56 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. [Chap. II. 



If No. 3 can hit out from behind equally as well as 

 the Back, it is best for him to do so, and to follow the 

 ball up, backing up No. 2, so that the advantage of 

 having the players in their proper places to begin with 

 may be secured. If, however, Back be the stronger 

 hitter, No. 3 should place himself slightly in front of 

 goal, so as to be able to defend it, if the hit out be not 

 successful (Fig. 23). 



When his opponents are hitting out, he should be 

 about fifty yards out away from goal, where he thinks 

 the ball will be hit, and should not be tempted to meet 

 the ball, unless it is stationary and he is certain of 

 getting it. His duty is to try to get it before the 

 opposing No. 2, and hit a back-hander towards goal to 

 his own No. 2. If the opposite side are hitting out 

 from between the goal posts, No. 3 places himself as 

 in Fig. 24. 



DUTIES OF BACK. 



Back, whose place is the most important one in the 

 game, is as a rule the Captain of the side. A first-class 

 Back must not only be a fine player, but must also 

 be a master of the tactics of polo, cool, resourceful, 

 never liable to throw a chance away, and always ready 

 to profit by the error of an adversary. He must be 

 mounted on perfectly trained and very handy ponies. 

 Although great speed is always an advantage in polo 

 ponies, it is not so essential to Back as to No. i or No. 

 2 ; for he will almost invariably get the start of the 

 opposing No. I. 



He should not stay too far out of the game, and 

 especially in attack, when close to the adversaries' goal, 

 he should be close up, ready to make a dash at goal. 



