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Playing Tips with Rege Ludwig: A Field Divided
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Renowned polo coach, Rege Ludwig gives his expert advice on how to get more out of your game
I had the privilege of working on two different teams with Memo and Carlos Gracida, the 1994 and 1995 U.S. Opens, of which we won both. During those experiences I had the opportunity of learning things that I had never been exposed to prior to those two experiences.
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One of the things that I learned that impressed me the most is, the number one and the number four should try to be positioned at all times in a direct line between the ball and the goalmouth. That is especially true for the offense number one and the defense number four when the ball is headed toward the goal at which the offense team is trying to score. If both players can accomplish having done that, then when the ball is hit toward the goal, each is close to being on the Line Of the Ball (LOB); thereby, increasing their chances of having the right to hit the ball; offense number 1 to carry the ball toward the goal, and the defense number 4 to back the ball away from the goal.
The following diagram depicts five hits of the ball as the offensive team moves the ball from one end of the field to the other. Indicated are ideal positions for the offense number 1 and defense number 4 for each hit. Notice how each is positioned within their designated area of play. The fact of the matter is, seldom should the number one or the number four of either team be outside of the eighty-yard-wide area of play that exists from one end of the field to the other.
To facilitate being positioned between the ball and the goalmouth, mentally divide the field lengthwise into three sections, with the middle section being about eighty yards wide, and the two side areas each being approximately fifty yards wide.
That is such a simple concept; but oh, how incredibly well it works relative to being correctly positioned, especially if you are the number one or the number four on either team, and are in either the offense or defense mode of play.
Even though, the three sections are not equal in width, each does extend the length of the field. The first section to identify is the middle section, which can be identified by marking two spots on each backline; one approximately forty yards to the left of the center of the goalmouth, and the other approximately forty yards to the right of the center of the goalmouth. Do that on both ends of the field. Then, draw an imaginary line the length of the field from one spot to the corresponding spot on the other end of the field. Then, do the same thing with the other two spots on the other side of the goalmouth from one backline to the other.
You have now identified an eight-yardwide area of the field in which the number one and the number four should try to stay within as the ball moves up and down the field.
Those two lines define an area of the field that the offense number one and defense number four are responsible for on one end of the field leading the ball down field, while the offense number four and defense number one are responsible for the same area on the other end of the field while following the ball down field.
Since the shortest route between two points is a straight line, an objective of the offense number one and the defense number four should be to stay on a direct line between the ball and the goal towards which the ball is traveling. Once near that straight line, the offense number one and the defense number four should establish within the ROW adjacent to the projected LOB and, as much as possible, parallel to it.
The two remaining areas of the field are each approximately fifty-yards-wide, and are next to the boards on either side of the field. Those areas of the field are where the defense number two and offense number three should do a large portion of their work following the ball down field, while the defense number three and offense number two are typically at the ball or in front of it leading the ball down field.
IMPROVING POLO SKILLS
by Rege Ludwig
Unfortunately, there has been little written on the subjects of how to teach the game of polo and/or how to play it. My soon to be released educational program entitled, Improving Polo Skills, deals with both topics.
My major focus is on the riding, the controlling and the playing of the polo horse. I discuss how you do each affects the way you execute the strategy of the game, and hit the ball.
Over many years of working in polo, I have heard again and again that the polo horse is at least seventy percent of a player’s ability to play the game of polo. If that is true, as I am sure it is, then it only makes sense that if you want to improve your polo playing skills, the obvious place to start is where the largest percentage of your playing ability lies, i.e., riding, controlling, and playing the horse.
In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book One, Riding, I go into great detail explaining “WHY” the Polo Style of Riding is so important to playing the game of polo. I then go into the “HOW TO” of riding in the Polo Style.
In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book Two, Hitting, I go into an in-depth discussion on why a strong, secure and stable hitting platform is crucial to hitting any of the eight shots used in polo. Additionally, I introduce my Hitting Checklist, which is a series of steps that must be executed in sequential order if efficient hitting of any of the eight shots used in polo is to be realized. I refer to that sequential order as, The Law of Sequence. I also go into how the ending of one shot feeds into the beginning of the shot used for hitting in the opposite direction on the same side.
In the book, Improving Polo Skills, Book Three, Strategy, I discuss what the line of the ball and the right of way are. I reference each in a manner that defines how each should be used if maximum safety and effectiveness of play are to be realized. I also discuss, from an offense and a defense perspective, what the responsibilities are for each of the four positions in the outdoor game and the three positions of the indoor game. I also break the width of the field down into three sections that extend the length of the field. The middle section is an 80-yard-wide area where the offensive #1 and defensive #4, while staying on a direct line between the ball and the goal, should play the majority of the game. The two 50-yard-wide sections, on either side of the field, are areas where the #2s and #3s should play a large portion of the game.
Half Seat Begin Offside Fore Shot to End Offside Fore Shot/Begin Offside Backshot