y la muñeca deben encontrarse a la misma altura, l más cercanos  al cuerpo. De esta forma el taco se encuentra equilibrado, la muñeca y el hombro con muy poca exigencia muscular, con lo cual la posibilidad de entrar en juego rápidamente es mucho mayor que en cualquier posición.

Un grave defecto ergonómico que se comete frecuentemente es separar el codo del cuerpo, llevándolo arriba (en abducción), buscando mayor equilibrio. Esta posición sostenida genera una enorme tensión de la musculatura del hombro. El cansancio o el agotamiento del deltoides puede incidir negativamente en la precisión y potencia del taqueo. – NO LEVANTAR LOS CODOS AL TAQUEAR –

Una modalidad muy común de llevar el taco, especialmente en los momentos donde el juego se encuentra detenido, es apoyando la caña en el hombro derecho, como enganchando en la clavícula. Otros, en esta misma situación, dejan caer el taco y apoyan la caña en el arco interno de la bota, entre el estribo y la punta. Si el taco se deja colgando (un defecto muy frecuente), se necesita un tiempo y esfuerzo extra para reiniciar una acción. Si bien estas posiciones hacen que la muñeca se vea algo forzada con inclinaciones laterales, el límite impuesto por el apoyo permite un alivio temporal del agarre del taco, lo cual puede resultar positivo.

Postura inicial del Taqueo.

Es la posición correcta del jinete en la montura, desde la cual se efectúa el golpe a la bocha. Puede considerarse como la posición de tensión corporal previa a la iniciación del swing del taqueo o “brace”. Esta postura inicial es el componente obligado del swing, al cual precede, acompaña y sucede con la acción corporal. En efecto, para que un golpe sea correcto, de potencia y precisión, el taqueo debe efectuarse con todo el cuerpo. El brace solo se puede lograr cuando el jinete se “para” sobre los estribos, descargando el peso del cuerpo en los mismos. Este hecho posibilita la acción asimétrica de los miembros inferiores en el taqueo que se lleva a cabo de la siguiente manera.

• La pierna del lado del taqueo se afirma de tal manera que actúa como un centro de apoyo al swing. Puede considerarse el “pivote” del taqueo.
• La pierna del lado opuesto al lateral del impacto se lleva hacia atrás para asegurar una posición, o “brace”, más firme, es decir, una mejor base para los movimientos finales del tronco. Es el miembro inferior más móvil y el encargado de  buscar el equilibrio en la acción.

Cuanto mayor es la potencia del golpe, más firmeza se encontrara en el apoyo sobre el estribo del lado del golpe y más movilidad en el otro miembro.

Timming o Coordinación Temporo-espacial.

El “timming”, como expectativa, es la graduación del tiempo de ejecución del swing y está dada por la decisión del jugador de iniciar el swing y por la expectativa que genera la cercanía de la bocha.

La definición clásica del timming es: “el momento exacto en que, habiéndose coordinado las velocidades del caballo, de la cabeza del taco y de la bocha, se alcanza a impactar a esta última de una forma efectiva (plena)”. De esta última definición debemos recalcar el hecho de que la coordinación temporo-espacial, necesaria para un taqueo efectivo, debe generarse desde el backswing, o el movimiento de preparación del golpe. Ya en lo alto del swing la cabeza del taco debe apuntar al objetivo (mimbres, compañero o lugar de escape).

Es más prudente realizar un ajuste complementario en el tiempo de ejecución del swing, retardando en lo alto del swing, el momento previo al descenso del taco (downswing), que acelerando el acomodo del taco en el backswing. Es conveniente hacer una preparación anticipada del swing (backswing). Es más fácil demorar el contacto con la bocha en lo alto del swing que anticiparlo y, por otro lado, se asegura una correcta posición de partida para el golpe. De cualquier manera, el golpe ideal es aquel que se integra de manera sucesiva, sin saltos en la aceleración de la cabeza del taco. Esto solo de consigo e incorporando el backswing como una etapa a la que se sucede, sin detenerse, el resto del movimiento (downswing and follow- through).

