A Case For Pakistani Polo Products
I have often heard that the only polo mallets worth using are from Argentina.
In the USA, Nano's Mallets of Wellington, Florida are considered top class, and in New Zealand George Wood has a good reputation.
Why do players shy away from products from Pakistan?
Often the criticism is that third world countries produce shoddy goods.
I looked at my favorite Ralph Lauren sweater today and saw that it was made in China. Another RL favorite polo shirt had a label in it saying "Made in Sri Lanka."
My favorite La Martina long sleeve shirt, purchased at their store in Buenos Aires, was made in Romania.
Have you checked your running shoes recently? Or your tennis racket? Or golf clubs?
Chances are you will find production sources from China to Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Phillipines, India, Bangladesh and, yes, also Pakistan.
I live in Argentina, but I also play with Pakistani sticks. The makers use the same canes from Malaysia. You can get them with Tipa wood heads, if you like.
I also use Argentine sticks, from J&M, Top, and Villamil, as well as from a local malletmaker.
The Pakistani sticks hold up very well and are a joy to play with.
I also know Argentine professional players playing in Pakistan, using Pakistani boots.
Why Pakistan? The assembly costs are much lower. You can purchase a mallet for US$40-$50, including shipping to Europe or to the US, if bought in bulk orders of 20 sticks, to offset the shipping costs.
Other sports have long figured out that just because a country lacks experience in a particular sport does not mean that it cannot produce goods of high quality.
In the case of Pakistan, however, polo has been played there for centuries, and is still played there today.
What has been your experience with Pakistani polo products?
Tags: Argentina, Pakistan, equipment, mallets, polo, price, products, quality, sticks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by TJ Jackson on -
I have had a good experiance with my 1 purchase. I bought a pair of Hispar riding boots in Houston's Harwin area. I needed them for polo and couldn't afford $600 just for boots. Hispar boots are made in Pakistan, however, they utilize Goodyear Welt Technology - which is American.
They're very light and I get many compliments from players who probably paid $1000 on their and kids' boots. I have had them since February 2012 and played them in 2 tournaments and every weekend. They are good boots.
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Permalink Reply by Sani Umar on -
Well i am using pakistani mallets from two different manufacturers and they are quite good. I also use tack and boots from pakistan and so far so good. I have seen a difference in quality among the 2 mallet makers i bought from, they all have good canes but the second supplier' mallet heads are less qualitative. That not withstanding, i enjoy my mallets and other pakistani polo equipment.
I must however say they make horrible helmets!
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Permalink Reply by Adam Khan on -
Sani could you please specify which mallet brands. which one suck'd if you could kindly name the suppliers. Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Sani Umar on
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Well I am using Galaxico med stiff mallets sizes 50, 51 and 52. And some I got from Shahira whose heads I had issues with. They are no zappalas but they can hold their own. Like most things for polo use branding is what people look for but most times for a lot of $ less you can hit jackpot.
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Permalink Reply by Equestrian Hub on -
Having been in this business for a good number of years, I can safely say that it has a lot to do with bad press. Anyone who has never been to Pakistan, or this region only believes in what he/she comes to know through electronic/print media. If people can just ignore what is being shown on media and take it as just another fallacy, they will get to see how ripe the Pakistani market is for business, and specifically for equestrian related business and activities.
The equestrian goods manufactured in Pakistan are of highest quality, not only because we have got a history dating back several centuries where the great Mughal emperors were known to be fond of playing the great game of Polo. And this is precisely the reason it has been dubbed as "The Sport of Kings." I go on and on with this history lesson, and explain how rooted this sport is in our culture and the region itself, but I will leave that for another time.
Now coming back to the Polo or other equestrian related products that are being manufactured in Pakistan. Leather which is the primary material used in manufacturing a great number of Polo related products, ranging from boots to saddles, is considered to be one of the highest quality in this region. So, I can safely say that products like saddles, bridles, breast plates, boots, girths, halters and other products that require leather to be produced are the best bet when it comes to Pakistan.
Polo sticks on the other hand, are among one of the best, if one chooses the supplier carefully. There are hundreds of them out there, and each one has a different way of dealing with a prospective customer and meeting their demands. Some cut corners, others give preference to going the extra length to make sure that their customers get the best bang for the buck.
There is so much I can share about the Pakistani polo/equestrian manufacturing market, but I better not go down too deep or it will sound like a paid article to some.
