Beginners Polo Equipment Guide: Choosing Your First Mallet

Why does Tato's Mallets only sell polo gear?

Tato's Mallets is a specialty polo equipment and apparel store based at 11496 Pierson Rd C-1, Wellington, Florida 33414. We serve polo players, teams, clubs, and equestrian customers, both in the store and online.

We made a deliberate decision about our shelves. Many shops carry the same everyday items as every other shop, so we chose to build around polo and nothing else: mallets, saddles, bridles, bits, helmets, boots, knee guards, gloves, tack, equipment bags, and custom team apparel. When a beginner contacts Tato's Mallets, every product we show them was chosen for the sport.

Tato's Mallets sells polo-specific equipment for players, teams, and horses, which is why a first-time buyer can find a complete setup in one place.

What should a beginner know before buying a first polo mallet?

Three questions come before any purchase:

1. Who is playing? A child and an adult need different sizes.

2. How will they play? Foot mallets and the Advanced Polo Mallet are separate products for separate stages.

3. What will they hit? A mallet needs a ball, and the Arena Polo Ball sits on the same collection page.

The product names do much of the explaining. A foot mallet is made for a player on foot. The Advanced Polo Mallet is the step-up option for someone past the first stage. Here is how the three mallets at Tato's Mallets line up:

A beginner's first mallet is a decision about age bracket and stage of play, and the sizes above answer both.

How do I choose the right mallet size?

Start with the bracket. Tato's Mallets lists foot mallets as size ranges instead of one fixed length. The kids' range runs from 19" to 27", and the adult range picks up right after at 28" and goes to 34".

Because the two ranges meet at 27" and 28", a younger player or a smaller adult sitting right on that line is the buyer most likely to need a second opinion. Contact the Tato's Mallets team before ordering if you are in that position. We would rather talk through a size than ship the wrong one.

A simple way to work through it:

1. Decide whether the player belongs in the kids' range or the adult range.

2. Open that mallet's product page and review the listed range.

3. If you sit near either end of the range or near the 27"/28" boundary, ask us first.

Picking a size comes down to choosing the right range and then confirming the fit with someone who handles these mallets every day.

What is the difference between a foot mallet and the Advanced Polo Mallet?

Tato's Mallets keeps these as separate products because they serve different players. The Adult and Kids Foot Mallets are where a new player begins. They come in the size ranges above, which makes the first purchase straightforward.

The Advanced Polo Mallet is the product for players who have moved past that first stage. Its product page is the right place to check its details before buying. A beginner does not need to start there, but a player who already has some time in the sport may look straight at it.

If you are not sure which side of that line you sit on, tell us how long you have been playing and we will point you to the right one.

What else does a beginner need besides a mallet?

A mallet is one item on a longer list. Tato's Mallets sells the rest of a player's setup, and this section covers the gear the player wears and carries. The next section covers the horse.

Notice that the helmets and knee guards are listed with custom options. Tato's Mallets also makes custom team apparel, so a beginner who joins a team can often match the rest of the squad from the same store.

The player's own gear is a short list, and Tato's Mallets stocks every item on it.

What polo tack does a beginner's horse need?

A horse's setup is larger than the player's, and this is where most of a beginner's shopping lands. It helps to take it one layer at a time, from the saddle outward.

The saddle and what goes under it. Tato's Mallets lists several polo saddles, including the Buffalo Leather Polo Saddle, the American Polo Saddle – Leather, the American Polo Saddle – Suede Seat, and the Advanced Polo Saddle – Suede. Under the saddle, you can choose from the TATO'S Argentine Saddle Pad (pampas), the solid version, the Ogilvy Saddle Pad, and the Wool Polo Pad.

Girths and overgirths. These hold the saddle in place. The shop carries the TATO'S English Neoprene Girth, the TATO'S Equalizer Neoprene Girth, the Nylon & Leather Overgirths, and the Nylon & Leather Elastic Overgirth.

Stirrups and leathers. The Wide Polo Irons 5" and the English Red Buffalo Stirrup Leathers are the pieces the player's feet depend on.

Bridles and bits. Tato's Mallets builds its own bridles in two styles and two levels. The TATO'S Advanced Pelham Bridle and TATO'S Premium Pelham Bridle cover the Pelham style. The TATO'S Advanced Gag Bridle and TATO'S Premium Gag Bridle cover the gag style. Choosing between them is a conversation worth having with us, because the right bridle depends on the horse.

Reins. The site separates bridle reins from draw reins. Look at the 3/4" Bridle Reins, the Premium 3/4" Bridle Reins, the Draw Reins, and the Rope Centered Draw Reins.

Breastplates and martingales. The Breastplate, the Padded BreastPlate, and the Martingale round out the saddle-side tack.

Leg protection for the horse. Choose from the Tendon Boots, the Open Front Tendon Boots, the Ballistic Overreach Boots, the Polo Leg Wraps – Set of 4, and the Standing Bandages.

Here is the same list in one view:

A horse's polo tack is built in layers, and Tato's Mallets stocks each layer so a beginner can work through them one at a time.

In what order should a beginner buy polo equipment?

Buying everything in one trip is not necessary. Here is the order this guide suggests, with the reason for each step:

1. The mallet. It decides what the rest of the setup must support, so settle it first.

2. A ball. The Arena Polo Ball is on the same page as the mallets.

3. A helmet. Order it early, since the custom options take longer to think through than a ball does.

4. Knee guards. Pair them with the helmet in the same order.

5. Eyewear and a whip. These are small purchases that complete the player's side.

6. Horse tack. Move to the saddle, pad, girth, bridle, and reins once the player's gear is in hand.

A buyer who already owns a horse with tack can skip steps and shop only the gaps. A player who rents or borrows can stop after step five.

Where can I shop for beginner polo equipment in Wellington?

You can visit Tato's Mallets in person at 11496 Pierson Rd C-1, Wellington, FL 33414, or shop the full polo equipment collection online. The complete catalog is on the all products page, and new arrivals and shop updates appear on our Instagram.

We serve Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, and the wider South Florida and Florida polo community. Players and teams outside Florida can order online as well, including buyers outside the United States who search in English.

Visiting the Wellington shop or browsing the website gets a beginner to the same polo-only catalog.

Key Takeaways

• Pick the mallet first: Kids Foot Mallet for 19"–27", Adult Foot Mallet for 28"–34", Advanced Polo Mallet for the step up.

• Players near the 27"/28" line should ask the Tato's Mallets team before ordering.

• A beginner's own gear is short: mallet, ball, helmet, knee guards, eyewear, whip, and spurs.

• A horse's tack is layered: saddle, pad, girth, bridle, reins, breastplate or martingale, and leg protection.

• Tato's Mallets sells only polo-specific equipment, in Wellington and online.

FAQ

1. What size polo mallet should a child start with?
   Tato's Mallets lists the Kids Foot Mallet in a 19"–27" range. Open the product page, choose within that range, and contact us if you are between sizes.
   

2. What size polo mallet should an adult start with?
   The Adult Foot Mallet is listed from 28" to 34". An adult starting on foot should choose from that range.
   

3. Does Tato's Mallets sell more than polo mallets?
   Yes. We carry polo saddles, bridles, bits, helmets, boots, knee guards, gloves, tack, equipment bags, and custom team apparel.
   

4. Where is Tato's Mallets located?
   At 11496 Pierson Rd C-1, Wellington, FL 33414. You can also shop at tatosmallets.com.
   

5. Can a team order matching gear?
   Tato's Mallets offers custom team apparel and gear for players, teams, and clubs. Contact the team to start a team order.