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Intro
Raffa, bocce, lawn bowls. If you like these sports, you will definitely like the sport of pétanque. Pétanque is a sport that is not popular in the United States, but it is growing quickly. So, what exactly is this sport?
Overview
Pétanque is a sport involving balls (also known as boules) that players roll towards a target ball, called a jack. The game involves a point system where players whose bowls land closer to the target receive more points. An additional competitive aspect of the game is that players can use their boule to hit the boules of other players away from the target. Pétanque is often played on grass, dirt, or gravel.
Strategy
There are several pétanque strategies that can help you play:
1) The most obvious strategy is to throw your boule as close as possible to the jack. This way, your opponent will have trouble throwing their boule close to the jack because your boule is in the way.
2) If you only have one boule left and you have thrown the rest of your boules near the jack, you should throw the boule away from the other boules and the jack. This way, your opponent will not be able to throw their boule near the jack, because they risk pushing the jack towards your stray boule.
3) If you have only one boule left but you have no points yet for that round, throw your boule so it hits the opponent's boule that is closest to the jack, knocking the opponent's boule away.
4) If the jack is completely surrounded by boules, try throwing your boule to push the jack away from the boules. This positions your boule near the jack and distances the jack from the opponent’s boule.
History
Pétanque was invented in 1907 in southern France. It evolved from another sport called jeu provençal, which had been played since the 19th century. Jeu provençal is similar to pétanque, but the field on which jeu provençal is played is longer, and it requires more running. Pétanque quickly grew in popularity, and the first tournament was organized in 1910 by two brothers who owned a cafe. In 1958, Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal, a pétanque organization, was founded in southern France. Pétanque spread from that region to the whole country, and by 2002, there were over 600,000 total pétanque players worldwide. The sport’s following has resulted in the organization of annual world championships, starting in 1959.
Final Thoughts
Today, more people play pétanque than ever, with the sport having almost a million players in fifty two countries around the world. Give it a go, and see if you find your new favorite pass-time!