The knock up shot in Petanque. Part two

The knock up shot. Part two

Here we are looking at the knock up shot in more depth. Well actually the depth of the piste. We know the knock up is a killer shot if played correctly. How many times have we pointed successfully past the oppositions front boule to see them promote their front boule with the played boule come to rest near the jack? They have played two and are holding two.

In this session we are looking at playing the knock up shot on a deep piste. It presents a difficult challenge.

We know the theory of the task, playing a point to length so if it misses the target boule and gets to the jack it will be a good shot. However on a deep piste the chances of moving a boule maybe a little tricky. Gently tapping your front boule so both boule roll forward to the jack is a dream on a deep piste. So is a knock up shot Generally a deep piste will rule out a high lob as your thrown boule may have to land so close to the target boule that you could land right on top of it. This clash will leave you with no boule on the piste at all! So do we rule out the shot on a deep piste? That would be quitting and you know on winning petanque we never quit!

 So on a deep piste most players will opt for a high lob. The good players will come over the front boule to be on the jack. The danger of this shot is it is moving or could move the jack away from your front boule and we all know a front boule is a good thing. On a deep piste the high lob can be a perfect shot but for a knock up shot not so good. It maybe an option to change your angle of attack. Come in with a lower boule so your boule is at 45 degrees to the target boule. A miss should take your boule to the jack length. The boule thrown may be sacrificed in its efforts to push the boule up if an impact takes place but at least your front boule will move towards the jack. Try it, it may get you out of trouble.