Shooting in Petanque. Line is everything!

Shooting Coaching tip

Line is everything

So far we have looked at all aspects of pointing. The important throw always used first in a game of Petanque. We examined many aspects including landing areas, throwing the jack to correct lengths, placing of the boule in an area, not just close to the jack and pointing into a head full of boule. All the pointing practice tips have given you ideas and developed your skill. They have helped you to get your boule exactly where you want them. In the last exercise the opposition messed up your plans by putting boule in the way on the jack. This was the toughest task so far! How many times in the sessions did you out point two of the three boule surrounding the jack yet still fail to score because of the third opposition boule. Well at last, what we have all been waiting for? Shooting!!!!!

When and why to shoot is a tactical subject we will cover later, this session we will be covering the desire to hear that satisfying clack of boule against boule. For this practice you will need a 12M long length of string or washing line to lay on the piste. The next door neighbour should have replaced the last lot you stole if you cannot find anything suitable. The skill we are looking to hone is, throwing the boule straight. As we all know, to hit a boule through the air, boule to boule, (Drop short Carreau later in series) the two things you need to get right are 1. to be on line and 2. Land the correct length. Those two aspects take a lot of practice!

Imagine you are standing in the circle looking at a target boule. You are facing the boule, your arm will come back and then swing forward as you throw the boule. Hopefully in your imagination you will hit the boule. The question to ask yourself is, how square do you stand when shooting. Is standing square to the boule the correct angle to approach the shot. Well time to lay out the line. Take the line from the centre of the circle you would be standing in to the boule you would like to aim at. Continue the line in a straight line past the boule until it runs out. Now a strange thing will be revealed. If you return back to the circle and stand in position to shoot the target boule you will notice you are standing astride the line. This can be seen in the photo.