Advanced PointingHard Piste continued…

Advanced Pointing

Hard Piste continued…

The main pointing problem is all those deep pistes we play on. A hard firm pitch with little topping make the game far more difficult to play your normal tactics. The most common mistake is to start marbling your boule to the jack. On a normal pitch your pointed boule may travel two to three metres on the ground, rarely more than this distance. Every millimetre your boule rolls on the ground increases the chance of a deviation or slowing of the boule. Leaving your boule resting a long way from the jack. Most points go whizzing past the jack as pointers struggle to find their length. On a fast piste the smallest of slopes either front to back or side to side of the pitch have a dramatic effect of the rolling boule. Most pointers will opt for a squat position to get a lower look at the piste when throwing. This maybe difficult for some but with practise those knees do bend a little easier after time. Now for the point. Try not to go down the route of rolling your boule a long way to the jack. A hard piste may not take a semi high boule but try this shot.

Sorry, diversionary pause.

We want a front boule on a hard piste. It does not need to be really close. Normally you would aim for a boule between six to three inches in front of the jack but on a hard piste 18 inches to two feet is not going to be a bad first boule. If you play to the jack rather than in front, you may over play and leave a boule less than 12 inches behind the jack. As an opening shot this could cause problems as the opponent’s boule could rest on it, even if it is a bad shot. On a hard fast pitch a good behind boule may make your opponents boule thrown badly become a holding boule. It hurts and causes you distress. Again, this is why this tip is under focus and concentration. Be clear in your game plan. A tense pointer will not cope with a fast pitch.

So back to the throw. In the squat position settle the boule into your hand. Make sure your fingertips can feel the boule and have a good grip at the tips. With a long back swing but with a controlled throw, swing your arm forward and let the boule roll off the fingertips and give the boule approx. four feet of height at its maximum. The shot should be low and land around three to four metres from the jack. The key to this shot is the boule is given more backspin than usual by snapping your fingers as the boule leaves your hand. Do not let your fingers open straight as the boule leaves the hand Let the weight of the boule straighten them. The long back swing is not for power as the throw is not hard. The idea is to get the boule hitting the ground with slight forward momentum and good backspin. Imagine you are standing at the landing point to get you boule near the jack. The boule would hit the ground fairly softly and gentle roll to the jack. The impact of your boule thrown should brake the boule and take you to the jack. If the ground you land on is soft (as pistes are not consistent) you will end up with a boule two metres in front of the jack. As we have discussed and it is always handy for a reminder. This may look bad but a front boule is always a good one in these circumstances as it will be rarely shot but always be in the way for a knock up. As we have said this is a fast piste and boule can travel a long way when tapped.

Take this shot one step at a time in practice. First the squat position. The weight of your balance should be on the foot under your throwing arm Right-handed right foot. Be comfortable and both feet must be touching the ground in the circle.

The throw is in two parts. The backspin as the boule is released from firm fingers. This can be practised standing up if your knees are as bad as mine. Straight arm. Back further than you normally would go. Then a nice straight swing with a firm release letting the momentum of the boule as it comes off the fingers giving the boule backspin rather than forward power.

The height part of the throw needs to be worked on from the squat position. The boule does not need to travel too high, as the backspin will brake the boule on impact to the ground. Imagine you are trying to throw the boule into a bucket. Try not to bend the knees or stand up as you throw in a type of bounce as this will take you off balance and the boule will not land where you want it too.

With practice you will look forward to fast pistes and take the teams that normally beat you on to them without fear.

P Practice, Practice, Practice