Sani Umar, might have been right to point out that Polo or riding helmets are not one of the things that are made to perfection in Pakistan. But, believe it or not, there are manufacturers out there that can make decent traditionally styled Argentine Helmets with relative accuracy and comfort. Having said that, I do agree that if one is looking for a high-end helmet like the ones from Casablanca or Charles Owen, then one should look elsewhere. But then those cost much more than the best ones that can be had from Pakistan.
Conclusion: Quality is relative to price.
That's just my two cents.
Cheers!
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Funk on -
many years ago we bought sticks from Pakistan and they all have been green canes. That means they aren't really dry when they was using them, result is, that you hit the ball and the cane stays in the movement, They remind curved, doesn't swing back into a straight way. Imposible to play.
3 years ago a friend of mine was ordering boots for a team from Pakistan and after the first chucker all the 4 pairs of boots have had parts where the seams came up from alone.
sorry this are my personal expierences.
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Permalink Reply by Maltese Cat on -
Thank you, Sandra. Your comments are always appreciated.
I have had other experiences with Pakistani mallets. In fact, I am still using some that were obtained 7 years ago, although some now have been fitted with new heads. The canes have held up well. Sani seems to not have had a cane problem, either. He mentions, however, that there are qualitative differences between different suppliers regarding the malletheads. Maybe I was lucky. I guess it depends on which company you are dealing with.
Although...
A short while ago I had a discussion about Argentine mallets with some medium goal players. They mentioned that they were in the factory of one of the leading four malletmakers in Argentina and they noticed that, when looking down a row of mallets, the heads were all at different angles. When they asked the owner why, he said he had a new apprentice and this was not usual for his mallets.
So, I suppose it happens in the best of factories. I checked my Argentine mallets and notice some of them were also not uniform.
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Permalink Reply by Rhoda Ochoa on -
I'd wanted to try some of the Pakistan stuff. Like, say, bridles, bridle parts, mallets, knee guards. My saddle needs are pretty specific (5'1" and I ride in older style, 16.5"old Stubben Portos saddles, 31.5 tree for my guys v. - heh, if anyone has one I'm always looking). I wasn't crazy about the boots I saw (just in terms of style). The website for the company I'd read about (on this sitetime somewhere) was partly inop though. Seems like they supply to dealers overseas (so a lot of people may buy Pakistani polo goods that way)? The town they were in has all sorts of sporting goods manufacturing. Also, for non-polo stuff we buy from overseas super cheap, there is usually a very large third party vetting those goods, and riding the ass of the local producer on quality control, because they know it means being in the news if the products aren't of at least a minimum standard, or worse, tainted/dangerous (still happens, though). We could talk sweatshops, but that's another discussion. Anyway, I'd still try their stuff. I -did- specifically avoid buying most of my gear through "polo" sites. It's often incredibly overpriced, and -never- made with a small person in mind. Almost impossible to find cob size headgear, either. I do have a couple Texas Polo bits (which are nice, but which I also suspect are made outside the first world, and probably have 100% or more markup).
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Permalink Reply by Maltese Cat on
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Rhonda,
Sani Umar told me he has had some luck with Galixico.
For another alternative, try either Shahira Industries in Silkot or New MG Rustam & Company. Their websites are:
http://www.mgrustam.com/products.htm
For a "special price" on your mallets and other items, see my website at:
http://maltesecatpolo.wordpress.com/store/
or contact me directly.
Cat
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Permalink Reply by Adam Khan on
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I got some stuff from Mg&Rustum after checking their links and getting in touch with them. I live in Lahore and sialkots 45 minutes from here. I orderd 5 tipa wood head, mallets. The supplier gave his word that he would take 2 months to deliver as he was waiting for the heads. Mind you he took 6 months to send the sticks and within a weeks play of Polo the first sticks cane snapped from the bottom when i hit a flying ball. Im still in quite an awe and upset with the supplier and to show his guilt the man isn't picking up my number. My advice is NEVER TO GET ANY GOOD FROM MG RUSTUM! thats all :) cheers
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Permalink Reply by Rhoda Ochoa on
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Galaxico... that was the company.
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Permalink Reply by Sani Umar on
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Galaxico is the company. I just received the first part of an order I made for 2 complete saddles and bridles in cluding gag bits and all accessories. I am very pleased with the goods and am placing another order for a full sets for all my horses. For these goods (including) shipment, I got a discount of some $$ if I were to buy them over here. Another company I have dealt with is Shahira industries also of pakistan from whom I have purchased a few items which I still use. But I must say interms of service delivery and speedy shipments, Galaxico are the guys for me! :)
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