Rules of Polo
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Rule 41 · HPA Blue Book 2026

Penalty 4: 60-yard hit

A free hit at goal from the middle of the 60-yard line, with the defenders kept 40 yards away towards their goal.

  1. 41

    PENALTY 4 - 60 YARD HIT. One free hit by the team fouled from the centre of the 60 yard line nearest the goal of the team that has fouled.

    Penalty 4 from above: where the ball is placed and where both teams stand until it is hit (riders drawn larger than scale)
    1. Penalty 4: 60 yd from the goal line, opposite the centre of the goal
    2. The hitting team may stand where it chooses
    3. The hitter, Blue 1, on the approach
    4. The defending team 40 yd from the ball: within 20 yd of its back line, where a dot marks the distance
    5. The other penalties' spots: P and the penalty's number
    Penalty 4 seen from behind the hitter: the ball on its spot, the hitting team in blue, the defending team in white

  2. 41a

    The team taking the hit to be free to place themselves where they choose. The free hit shall be taken in one stroke with the intent to score. If the player taking the hit mishits, misdirects or misses the ball, they or any member of their team may only hit or hit at the ball with a half shot, that is with the head of the stick starting the downward swing below the shoulder of the hitter, until the ball has been hit or hit at by a player of the team facing the hit. However, the stick may be raised above the shoulder to stop or re-direct the ball.

  3. 41b

    All of the team defending the hit to be 40 yards from the Penalty 4 line until the ball is hit or hit at. This will be marked by a dot, 20 yards from the backline and in line with the centre of goal which is to be used by the umpires as a point of reference.