jonny don't you mean OUTWARD slice? i.e. the ball goes to the right of target. kaboom.

I was just trying to make the most hockey stick like mallet possible, given that Kevin is always on about how our game is so very hockey like. I've only gotten to play with it a coupla times, but so far I like it, even if I can't really tell if the curve gives the ball any spin or lift when hit off the end,

this photo does justice to my sexy knees and polo attire, but not to the angle of my mallet, which is actually about 45 degrees, for dribbling, for poking, for reaching around and hooking the ball.

... for not being able to play close to the bike, for not being able to stand on the mallet in goal, for not being able to use the mallet as a prop to turn tightly...

The angle may get a little bigger, but it will not approach 45 degrees. "Professional" polo mallets, horse, bike, or hand usually angle plus or minus 80 degrees. The costie hardcourt freeks use 90. In Chicago, we're experimenting, but 12-20 seems to fit our game right now.

the more perpendicular the mallet, the more perpendicular your arm must be to the ground. which means that if the ball is anything more than a foot from your bike, your elbow is out the middle of the sky instead of down by your hip where it belongs so that you can use your whole arm, not just your forearm, to stick handle, shoot, etc.