Phil's Pétanque Pages
Help Me
Being a relative newcomer to the game, I have not any great advice to give. I can offer however an opportunity to share any accumulated wisdom from the terrain. I will gladly publish, with acknowledgement ( unless anonymity is asked for ), tactical tips on equipment, preparation, practice and playing.
Mixed Boules
In the British Pétanque Association FAQ section Mike Pegg, the National Umpire states that you do not need to play with identical boule, for example you could play with a combination of pointing and shooting boules. There is the overall rider that each boule must be made by a manufacturer approved by the F.I.P.J.P. and conform to criteria described in article 2a of the rules, (covering size, weight and marking.)
Do you know of anyone playing with a combination of boule? Is there any advantage or does any benefit gained by having a combination of shooting boules and pointing boules get overridden by the difficulty of changing sizes and weights ?
Games for Three
In the December 1997 BPA Pétanque News a game called Shooters and Pointers for 3 people was described. Does anyone know of any other 3 person games?
Rules Rule ?
In England we seem to be extremely polite and well organised in our competitions and even in our general play. We follow the rules extremely closely. People come back from France or Spain slightly shocked that they don't slavishly follow the printed word. Has anyone any stories of games abroad.
I was speaking to someone at Shedfield last year, who spends most of the winter in the South of France playing in a village where a one off the fountain is considered a fine shot. I was amused when he told me that someone well connected with the organisation here dismissed this as being like snooker, and there is no skill in that.
I played last year on a campsite in Spain, every evening at 5 o'clock we gathered and teams evolved, often 4 or 5 a side, and cracking games evolved. There were a lot of boules on the terrain at the end of a game but it was fun, and nobody seemed to think it at all strange. Yet it is extremely difficult to get a four a side game going at my own club .... nay impossible.
Is there any scope for a bit more deviation ?
I believe that Shedfield club has a four boule singles competition, that sounds fun. Anybody else out there playing this.
Any news, comments, queries or encouragement email me at phil.day@dial.pipex.com