Advanced PointingTricky Pistes

Advanced Pointing

Tricky Pistes

Here we will look at two pistes. One rocky and covered in bits of grass and hidden underground stones. The other undulating from side to side so the boule takes a winding route to the jack.

Many pointers can get frustrated when faced with a difficult piste to play on. My guess is the unpredictability is possibly the most annoying. When the boule leaves your hand and it felt perfect both in weight and distance. It lands exactly where you wanted to land and it shoots off at a 45-degree angle. This is the unpredictable piste.

This piste is unplayable is the shout and a great deal of players lose heart. Only the odd one boule can get near the jack and the oppositions shooter is having an easy time of it clipping boule out of the way and only having to hit 30 to 40 per cent of the boule they are going for. The piste is taking out most of your points. The very first thing to do is get more of your boule closer to the jack. But how? You scream. Well it takes a while to work out the best shot. You are only in the fretful position of being frustrated because you are probably losing. How are the opposition pointing? Take careful study of their throw. No it could not be, shock horror as happened to me the other week. The pointer is throwing open handed and rolling to the jack. Remember backspin and height of throw can be your friend. On an unpredictable piste it can be you undoing. I am not trying to tell you to discard those elements. Chances are the opposition pointer only has that shot. It is how they throw! Not the best shot on most pistes but some how on difficult pistes with hidden stones it seems to work. Generally out of the front of the hand boule do not get much height. Their landing is smoother to the angle of the piste and as such will not react to the hidden rock to send the boule sideways off the piste. Unless you have practised this shot it really is not an option but you can, using your skill and technique try to replicate their shot. Try a lower point, more backspin and thrown slightly harder. Let the boule roll more than you would normally. The speed of throw will keep the boule straight and the low trajectory will hopefully lessen the kicks. If you are long, as most players will be with this shot, bring the lading area closer to you but then you have to throw slightly harder. The other option is a very, very high lob but if the rocks are packed close together generally it will not stick on landing unless the rock breaks, slim chance but worth a try. The main task is to get a 65 to 70 percent shot that works. Do not keep switching your shot, as you will keep getting more and more kicks to send you to frustration paradise. Keep those eyes peeled. The piste either side of you could also help. If two teams are playing with backspin throws see how they are doing it. Tactics can also help, if the piste is difficult to point the shooter should reign supreme.