Por ultimo cabe mencionar que un swing anticipado generalmente repercute en una disminución de la potencia y dirección del golpe. Esto se produce por un movimiento preparatorio descontrolado y abreviado. La velocidad no debe afectar a la precisión. La ley de Fitts enlaza perfectamente estas dos variables, en circunstancias determinadas por un control centrar preexistente al movimiento mismo. En este sentido, los procesos neurofisiológicos de anticipación al movimiento juegan un papel importante en la disminución del tiempo de ejecución, en la plasticidad, o continuidad del movimiento y en la coordinación temporo-espacial.

La vista sobre la Bocha.

Al iniciarse en el juego, a todo jugador se le presentan una innumerable cantidad de estímulos a los que debe adaptarse por medio de entrenamiento. Entre los estímulos más fuertes y difíciles de controlar, están los visuales. Para poder controlar este importante factor en el taqueo, el jugador debe mantener la vista sobre la bocha desde el momento antes de iniciar el golpe, en la decisión de efectuarlo hasta su ejecución. El impacto puede hacer que pierda por un instante la vista de la bocha, pero si se adelanta para seguirla en forma anticipada, corre el peligro de no lograr el golpe correctamente. Una de las causas más comunes de los golpes errados (sin impacto) obedece al hecho de que se mantiene la vista demasiado tiempo en el goal (objetivo final) y no lo suficiente en la bocha (objetivo primario). Sin entrar en detalles del a fisiología neurológica, basta recordar la enorme importancia que tiene la vista en el sistema de equilibrio corporal, al igual que los movimientos de cuello, íntimamente relacionados con esta tarea. Por este motivo, el hecho de fijar la vista en la bocha hace que el cuello mantenga una posición adecuada para brindar al golpe el equilibrio necesario. El hecho de seguir la trayectoria de la bocha con el cuello y vista, no impide que esta actúe como pivote o centro de movimiento de la cintura escapular. Todo lo contrario, predispone a un ajuste más fino del golpe.

Apoyo firme sobre el Estribo.

Como en todos los golpes, el estar de pie sobre los estribos es uno de los requisitos fundamentales para un buen impacto sobre la bocha. De esta forma se controla y se les da base a los movimientos del tronco desde la cadera, además se logra percibir, con mayor sensibilidad, los movimientos del caballo, con lo cual se puede coordinar el golpe más certeramente.

En la posición previa al swing, el jugador debe encontrarse parado sobre los estribos buscando un correcto brace. Luego, durante el golpe es necesario que se afirme sobre el estribo del lado del taco. El estribo del lado opuesto no debe tener la misma presión, especialmente en los tiros largos, permitiendo la acción del tronco en la torsión del swing. El apoyo se realiza, prioritariamente, a nivel de rodilla y sobre la montura. De esta manera podemos distinguir dos acciones diferentes de los miembros inferiores:

•       Lado del Golpe: el miembro inferior necesita firmeza para tener apoyo suficiente.
•       Lado Opuesto: el miembro inferior requiere cierta flexibilidad para dar soltura al swing

Si bien la acción de la cadera no es tan importante en el polo como lo es en el GOLF, por el hecho de que el jugador se encuentra sobre la montura, al pararse sobre los estribos puede darse algo de movilidad. Es un factor de potencia sobre el golpe y para que puede tener efecto, el jugador debe acostumbrarse a pararse sobre los estribos al stick and ball.

Objetivo del dribbling.

El objetivo necesariamente debe ser único ya que la indecisión puede traducirse en una técnica hibrida que resulta errada para cualquiera de los objetivos deseados. La decisión debe ser “total”, sin lugar a ningún titubeo y hay que saber abstraerse para la realización del mismo.

Para poder realizar este taqueo, en el cual la técnica va de la mano de la táctica, es necesario saber observar las posiciones y escuchar previamente los pedidos de los compañeros. Pero una vez decidido el golpe e iniciado el swing, el golpe no debe ser perturbado por nada ni por nadie. Ya en lo alto del swing el cigarro debe apuntar al objetivo y todo el movimiento debe desarrollarse en el mismo plano para no perturbar ese objetivo.

