Petanque - An Introduction to the Game

Petanque is a simple game. The object of the game is to throw your boules so that they come to rest close to the cochonnet. A player or team scores points by having one or more of their boules closer to the cochonnet than the opposition after all boules have been thrown. The winner is the first player or team to reach 13 points.

This brief introduction to the game of petanque explains the equipment needed to play, throwing techniques, tactics, and a basic description of a game.

1. The Boules

   1. Buying boules to suit you

   2. Two categories of boules

   3. Boule patterns

   4. Boule marks

   5. Steel types and hardness

   6. Hard boules

   7. Semi-soft boules

   8. Soft boules

   9. Selecting the right boules for you

   10. Caring for the boules

2. Other Equipment

   1. The cochonnet

   2. Measuring devices

1. Marking the Boules and Cochonnet

2. Measuring a Point

1. Standing in the circle

2. Holding the boules

3. The arm swing

4. Imparting extra backspin

5. Squatting or standing

1. The art of pointing

2. Squatting

3. Standing

1. Why shoot

2. Types of shooting

3. Shooting techniques

4. Stance

5. Practicing shooting with conviction

6. Practice exercises

1. Introduction

2. Selecting the teams

3. The number of boules for each player

4. Tossing the coin

5. Selecting the terrain

6. Drawing the circle

7. Throwing the cochonnet

8. The Game

   1. The game begins – the first end

   2. Measuring

   3. Scoring the end

   4. The game continues – the following end

   5. Marking the boules and cochonnet

1. Introduction

2. Throwing the cochonnet

3. Selecting the ground

4. Selecting the distance

5. The ‘ideal’ opening point

6. Promoting your boules

7. Moving the cochonnet

8. Playing a stronger team

9. Crowding the cochonnet

10. Shooting

11. Shooting the cochonnet