We left the session before easter but petanque tips are back!

So we are looking at the phases of a petanque throw. We have looked at FEET, GRIP, BACKSWING and now we are focusing on RELEASE, Part 2. You have seen golfers practicing putting without a club. The same can be done with a petanque throw without a boule. Just put your feet together and with backswing bring your arm forward and straight with a nice follow through. Your hand should be straight at release. Give a few swings to get the idea when you are practicing. Palm should be facing down and no twisting of the wrist should occur during the throw. Now add a boule to the session, as mentioned in the backswing section, the boule should rest on the fingers when the boule is being thrown so as the arm comes forward the centrifugal force acting on the boule is pushing the boule onto the fingers. This will lead to a rolling off the finger tips as the boule is released and backspin occurs naturally. The stiffness of the fingers can create more or less backspin. This is a trick most top player’s use to deadly effect. It can be done with practice and can be a useful tool on fast pistes when you want the boule to land and roll. If you have heard the term “soft hands” that is what they are talking about. The main thing to remember is to keep your hand straight after the boule has been released in the throw.

Happy Easter!