Cuando expresamos que los golpes fundamentales en el polo se pueden resumir en solo cuatro, por las características del movimiento, dimos por sobreentendido que la proyección de la bocha de efectuaba en línea paralela a la dirección de marcha del caballo, sea hacia adelante o o hacia atrás. Ahora bien, los golpes pueden tener otro objetivo completamente diferente a la proyección de la bocha en la line de marcha del caballo. De esta gama de posibles direcciones que se imprimen a la bocha, podemos llegar a estudiar ya no cuatro , sino doce golpes, los que derivan de la subdivisión de cada uno de los golpes fundamentales en tres variantes distintas, a saber:

Golpe	Dirección Impartida	Zona de Impacto
Directo Recto Clásico Cruzado de Revés “Cut” Abierto de Apertura “Pull”	Lleva la bocha a través de la line del cuerpo del caballo, pasando de derecha a izquierda o viceversa. Mueve la bocha hacia afuera de la line del cuerpo del caballo, dirigiendo la bocha dentro del mismo lateral, pero alejándola de la línea media.	El golpe hacia adelante se efectúa a nivel de las manos del caballo El golpe hacia adentro se realiza lo más adelante posible si pasa por debajo del cogote, y lo más atrás posible si pasa por detrás de la cola El golpe hacia afuera se efectúa tan lejos como sea posible del costado del caballo. Adelante, cuando se dirige hacia atrás y atrás cuando la bocha va adelante.

Mueve la bocha en line recta hacia adelante. Golpes fundamentales.

Welcome to the world of polo - the greatest game on earth!

The Polera introduce the history and the rules to "The sport of Kings" 

- a perfect introduction to the polo beginner.

Lets start at the very beginning - the origins of polo…

Polo is one of the oldest team sports in the world with evidence showing it originated in China and Persia more than 2,000 years ago. With the first recorded game taking place between in 600BC between the Turkomans and the Persians.

It is believed that polo began as a war game for training cavalry units and was seen as  a miniature battle (and some would argue it is still the same today, not just a battle for the ball, but a battle of honour for the team and a fight to win the best tournaments in the world).

The game quickly spread from Persia to other parts of Asia including Japan and then to the Indian subcontinent where it gained the nickname "The sport of Kings". In the late nineteenth century, it was discovered by the British tea planters on the Burmese border with India, who then founded the world's first polo club at Silchar, west of Manipur, and other clubs quickly followed.

The first real rules of the game were constructed in India in the 1870s by John Watson of the 13th Hussars. Over the years, various amendments have been made to the game worldwide. Player handicaps were introduced in the nineteenth century alongside the permissible height of polo ponies (that restriction of polo ponies being no taller than 14.2 hands in height has now been abolished).

Polo is now played in other 80 countries around the world and was included as an Olympic Sport between 1900 and 1939. It has recently been recognised again by the International Olympic committee so should hopefully be returning to the Olympics again soon.

Understanding the rules…

Teams:

Each team consists of four players. Number 3 is the captain, who commands the team and pivots between attack and defence. Number 4 (also known as the "back") is responsible for defence and being the goal defender, while Numbers 1 and 2 are the attackers.

Handicap:

The handicap is awarded to each player depending on the aptitude and ball skills, which ranges from -2 to +10 (in Argentina the handicap is from 0 to +10). Although the entry level of -2 denotes a beginner, around 90% of all polo players have handicaps in the range of 0 to +2.

The national polo associations review and assign the player's handicaps annually, according to their success in playing at tournaments and the skills they demonstrate. A team's handicap is calculated by putting together the handicaps of each player. Tournaments are arranged in different classes of play (from low-, medium- or high-goal), and the team handicaps must correspond to the type of tournament.

Chukka:

A polo match consists of four, five or six time units as chukkas. In Europe, a match usually consists of four chukkas, each lasting 7 and a half minutes in length, with the last chukka being 7 minutes. A polo pony may only played in no more than 2 chukkas and not in consecutive chukkas. Half-time consists of a 5-10 minute break, in which the public are invited onto the pitch to "tread in the divots" (the turf kicked up by the ponies' hooves).

