Meet the ball, do not chase it
Riding onto a ball coming towards you is faster and safer than chasing one going away. Good players turn early and meet it.
The key points
- Turning to meet the ball leaves you facing the play, not away from it.
- You arrive with the right of way rather than trying to take it.
- Chasing a ball you will never reach is how you leave the game entirely.
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.