Anatomy of a polo pro’s year
Top English professional Max Charlton explains how he survives in the gruelling world of professional polo.
FWhy polo is a non-stop year or 12 months of the year I’m playing about four times a week. In the off season I’m playing and travelling – and riding – as I try to improve my game and reach the top. If I’m not playing, I’m then in the gym once or twice a week, or playing squash, any sort of racquet sport really as they are similar to the muscle groups you use in polo. It’s nonstop. The only time you put down your stick is when you’re injured, or when you are recovering from an injury. Keeping the under-arm flow I like swimming so I’ll swim for an hour, before the sauna and steam room. It’s more about relaxing and being prepared mentally for your next tournament. I prefer to play more squash and tennis than golf. Squash is underarm after all and no shot in polo is overarm so you can get sore and stiff from tennis. Being long and lean It would have been extremely difficult if I had been left-handed. It’s all about core strength, being flexible and nimble, that’s the ideal you are looking for. When you are going to the gym, it’s not about lifting weights. If you look at the best polo players, they are long and lean, and whippy. I’d say I’m ‘playing fit’. Keeping the mind clear Mental preparation? I’m all about that. Warming up pregame is not beneficial to me; I like a team chat and then think about the game ahead. I also see a sports psychologist on a regular basis. I have a few OCDs and superstitions and so I try and clear those out. I have always been like that but I have only just found it was how I worked. It was the same with other sport I played. The route for me was mental and it works for me.
Why relaxing pre-match works for me
A lot of players warm-up and down, but personally, I don’t like to do a lot to warm-up. Some players like to have a run, or a stretch, I like to relax and prepare myself mentally. Then it’s all about stick and ball. But after the game I do stretch. I found that if I warmed up too much, I lost my concentration. I’ve always found that if I have a relaxed, endured a calm period before I play, it brings out the best in me.
The anatomy of the year for 7-goaler Charlton
April to September: the English season.. You tend to have one patron (owner) per level, so you can commit to one team at each - be it 18 goal, medium goal, low goal. You have to play as much as you can, because we are paid per game, and not per season. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the dynamic. It’s wrong when you look at other countries, which is per season, but we are trying to change that.
Australia - Match play as a professional. I was in Australia but I dislocated by finger, so I came back and am currently having that rectified
Mexico – I play there for two weeks every year
St Moritz – Playing indoor arena polo at the start of the year
Argentina – I go there for training and improvement
New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Dubai – It’s all about making money and playing when I go to these destinations.