Direction of play:

Whenever a goal is scored, the direction of play switches and teams switch ends. This avoids match conditions (such as wind direction) putting one team at a disadvantage.

Rules of play:

The fundamental rule of polo is known as "Right of Way" (ROW). During play there is an imaginary line of the ball which is the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.

Any player who crosses the player on the line of the ball close enough to be dangerous or cause him to slow up, will commit a foul and the opposing team will be awarded a penalty (different types of penalties are awarded depending on the type of foul committed).

The player with ROW can lose this by being "ridden off" or "hooked". "Hooking" means using the stick to prevent the other player from retrieving or striking the ball. The player does this by blocking the opponent's stick during a swing or while the other player is dribbling the ball. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony's legs.

"Riding off" means trying to force an opponent off course using a kind of body check, so that the player can no longer hit the ball. This is allowed only if the riding off takes place parallel and not at an angle to the player who has ROW.

Tapping techniques:

The ball is tapped on the right side of the pony (it is illegal to play polo left-handed), which is known as the "offside". Tapping takes place in a forward or backward direction. For a "nearside" play, which takes place of the pony's left side, the player has to twist in the saddle and, holding the stick in his right hand bring it to the other side of the pony. "Under the neck" shot refers to a strokes performed in front of the pony. The hardest shots are the "round-the-tail" strokes, performed to the rear of the horse.

The Polo Pony:

The present day polo pony (height 14.5 - 16 hands, or 155-160cm) far exceeds the height of the traditional known "pony". The pedigree traces its heritage back to the crossing of the original Himalayan mountain ponies, with English or American thoroughbreds, Arabians or others, especially South American stud horses. Today, the Argentinian polo breed dominates. These are horses which master in sudden bursts of speed, which are brave and pugnacious and their agility and alertness are unrivalled.

Umpires:

There are two mounted umpires on the pitch and a third man in the stands who acts as arbitrator if the umpires disagree. The goal judges (positioned behind each goal) wave the flag when a goal is scored. The timekeeper and scorer keep track of the timings of the match and sound the bell at the end of each chukka.

Penalties:

Different types of penalty are awarded depending on the type of foul committed.

30-40 yard - free hit at the undefended goal. The attackers have to be at level with the ball when hit. Defenders have to be behind the back line.

60 yard - none to the defending team can be nearer than 30 yards.

Free hit - hit from the spot where the foul occurred, with none of the defending team to be nearer than 30 yards.

If the ball has gone over the back line, but not through the goal, then the defending team hit it back into play at the point where it crossed the line. The attacking team must be 30 yards away.

HR News: New immigration and HPA requirements about hiring polo staff in the UK

When hiring staff this season make sure that your polo staff meet the legal requirements

The HPA are taking a strict view on players and grooms working within the UK without the correct legal requirements, permits and visas. Make sure that you understand the new rules and processes now involved in hiring staff from overseas.

Under the new immigration rules, employers (sponsors) must obtain a sponsors permit to legally hire employees as well as securing an HPA endorsement for each migrant polo player or groom they want to hire. Without this HPA endorsement, the player or groom will not be given HPA membership and therefore cannot play at any affiliated club or in any chukkas or game run by an affiliated club of the HPA.

The Border Agency dictates that only those who hold a handicap of two-goals or above may be granted a work permit as a player. It is important to note that those with a handicap of below two-goals are not allowed to earn money playing polo, but can come to the UK in another capacity, such as a groom or rider. This means that they would only be allowed to play chukkas.

For further information about these new rules, please read the full article on the HPA website here. 

The Polera can help you with recruiting staff for this season and can provide advice and contacts about the legal requirements and how to arrange for sponsors permits and visas. Please email our team now if you need help with arranging sponsors permits and work visas for your staff.

The basic polo shots series – The forward drive

The basic polo shots series – The forward drive:

 A how to guide by The Polera

There are many different types of polo shots which are used for different effects and purposes within the game. Polo players may use different strokes and swings when in particular situations within the game, whereby they may shorten the swing, or even use a special variation of shot for a particular purpose.

To learn each type of stroke, one should concentrate on the type of motion that should be applied to the swing and stroke . If done this way, the necessary adaptations arise more easily and with possibilities of a larger repertoire of effective blows.

