Rule 30 · AAP Reglas de Juego 2026

Improper use of the stick

When a stick may be hooked, and only below the shoulder in the act of striking; no hitting one's own pony with the stick; no dangerous stick.

  1. 30a

    No player may hook an opponent's stick unless he is, in relation to the opponent's pony, on the same side as the ball or directly behind; and his stick must not pass over or under the body of the opponent's pony, nor through its hind or fore legs. The stick must be hooked and not struck, when the opponent is in the act of hitting the ball, and only below the horizontal line of the shoulder.

    Original text

    Ningún jugador puede enganchar el taco de un contrario sino cuando está, respecto del petiso del contrario, del mismo lado que la bocha o directamente atrás; y su taco no debe pasar por arriba ni por debajo del cuerpo del petiso contrario ni a través de sus patas o manos. El taco debe ser enganchado y no golpeado cuando el contrario esté en la acción de pegarle a la bocha y solamente de la línea horizontal del hombro para abajo.

    A legal hook
    • Line of the ball
    • Right of way (width not set by this rulebook — drawn schematically)
    • Ball
    What happens
    1. Blue 1 hits the ball.
    2. White 2 hooks Blue 1's stick.
    3. Blue 1 swings at the ball.

    AAP · Argentina · Reglas de Juego 2026

    No foul

    No foul. The stick may be hooked from the ball's side of the opponent's pony, or from directly behind, while he is hitting the ball and only below the horizontal line of his shoulder; it must be hooked, not struck.

    Rule 30a — Asociación Argentina de Polo

  2. 30b

    No player may hit his pony with his stick.

    Original text

    Ningún jugador podrá castigar su petiso con su taco.

  3. 30c

    No player may use his stick dangerously, or carry it in a way that hinders another player or pony.

    Original text

    Ningún jugador podrá usar su taco en forma peligrosa, ni llevarlo de manera que moleste a otro jugador o petiso.

  4. 30 Nota 1

    NOTE 1: Any hooking of the stick made before the ball is hit, or while the player is getting ready to hit it, must be penalised. A hook is considered legal only when the opponent is in the act of hitting, that is, when his stick has come down past the horizontal of the shoulder. Notwithstanding this, the offside backhand may be hooked as the swing begins, but always below the horizontal of the shoulder. The nearside backhand may only be hooked when the swing is coming down and below the horizontal of the shoulder.

    Original text

    NOTA 1: Debe penarse todo enganche de taco hecho antes de pegar a la bocha, o cuando el jugador se esté preparando para hacerlo. Sólo se considera legal el enganche cuando el contrario esté en el acto de pegar, es decir, cuando su taco haya pasado de la horizontal del hombro para abajo. Sin perjuicio de esto, el backhander del lado derecho puede ser enganchado al iniciarse el revoleo, pero siempre de la horizontal del hombro para abajo. El backhander de revés sólo puede engancharse cuando el swing va en descenso y de la horizontal del hombro hacia abajo.

    Hooking above the shoulderFOUL
    • Line of the ball
    • Right of way (width not set by this rulebook — drawn schematically)
    • Ball
    What happens
    1. Blue 1 hits the ball.
    2. White 2 hooks Blue 1's stick.
    3. White 2's hook on Blue 1's stick is a foul.
    4. Whistle.
    5. Blue 1 swings at the ball.

    AAP · Argentina · Reglas de Juego 2026

    Foul

    Foul on White 2. A hook is legal only once the opponent's stick has come down below the horizontal line of his shoulder; hooking it while he is still winding up above it is penalised.

    Rule 30a · 30 Nota 1 — Asociación Argentina de Polo

  5. 30 Nota 2

    NOTE 2: If the offside backhand is accidentally caught by an opposing player's horse, it shall not be considered a foul, unless that player was committing an infringement.

    Original text

    NOTA 2: Si el backhander por el lado derecho es enganchado accidentalmente por el caballo de un jugador contrario, no será considerado foul, salvo que dicho jugador estuviera cometiendo una infracción.

Translation for educational purposes. The original Spanish text prevails.