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!!
Hook from alongside and in between your two horses. Don’t try to hook from under your horse’s neck. You can not see the play and it is easy to let your horse run into their swing which will result in a whistle on you. I will admit that coming in at an angle or from behind an opponent to hook and stealing the ball can be very effective if you have the skill and field awareness. Without the skill and awareness, it could be your last play in polo.
The proper technique for Hooking:
1) Get into position, your horse’s head at about the opponents saddle. If you are right alongside-go for the ball, or push the ball underneath your opponents’ horse. If you are too far back, forget reaching, get your horse up to the next play. When you are in the act of hooking, keep a leg on your horse so that your horse does not slow down while you are reaching for the hook.
2) Don’t put your mallet out to early and start a hook with your mallet down so you don’t get called for slashing.
3) Swing slightly into the swing of your opponent so that you can counteract the momentum of their swing.
4) You want to actually hit their cane of their mallet about a foot or two above the head of their mallet.
5) You want to actually hook their mallet about halfway between the horse’s rump and the ball in arena polo. Outdoors, just below the player’s shoulder. The sooner you get the hook, the better chance you have of getting the hook and the ball if you are quick enough.
6) When you are hooking their offside, you want to hook with the heel of your mallet or your mallet wrist up. On their nearside, most people hook with the toe of their mallet with your wrist facing up. Sometimes, when you are close alongside, some find it easier to hook their nearside with the heel of you mallet, which has your wrist facing down.
When you are coming up from behind a player going to the ball, come up on their strong side-the off-side. Even if they have a stronger horse and take you out prior to the ball, at least make them hit it on the nearside. Practice your hooks at slower controlled gaits before trying to execute them at speed. Happy Hooking-uh-in polo !!
Photo: Danny Rowlands and Carlitos Crebera
Photo by: L. Bremner/PoloBARN.com