To analyse the basic strokes of the game of polo, we must first stop to consider the four stages of the shot and the preparation involved to make the shot:

1. Starting position            Brace or stance 

2. Starting the swing     Swing or downswing
3. Making contact with the ball    Shot, hit or blow
4. Final swing            Follow-through or finish

1) Forward strike from the side of the Mallet  - Analysis of the biomechanics involved: Drive right

We begin with the basic polo shot, which is the forward stroke on the side of the Mallet (drive right). The importance of this strike is that it is the most involved in the game. It is popularly said that 90% of balls are struck in this way, so it is an important shot to practice and to achieve a good technique. This shot is used in penalties (a crucial time for any team in a match) and therefore there is much pressure to ensure you don’t miss the shot.

We begin with the tutorial by adding further detail to each of the stages of preparation and method in the hitting of the ball as discussed below. These stages are generated by the movement of a position, or accommodation of the "brace", and the rearrangement of the seat into the rest position after impact.

Taking a stand
The movement of preparation, or accommodation, the result generated by the stroke (backswing) takes place in very different ways depending on the player. We can find four types:

• Classical or direct
• Forehand roll
• Pendulum swing
• Inverted or reversed roll

The classic form - and the most direct way - is to take the hand directly behind and above the head allowing the cue to move very little from its rest position. This preparation method allows for better coordination management for impact but on the other hand, is a movement marked by the little plastic transition between stance (brace) and the beginning of the movement (downswing).

The forehand roll or complete swing - is one in which the player hits the top of the ball at a similar movement to the beat but evenly and without accelerating the final swing, This mode allows for preparation and relaxation, which is vital during important shots such as taking a penalty.

The advantage of this technique is that by having a large backswing, the mallet head takes longer to hit the ball and, therefore, the impact may be more powerful. On the other hand, in developing the preparatory swing, the Mallet fits better in the desired direction. The disadvantage is that it is necessary to coordinate two turns of the mallet or stick instead of one. Polo players use this technique to "break away" when the game situation allows, as in penalty shots or bocce stops in play. 

The pendulum swing - The preparatory movement of the pendulum swing is one in which the mallet or stick is dropped from the rest position allowing the mallet head to tilting backwards in taking up the initial position of the swing. This mode is very relaxed and allowed to go taking the distance to the ground. The biomechanical disadvantage is compatible with the kinetic energy rises, with the power to deploy for the coup. 

If failing to stop the mallet swing naturally, by gravity, in this position to initiate the downward swing, you may need to deploy a larger force in the final swing, which would subtract power to blow by the need to destroy the opposite movement. The positive side of this embodiment lies in the aforementioned relaxation and takes away, as well as the shortening of the time of the backswing. 

Players usually use it in front breaks, where they hit the ball long distance. Some, when the tempo allows, combine the pendulum retrograde (to the height of the rump of the horse) with a full swing before.

Finally, there are polo players who do a rolled swing in the opposite direction to the final swing like a pendulum extended variant considered above. Many feel that this manoeuvre mobilises the wrist in a way that provides a sense of deep relaxation in the articular muscle.

Additionally, the inverted rolled swing leads to the start position of the hit with an amplitude larger and more elastic, than the direct way. It could be argued that the negative view is in possible problems with coordination, both temporally and by changing the direction of movement. As usually this type of swing is most commonly employed during penalty shots however, the negative aspects are minimized or cancelled as the player has time to prepare the shot.

Starting position
In the position prior to downswing, the right hand should be above and behind the player's head. The elbow and arm should be fully extended, although it should not be at full extension when beginning the stroke. The left shoulder should point to the ball and looking ahead, so the torso twists in a clockwise rotation. 

The alignment of the shoulders in the direction of the line of travel of the ball, establishing a continuity with elbow and hand, through an anteroposterior axis, the mallet head is positioned forward, above and slightly to the left of the player's head. With respect to the horizontal plane, the stick should rotate between 10 and 35 degrees (so that the mallet head is higher than the hand). The right hand should be placed at the same height as the highest point of the player's head or slightly above it.

