Petanque is an outdoor French game played using metal balls. It is popular in the warmer months of the spring and summer. It was invented more than a 100 years ago, and is enjoyed by players both in France and abroad. While the rules may be fairly simple, mastering the game will take practice and an eye for strategy.
The Goal
The goal of Petanque is to throw the boule, a metal ball that weighs about a 1 lb., as close as possible to the cochonnet, which is about the size of a ping-pong ball. Points are gained by having the boule closer to the cochonnet than your opponent's, and much of the game consists of trying to land your boule near the cochonnet, while knocking your opponent's boule farther away.
The Basic Throw
The boule isn't particularly heavy, and you don't have to throw it a great distance. Your focus should be in making sure you throw not with power, but with accuracy. To make an accurate toss in Petanque, grab the boule in your hand and extend your arm out in front of you. Your palm should be facing down, as if you were about to drop the boule onto the ground. Lower your arm to your side and bring it back up, releasing the boule as your arm rises. The throw is similar to that used when playing horseshoes.
Throwing Techniques
There are several different ways to throw the boule. While personal style comes into play when choosing one throw over another, it pays to be well-rounded in the three main throws--the roller, the half-lob and the high lob. The roller is a throw that is performed by rolling the boule across the ground like a bowling ball. While a seemingly simple throw, the roller can be easily blocked by other boules, and it can be difficult to roll your boule so that it stops where you want it to.
The half-lob is commonly used, and for most players is their "go-to" throw. The boule is tossed upwards at an angle, so that it lands about halfway between the thrower and the target, and then rolls the rest of the way. The high lob is much more difficult to master than the other throws, but can be invaluable if done correctly. The boule is thrown up at a higher angle than the half-lob, so that it comes almost straight down and lands without rolling much, if at all. Mastering the high lob can allow you to "drop" the boule into place without having to worry about it rolling too far.
Opening Strategy
Having the first throw can be very beneficial, but only if you know use it to your advantage. Make an effort to throw your boule so that it lands in front of the conchennet, which will block your opponent's view and cause him to either throw his boule to either side, or to risk smacking into your boule. While hitting your opponent's boule out of the way may seem like a good strategy, it always pays to make sure that, in hitting it, you don't accidentally knock it even closer to the conchennet.
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