THE LATEST

NEWS

RULE OF THE WEEK: IMPROPER USE OF MALLET

May 07, 2018 8:33 PM

SHARE
Klentner Ranch's Jesse Bray and Restoration Hardware's Matt Coppola hook mallets.
Klentner Ranch's Jesse Bray and Restoration Hardware's Matt Coppola hook mallets in 2017 Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

2018 USPA Rules

Rule 28 - IMPROPER USE OF MALLET

a. …The act of hitting at the ball shall include both the upward and downward phases of the stroke. The mallet may be hooked or struck but not with excessive force and only when the opponent is about to hit the ball and the mallet head is below the shoulder of the opponent.

f. …If the ball that is struck intentionally after the whistle endangers a person or horse, the player may be immediately ejected in accordance with Rule 33.b(2)(a), which allows the Umpire(s), at their sole discretion, to award a red flag and eject that player for the remainder of the game for that player’s first offense.

28. IMPROPER USE OF MALLET a...INTERPRETATION: The offside backhand stroke The offside backhand stroke can be hooked during the wind-up of the swing, but always below the shoulder level of the player hitting. Such hooking is not allowed on the near side backhand stroke. If the backhand stroke on the offside is accidentally hooked by an opponent’s mount, it shall not be considered a foul, unless the player was otherwise fouling.