Types of Polo: Grass, Arena, Snow and Beach Polo
by Polo101.com

Grass polo is the most common type of polo played around the world.  There are a large number of grass polo clubs in the United States that offer seasonal polo to players and spectators.  Many grass clubs also offer arena polo. Snow and beach polo are less common and not as widespread as arena and grass polo.

Arena, snow and beach polo differ from grass polo in several ways. In arena, snow and beach polo there are only three players per team and in grass polo there are four players per team.  The other obvious differences are the size of the field, the playing surface and the ball.  The largest field size is seen in grass polo at 300 x 160 yards.  All other types of polo use a much smaller playing field. In grass polo, the polo ball is made of a hard, compacted plastic material. In arena, snow and beach polo a larger-sized inflatable ball is used that is made of leather.

There are also many rule differences between grass polo and other variants of polo.   For example, in grass polo teams change direction after every goal is scored to provide an equal advantage in terms of wind and other variables.  In other types of polo a team will change directions after each chukker/period of play.   The time in a period of play (chukker) also varies between grass polo and the other types of polo. Grass chukkers are 7 minutes long and arena chukkers are 7.5 minutes long.

A Grass Polo Tournament in France. Photo by L. Bremner.

Grass Polo (aka outdoor polo)

Playing Surface:  grass
Size: 300 x 160 yards
Chukkers:  4 to 6 periods of play (7 minute chukkers)
Goal Posts: 8 Yards Apart
Locations: Throughout United States and around the World.

Arena polo tournament at California Polo Club in Los Angeles. Photo by L. Bremner.

Arena Polo (aka indoor polo)

Surface:  dirt/sand
Size: varies, 300 x 150 feet in length is an ideal arena size
Ball: white, inflatable leather ball
Chukkers: 4 periods of play (7.5 minute chukkers)
Goal Zone: 10 x 15 foot area, recessed into arena wall
Locations: Throughout United States and around the World.

Snow Polo in Berenberg @ Klosters © Photograph by Tony Ramirez.

Snow Polo

Surface:  snow, flat surface or frozen lakeSize: varies (usually less than 100 yards long)
Chukkers: 4 periods of play
Ball: bright colored inflatable ball to make more visible in the snow
Locations:  Aspen, CO, Switzerland (St. Moritz and Klosters), Argentina, Russia, Italy (Cortina) and other cities.

Miami Beach Polo 2008. Photo by Alex Pacheco.

Beach Polo

Surface: sandSize: varies
Chukkers: 4 periods of play
Ball: bright colored inflatable ball to make more visible in the sand
Locations: Mimi, FL (USA), UK, Dubai, Dominican Republic, Ireland).