Game play in Petanque. A game of chess at 8 metres

Game play

Thinking on your feet and luring teams into a mistake

In the height of summer with all those games going on it is difficult to get practice in between events. Most of you should have a range of shots you can play and will need to change the shot depending on the piste you are playing on. If you are not sure which shot to play have a glance down the terrain to other players and see which type of shot is getting the results. Works for me most of the time if I am struggling with a piste, I remember it worked when I was having a nightmare, quick look up at a World Championship player in a game three pistes away helped fix the problem. Highish semi lob , lots of back spin landing about four feet from the jack on a 7 metre jack. 10-1 down and finally lost the game to 13 –10. Not all these tips end up with a win. Real players, real situations. It is best to remember both the wins and how you lost to give you grounding and improve your game.

The other thing to remember when playing a tight game is not to let your opposition team of the hook by playing a shot you think is expected.

Last week a tight game 6-5 but the breakthrough was about to happen. Our team two boule left, opposition five boule left and our closest point was four feet away but holding on a fast and difficult piste. The oppositions pointer places a boule 4 inches right in front of the jack. Very pleased with himself as it was a very good point on a very fast and difficult pitch. However the problem for the opposition is our team have  no decision to make in the situation. I shoot ( the only option) and hit the boule, the boule hits the jack and the jack dies. What a let off. One boule left in my hand and we start the end again. This point needed to be on but not too close to the jack, lure me in to point and they could then shoot my boule. I play my last boule and they should be shooting that one too! Chances are the three foot boule could be difficult to out point. Maybe I would not out point it with the first boule. Bonus!

Petanque is an attacking game but think where you place your boule. If you think never shoot with your last boule add to that thought. Are pointing boule the closer the better?