What is Pétanque?

What is Pétanque?

Pétanque, (also commonly called 'Boules'), is a fun and easy game to learn, perfect for people of all ages and skill levels. Here's a basic guide on how to play:

Equipment:

Boules: These are the metal balls you throw, typically made of steel.

• Jack: This is a smaller, lighter target ball made of wood or plastic. (Le cochonnet)

• Measuring tape: Useful for marking distances and scoring.

• 'Tee' you throw from: You can use a prefabricated ring or simply draw a circle on the ground about 50 cm in diameter.
  
  

Gameplay:

1. Divide into teams: You can play one-on-one, two-on-two, or three-on-three.

2. Start the game: Toss a coin to see which team throws first. The winning team draws a circle on the ground and stands inside it.

3. Throw the jack: A player from the starting team throws the jack 6-10 metres away from the circle.

4. Throw the boules: The starting team throws their first boule underarm, aiming to get it as close as possible to the jack.

5. Take turns: The other team throws their first boule, aiming get closer to the jack, or to knock the opponent's further away. Whichever team is furthest away from the jack continues to play until they are closer.

6. Scoring: Once all the boules are thrown, measure the distance of each team's closest boule to the jack. The team with the closest boule scores one point for each boule that is closer than any of the opponent's boules.

7. Winning: The first team to reach 13 points wins the game.
   
   

Tips and tricks:

• You throw the boules underarm - it's not cricket!
  

• You can either lob the boule or roll it along the ground.
  

• Learn to "shoot" ('tirer') your opponent's boules – knocking them further away from the jack ('cochonnet').
  

• Master "pointing" ('pointer') – aiming to throw your boule as close as possible to the jack.

Have fun! Pétanque is a social game, so relax, enjoy the company, and don't take it too seriously.

Answer to Q.1 on the Home Page:

No! These are Golden Apples, not boules.

The Race between Hippomenes and Atalanta is an oil on canvas composition undertaken by Noel Halle between 1762 and 1765. The Race between Hippomenes and Atalanta depicts a famous event from Greek mythology. 

Suitors for the hand in marriage of the heroine Atalanta would have to race her in a running race; those that failed to beat her would be killed, whilst the first to best her would marry her. 

Many suitors tried and died, but Hippomenes, aided by the goddess Aphrodite, used three Golden Apples to distract Atalanta during the race, enabling Hippomenes to win.  

But, in the past the game did involve running with a much longer throw than now. See the italics in the article below.

Answer to Q.2 on home page 

Terminology – Origin of the word “carreau” In petanque, the word carreau refers to the perfect shot, when the thrown boule makes a direct hit on the target boule, knocking the target boule away and exactly taking its place.

Outside of petanque, in everyday French, un carreau means “a square”. It can also be used to refer to square things such as window panes and floor tiles. It can also by extension be used to refer to tiled floors and to floors in general. Laisser quelqu’un sur le carreau is to lay somebody out on the floor, to deck him.

Carreau can also refer to the diamonds in a deck of cards. Hence the name of the famous bronze boule from La Boule Intégrale, the AC (as de carreau, ace of diamonds).

Hence also the name of one of the designs in Obut’s old Tatou line of leisure boules— the “Card Carreau”.

 
What’s the connection between a floor tile and a pétanque carreau ? 

You can find the answer in the collection of Petanque Terminology assembled by Jeff Widen.

The origin of the term is thought to have come from the fighting expression “rester carreau” – “to remain on the spot, to be laid out cold.” “Le carreau” means the “floor” (usually only applied to one that is either tiled or paved).

So when you rester carreau (“stay on the floor”) you drop to the floor like a rock and you stay there. Which is what a thrown petanque boule does when it makes a carreau.

A Little more History about Pétanque

France, like most countries of the world, seems to have a fascination with le football (soccer). Football has legions of fans throughout France but there is another game that is nearly as popular and that appeals to people of all ages. Pétanque (pronounced pay-tonk), commonly referred to as le jeu de boules (the game of balls), is a characteristically French game with roots in ancient history. Similar to horseshoes and bocce ball, the game requires precision, finesse and a great deal of concentration that may not be apparent if you’re simply un spectateur (a spectator).

Although typically associated with older French men wearing berets, the popularity of pétanque has transcended generational and national boundaries to become a global sport with biennial international competitions organized by the Fédération International de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (International Federation of Pétanque and Provençal Game).

A form of pétanque using stone balls originated in ancient Greece around the 6th century B.C. The Romans took up the game and began using wooden balls instead. Pétanque increased in popularity during the Middle Ages and up through the 19th century in Western Europe. This early style of pétanque required running and was thus reserved for those who were generally en bonne forme (physically fit). 

In the Provence region of France in the early 20th century, the rules of the game were slightly altered to accommodate an aging player who could no longer run because of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Thus was born the modern form of pétanque requiring les joueurs (the players) to throw the ball from a stationary position. The word pétanque is a derivative of the words ped tanco, meaning planted/anchored/fixed feet in the Provençal dialect. Provence continues to be the pétanque mecca of the world and should you ever visit the region, you will undoubtedly encounter a group of older men playing the game in any of the small villages or towns.

Today the game is usually played on a flat surface that allows the balls to roll freely. Pétanque balls are made of creux (hollow) metal and weigh anywhere between 650 to 800 grams. Le cochonnet (the jack—in French cochonnet means piglet) is a small wooden ball used as la cible (the target), similar to the stake in horseshoes.

The cochonnet is tossed up to 30 feet away from the circle. One of the players from the winning team stands inside the circle with feet close together and lobs one of his boules as close as possible to the cochonnet. This is called pointing. A player from the opposite team then enters the circle and attempts the same with one of his boules. This player can also try to knock the other player’s boule out of the way to get his boule closer to the cochonnet. This is called shooting. When you hear someone say “Tu tires ou tu pointes?” they’re asking if you’ll be pointing or shooting. A carreau is when you shoot and displace an opponent’s boule by replacing his boule with one of yours in the exact same spot. This is très difficile (very difficult) and requires a good eye and near perfect aim. 

With acknowledgements to M Taulier in 'Culture, French Language Blog'

Alternative versions of French boules, or Pétanque:  

'Le jeu de Boules Carrées' - rumours of this form of pétanque are greatly exagerated unfortunately

posted April 1st 2025