In Petanque how to score more points

Making hay while the sun shines

Petanque is all about advantage and scoring points. We all know you want your team to throw the last few boule of the end. This enables you to do what is most important. Score points. In a tight game the break is what teams are after. Score 3 or 4 gives you a great position in a tight game and can put the opposition on the back foot.

In this session we are looking at scoring points with 3 or 4 boule to come. It gives great satisfaction to see the opposition trying to get into a holding position with all their boule, slowly but surely they fail to get into the position that will make you play. It could be in desperation they shoot and hit with their last boule and leave them holding a big score or they have tried to defend the end and give you a small scoring area to limit how many you will score in the end. Remember they are trying to beat you!

The following question list may look a bit of a long drawn out investigation but actually it will only take a few seconds when you become used to the situation. The scoring area i.e. the round area on the ground that is closer to the jack than the closest opposition boule, is key to how many you will score in the end

So the questions are,

Can we point into the scoring area?

Do we need to increase the scoring area by;

A. Shooting the closest boule, does this increase the risk of making the scoring area smaller. Will a clip rather than a hit move the boule closer to the jack. Is it close to our holding boule.

B. Moving the jack

C. Shooting the jack dead to claim the boule in hand rule

The first question is basic but let us ask the question every time we are in a boule up situation. Why have the opposition failed to get in a scoring position. Is it tricky to point there? Are the left hand and right hand lanes blocked? Will side spin bring a successful point? Is it a simple case of just pointing in to the scoring area well away from the jack. Do not be jack obsessed. Boule may score further away than you think. Was your first point a high lob and can you follow up this shot now the opposition have boule in the head?

If you need to increase the scoring area then the head needs to be looked at closely. More to follow this week....