The back shot changes everything
A backhand does not just clear your lines. It reverses the line of the ball, which flips who has the right of way in an instant.
The key points
- Everyone behind you is suddenly in front of the ball.
- Play the man in front before you strike, or they collect it.
- The best defenders hit backhands to a team-mate, not just away.
In the app this play is animated, and you can spin the pitch and read the rule behind it.
See it move
See this play animated on the pitch, and test yourself on the rules behind it.
Every rule here is stated in our own words, with short quoted extracts from the HPA Blue Book 2026 and Green Book 2025 and a link to the book itself. Polo Rules Test is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with the Hurlingham Polo Association. In any dispute the published rulebook governs.