A grip for a polo mallet is integrally formed of a composite, shock absorbing material and includes a longitudinal bore extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a knob formed on the proximal end zone. One or more chambers are provided for receipt of weight elements within the grip in order to selectively balance the polo mallet in accordance with a player's specifications. In one embodiment, a spring clip removably attaches a hand strap to the grip, adjacent the knob. In another embodiment, the hand strap includes a closed loop portion and a free extension fitted through a strap holder on one side of the grip and releasably attachable to the loop to adjustably tighten the hand strap about the player's hand. The head of the mallet may be wrapped with a layer of ballistic material to increase its hardness. A method of balancing the polo mallet is also disclosed.