How to win a Petanque game?

Good question! How to win a Petanque game?

So far in the series we have looked at techniques and practice tips you can use to improve your play. Nearly all the coaching tips have been to increase your performance. This section looks at how to win a game. Petanque scores can ebb and flow on each side as each team tries to get to thirteen points.  In many games you hear the expression, they pointed us to death. This has been said after a defeat by a team who believed they should have won the game. Why did they believe they would get to thirteen points before there opposition? I guess they practice hard and can shoot and point to a high standard. They have just lost to a team who hardly shot at all or did not shoot once. Can this really happen? Well of course. These teams are very hard to beat. The game is slow and can be monotonous as you struggle with 12 boule in the head. One thing is for sure, big ends will not happen unless the jack moves or your team hit six boule an end. Can you remember the last time you were or witnessed a team hit six boule in one end? It so rarely happens as it is the peak of Petanque skill. Teams pointing six boule are difficult to beat. We have all gone for the jack when they have played six boule against our one. Yes we have all taken our only boule out of the head to leave them sitting six. Subsequent shots may give you a score but as I have already pointed out it will not be a big end unless the jack jumps or you take out two or three boule with one shot. The term Make a mess is used on these occasions. So what is the fundamental tip to win games against teams who point six boule? Well it is three tips really. To be continued…….