Passing is a fundamental skill in polo that players of all abilities need to utilize. While there are a variety of different pass types including both forehands and backhands, one that is commonly used is the offside neckshot for the ability to change the line of the ball. The offside neckshot is contacted in front of the horse's legs, allowing a player to hit the ball across the front of the horse. The mallet is swung on a plane so that the followthrough wraps underneath the horse's neck, giving the swing its name. 

Used effectively as a pass, the offside neckshot can allow a player to hit the ball into space, away from the coverage of defenders and allow a teammate to receive the ball on a different line than the ball was originally on. In the 2021 U.S. Open Polo Championship, Pilot effectively controlled possession through their duo of Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres and in this example, Gonzalito Pieres perfectly showcases an offside neckshot pass to patron Curtis Pilot that ultimately creates a scoring opportunity. 

The first aspect of the play is the recognition from Gonzalito Pieres that the offside neckshot pass is a good option. Three defenders are intently focused on him as he has possession of the ball and despite the pressure, you can clearly see that he surveys his surroundings and identifies the open space to the left of the defenders. The other key part of this is not only are the defenders focused on him with the ball, but all three are trying to push Gonzalito to the right side of the field and prevent a play to the left. 

Creating space in between the second and third defenders, Gonzalito Pieres still has the defenders pushing him to the right side of the field, but in this moment, he has the opportunity to hit a pass behind the third defender into open space. Changing the path of his swing, Gonzalito swings across the front of the horse to hit the ball away from the defenders and into the open, undefended space.

The pass is hit in a way that allows his teammate to ride on to the ball with speed to continue the attack downfield. With polo being played at a fast speed, if the pass was hit where his teammate was at the time, the receiver would ride past the ball. Instead, it is a successful pass hit ahead of the receiver, allowing him to run into the ball and hit the ball further downfield.

See below for the video of the offside neckshot from Gonzalito Pieres.

For more examples of offside neckshot passes, visit the Polo Development app:

Offside Neckshot Pass Examples