The pelvis should be slightly tilted to the side of the action. The torso is positioned with a slight flexion (bending forward) clockwise (right) and a small tilt to the right (synergistic movement of the pelvis).

A faulty technique would be considered one that starts the swing with his head and shoulders too high. If this occurs, it would be common for a player to drop his head and shoulders during the latter part of swing (which is the most critical phase). This manoeuvre is often intended to compensate the player’s initial position error, in order to avoid too high a stroke of the ball. Although, of course the results from a failure of accuracy vary. 

The secret to avoiding this problem is to lean forward with torso and head (producing good flexion), together with the lateral inclination, when looking for the top of the swing position. Therefore, the backswing puts the player’s hand back and the body in a forward facing sideways position.

The left shoulder and right knee should be in a more advanced forward than the right shoulder and left knee, respectively, due to rotation of the trunk and the accommodation of the pelvis and thorax (scapular and pelvic girdle). This position allows you to have both "fixed support" during the swing: with the right lower limb (foot on the stirrup) and the left upper limb (hand over the reins on the horse's withers). Thus, to get a "brace", which enables high mobility, the player needs to stay seated on the saddle. It is important to stand in the stirrups, especially on the right, and to balance with the left knee, allowing the mobility of the left foot. Instead of clinging to the horse balanced with the knee and inner thigh and above, you should do so with all of your leg and especially with the foot.

In short, this swing means moving the hip position to accompany with the twisting of the trunk or torso. Without the action of the hip the swing and blow will lose its power or strength. Also in the long shots this technical defect may over time develop an injury to the lumbar spine by overuse.

The height of the swing is very important and has considerable influence on the swing itself. The height must be in accordance with the desired power to the stick and ball. For a long shot, the swing must necessarily begin with the positioning of the mallet at a level above the player's head, however, for a short-throw the hand need not be taken as above.

During the swing
The swing is made based on a movement of the trunk (dorsal-lumbar spine) and shoulders (shoulder girdle). The player's head is maintained so as to act as a pivot or shaft and control movement, instead of being affected by it. The view, head and neck, should follow the ball.

The elbow should be extended throughout the swing, because otherwise it would alter the natural position of the mallet head and affect the power and precision of the hit.
The centrifugal force of the mallet head should feel like a pulling force on the upper limb. It is important to go with the movement and consequent traction without trying to add any extra major force during this critical time of the swing.

The right shoulder should be in a forward movement/position accompanying the alignment of the shoulders and trunk. The steep decline of the upper limb will drag behind him in the swing, and the angles of the arm and forearm will change in the longitudinal axis during the swing as follows:

30 to 45 degrees          - when the hand is over your head.
75 to 90 degrees          - when the hand is at shoulder height.
170 to 180 degrees  - at the moment of impact.

The left upper limb position does not vary significantly and hand should rest on the horse's withers, serving as a pivot movement of the swing.

Contact with the ball
The arm swings through the longitudinal axis allowing the mallet or stick to reach the ball. The face of the "cigar" or mallet head should be cross-throw line, otherwise it hits the ball in a rotary effect and gives uncertainty to the ball’s direction . This is one of the most common mistakes of the swing and prevents the ball from obtaining a longer distance when struck as the mallet head rotates at the time of impact.  

The alignment of the shoulder joint in its movement, had positioned itself perpendicular to the line travelled by the swing of the arm straight from the horse.

In a normal hit, which is performing correctly, you should not be able to see any movement in the player’s head and still allow the swing to connect the mallet with the ball and the ball to touch the ground. 

Final swing and finish
The completion of the swing does not end in contact with the ball, it continues after that. This stage is often underestimated and considered a waste of time, but it is important that the player acquires the habit of not deleting this final action. If not considered as part of the swing or process, it usually reduces the arc of movement and may as a result produce a braking effect even before the ball is hit, which may adversely affect efficiency and power of the blow. The end of the swing meets, therefore, with various functions, the most important is to not interfere with the blow with a "change of motion" on the moment of impact. Another function is to allow the rider to be prepared to stick and ball again with a passive movement. This then allows the special relaxed state to be achieved in preparation for the next movement, or hit.