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



ball hit slightly sideways one way or the other will 

 probably miss No. I's pony ; but If hit straight back, 

 It may not unlikely get stopped by the legs of that 

 animal. 



If we watch the play of one or two of our most 

 celebrated Backs, we shall not be as much Impressed 

 by the brilliancy and strength of their strokes, as 

 bv the extraordinary accuracy with which they place 

 the ball so that their own side can get It. Although 

 we may often hear remarks about the bad luck of 

 a back-hander hitting a pony, the accident In many 

 cases is due to the faulty play of the man who hit 

 It. In attack the Back should let the No. i get 

 close to him, though not so close as to run the risk of 

 having his back-hander stopped by the pony. Having 

 got the No. I well on the gallop, he can back-hand the 

 ball, turn round sharply and have him off-side. It is 

 not a bad plan when near the adversaries' goal for No. 

 3, particularly if he has confidence In the Back, to let 

 No. 2 of the opposing side on to him also, and prepare 

 to turn for the back-hander. Then If the Back is very 

 nippy, and If he can get them both galloping, he can 

 turn quickly, and may be able to dart in and put both 

 No. I and No. 2 off-side, In which case there will for 

 the moment be four against two. These tactics can 

 of course be employed only when a side is attacking 

 strongly. In defence no risks of this kind should 

 be Incurred. 



The Back should be able to hit back-handers on the 

 near side, which is not so easy to do as on the off, 

 although It Is not difficult by diligent practice to 

 acquire the desired ability. If No. i, who should 

 always try to come up on the stick side, succeeds 



