Turning the ball
When the run dies on the boards, do not force it. Turn the ball back into the open and the whole field reopens.
The key points
- A backhand across your body changes the line of the ball instantly.
- The moment the line changes, every right of way changes with it.
- Your team-mates should already be turning before you strike.
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.