The hardcourt game saw a sharp spike in interest in the first decade of the 21st century[1] and new teams are sprouting up across the world in China, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, France, India, Germany, Pakistan, Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, England, Scotland, Argentina, Italy, Spain, United States, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Nepal, Brazil and Cuba.

The ball used approximately 2.5 inches (64 mm) in diameter and the mallet is of maximum length 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).

[3] In recent years, an alternate form of the game known as "Hardcourt Bike Polo" has grown in popularity.

[1] In this variation, teams composed of three players compete on tennis courts, street hockey rinks, or whatever other surfaces are available.

There are three core rules of play: In the case of a 'foot down' or 'dab' (touching the ground with one's foot) the player must "tap out" by riding to mid-court and hitting a designated area with their mallet.

In order to score, the offensive player must hit the ball across the goal line using the narrow end of the mallet, called a "shot" or "ripper."

The North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association has created an official ruleset,[4] which has helped standardise rules across the globe.

[6] Towards the end of the 19th century the game reached Great Britain, France, and the United States where the American Star Bicycle was a popular mount.

[7] An exhibition match by Hanegan & Hazelton vs. Brady & Murphy, members of "The Original Champion American Bicycle Polo Team", riding Cleveland cycles, was played at the Empire Theatre in London every night during the week of 8 May 1899, claimed in the programme to be the first such exhibition "on any stage".

Cycle polo was a demonstration sport at the 1908 London Olympics with Ireland winning, beating Germany.

Today there is organized cycle polo being played in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.

[11] The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club hosted the first Merchant's Cup Cycle Polo tournament in 1973.

The UK based Pukka Chukkas won the 2012 Acumen Energy Bicycle Polo Cup held at Tiger Tops Karnali on the fringes of the Bardia National Park in Nepal, beating EFG Switzerland in a thrilling final in front of a crowd of over 5,000.

The bicycles used in the tournament were donated to local schools and social clubs, and money was raised for the prevention and cure of elephant tuberculosis.

It is held over three legs each year in France, Germany, Ireland or United Kingdom of Great Britain.