Polo Mallet Hook

Hooking an Opponent's Mallet Swing

Hooking is one of the two basic defensive plays allowed by the rules. The other basic defensive play is called the Bump or Ride-Off. A player's mallet is used to block or interfere with an opponent's swing at the ball.

While a player is taking a shot at the ball, his opponent can block the swing by using his mallet to hook the mallet of the other player.

The Hook can only be used in a specific approved manner. A player may hook only if is he is on the side where the swing is being made or directly in front or behind an opponent.

Unsafe hooking is a foul that will result in a penalty shot being awarded. For example, it is a foul for a player to reach over an opponent's mount in an attempt to hook.