Tactics

Introduction

Tactics play a large part in a game of petanque. Here are a few examples.

Throwing the cochonnet

Throwing the cochonnet gives you the chance to dictate the tactics of the end taking into account the relative playing strengths and weaknesses’ of both teams.

You can select:

• the ground or part of the ground and surface that suits you, and

• the distance that you want to play

Watching the opposition and where they throw the cochonnet may give you some clues as to their preferences. Watching the cochonnet and how it rolls may indicate how the terrain will play.

Selecting the ground

When choosing a terrain to play, you should try to choose one that either suits you or/and does not suit the opposition.

Example: You may be comfortable playing on any surface but if your opponent, pointer or shooter, is a 'roller' and not effective unless the ground is smooth. You may choose a rough ground.

Selecting the distance

When you are throwing out the cochonnet, you must take into account the relative playing strengths of the teams.

One team may have a fantastic shooter who is less effective beyond 8 metres. You may choose to throw to 9.9 metres (!) to negate their effectiveness. If your team has an effective shooter also up to 8 metres, you may not care.

You may have a great long distance pointer, so you could choose a long end to take advantage of that.

The ‘ideal’ opening point

If you are your teams 'opener' for the first throw of the game, the ‘ideal’ point is approximately 30 cm in front of the cochonnet. In this position your boule is a great distraction to the opposition. They will be forced to avoid your boule (they won’t want to “promote” it) and may be tempted to shoot it. Either way you are applying pressure that can force mistakes.

A boule behind the cochonnet can be used by the opposition to rest against, which is not an ideal target for your shooter, but it also gives the opposition the chance to block the front and exert pressure on you!

Promoting your boules

Some times the best way to take the point is to promote your boules by knocking or “nudging” them with another boule. In this way you may end up with two points. This is another reason why you should keep your boules in front of the cochonnet.

Moving the cochonnet

If you have a number of boules behind the cochonnet, you should try and move it toward them with one of your throws. If the cochonnet is hit and leaves the playing area (where there is one) or moves beyond 20 metres from the circle, the cochonnet is dead. If one team has boules still to be thrown they get a point for each of these boules. If both teams have boules, then the end is void.

This tactic can save or win an end or even a game.

Playing a stronger team

If you are playing a stronger team (and this often means they have one or two good shooters) you may choose to point every ball and not shoot at all. In other words, keep the game tight, force the other team to shoot often and try to capitalise on their misses

Crowding the cochonnet

If the opposition makes a good point early and your shooter misses the boule (or you don’t have a shooter), you may choose to crowd the cochonnet by getting as many of your boules as possible close to it and limit the number of points the opposition can gain.

This particularly applies when the opposition has most of their boules still to play.

Shooting

Shooting can be attacking  or defensive. You may be shooting to remove a well placed opposition boule that holds the point and force your opponents to point again, or to clear the way for your own team.

You may shoot an opposition boule that does not hold the point but is preventing your team from scoring more.

When and how often you shoot depends on your teams shooting capabilities.

If you have one good shooter you will shoot more cautiously and shoot as more or less a last resort, but with two good shooters you can be aggressive and shoot often.

Some teams will try to out-point a good initial boule from the opposition, or at least get close whilst others will immediately shoot to remove it, particularly if it is in front. If you try to point first you may then make it more difficult for your shooter.

Ultimately you must choose the method most likely to succeed.

Shooting the cochonnet

This is a difficult shot but can be devastatingly effective in a number of ways.

If the opposition has established a good point early in the end and your team has wasted a number of boules trying to out-point or remove it, you may attempt to shoot the cochonnet out of bounds and void the end to prevent conceding too many points.

If the opposition team have thrown all their boules and your team has a few left, you may choose to shoot the cochonnet. You would do this if scoring points looks difficult (due to blocking boules, for example). If successful you score a point for each boule your team still has ‘in the hand’.