Petanque

Pétanque is a French boules game where you throw hollow metal balls, called boules, as close as possible to a small wooden target ball called the cochonnet, or jack. It comes from Provence in the south of France and is played on gravel, sand or hard earth. It's easy to learn, sociable and sneakily tactical.

The name comes from a Provençal phrase meaning feet planted together, because you throw standing still with both feet inside a small circle.

Players split into two teams. One team draws a circle, throws the jack out onto the pitch, then throws the first boule, trying to land it as close to the jack as possible. The other team then throws until one of their boules is closer, or until they run out. Whichever team is further away keeps throwing. Once all the boules are gone, the round ends and points are counted. You can play singles, doubles or triples, known in French as tête-à-tête, doublette and triplette.

After each round, the team with the boule closest to the jack scores one point for every boule that's nearer than the other team's best. A game is usually played to 13 points. Close calls get measured, debated and occasionally settled with a tape measure and a lot of crouching.

Pointing means rolling or lobbing your boule gently so it settles right next to the jack. It's all about touch and reading the ground.

Shooting means throwing harder and aiming straight at an opponent's boule to knock it out of the way. Most beginners start by pointing, then try a shot once the competitive streak kicks in.

Throw underhand with your palm facing down. It adds a little backspin, which helps the boule stop where you want it.

Absolutely. You don't need to be sporty, strong or fast, just steady and a little bit competitive. It's a game you can play with a drink in one hand (throw with the other, please), chatting between turns and plotting your next move. Beginners regularly knock out more experienced players, which is exactly why it's so much fun.

You might also like Crazy Golf, Archery and Board Games.

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