USPA · USA · Rulebook 2026
Foul
Foul on White 2. The upswing is part of the stroke and may be hooked, but only when the mallet head is below the opponent's shoulder. Blue 1's is above it.
Rule 28a — United States Polo Association
Rule 28 · USPA Rulebook 2026
Improper use of the mallet
When a mallet may be hooked, reckless hitting, cross-hooking, dangerous swings, the right-hand rule and hitting after the whistle.
Hooking
No player may hook or strike an opponent’s mallet unless on the same side of the opponent’s mount as the ball, or in a direct line behind, and only if his or her mallet is neither over, under, nor across any part of the opponent’s mount. The mallet may not be hooked or struck unless the opponent is in the act of hitting at the ball, or in the act of hooking or striking the player’s mallet. 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. (Note: Although subsection (a) of Rule 28 indicates that a player may, under certain conditions, “strike” an opponent’s mallet, subsection (d) should always be observed. Thus, the manner of “striking” intended by subsection (a) is that which is in no way dangerous or abusive to the opponent or mount and it is, therefore, a foul to strike an opponent’s mallet with excessive force as in the case of slashing or swinging hard at the opponent’s mallet as opposed to just bumping or pushing it off its course.)
- Line of the ball
- Right of way (width not set by this rulebook — drawn schematically)
- Ball
- Foul
What happens
- Blue 1 hits the ball.
- White 2 hooks Blue 1's stick.
- White 2's hook on Blue 1's stick is a foul.
- Whistle.
- Blue 1 swings at the ball.
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.
Reckless hitting
A player may not recklessly strike a ball during play in such a way that it may cause injury to another player, his or another player’s mount, a spectator, an official or damage property. A player will be deemed to have recklessly stricken the ball into another player or that player’s mount if the player in possession of the ball either stops or reduces his or her speed to a slow canter or walk and then hits the ball into the defending player or his or her mount, provided that the defending player is not in the hitter’s right of way and is marking the hitter by being within two horse lengths of the hitter. Alternatively, a defender in the hitter’s right of way, who does not clear that right of way in a timely manner when the player in possession of the ball either stops or reduces his or her speed to a slow canter or walk, may be penalized for putting himself or herself and his or her mount in a dangerous position to block the hitter’s shot.
Cross-hooking and hitting among legs
No player may reach immediately over and across or under and across any part of an opponent’s mount to hit at the ball, nor hit into or among the legs of an opponent’s mount.
Dangerous mallet use
No player may use the mallet in a manner which is dangerous or abusive to any other individual or to the player’s own or another player’s mount.
Each player is responsible for his or her mallet at all times. The mallet shall not be used in a dangerous or abusive manner whether in the act of hooking or hitting at the ball. The player should be held accountable for the use of his or her mallet unless another player is clearly at fault by riding into the stroke.
Red and Blue ride parallel, but not in contact, toward the ball. Blue prepares for a neck shot and strikes Red’s mount on the downswing. Foul Blue- Red was safely positioned before the stroke began. Blue has a right to hit the ball straight forward or backward but does not have the right for his mallet to take up both sides of the LOB when the defender is riding parallel. Red # 2, concentrating on the ball, cocks and begins his stroke for a neck shot towards his goal as Blue # 3 rides at an angle with speed to bump Red on his near side. As Red # 2 completes his swing, the mallet hits Blue # 3 in the face. Foul Blue for entering the play late after Red had started his stroke at the ball. Blue created the danger even though he was injured. Blue #3 and Red # 2 are making a play on the ball. Red # 2 is positioned on Blue’s near side. While both players are concentrating on each other and riding parallel, Blue #3 takes an offside neck shot and strikes Red # 2 in the head with his mallet. Foul on Blue for improper use of the mallet. Red was safely positioned before the stroke began. With a 1 goal lead late in the final period, Red #3 wants to kill some time and hits a line drive over the boards and into the spectators. This dangerous act must be penalized.
Right hand only
All players shall play with the mallet with their right hand, with the exception of left-handers registered with the USPA prior to January 1, 1974.
Hitting after the whistle
No player may intentionally strike the ball after the whistle or if the ball is otherwise out of play. If a hit occurs after a whistle for a foul, or if the ball is otherwise out of play, the Umpire may award a penalty or increase the severity of the penalty if the hit is by a member of the fouling team or cancel the penalty or decrease its severity if the hit is by a member of the team fouled. 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 assess a red card and eject that player for the remainder of the game for that player’s first offense.