Pétanque or boules as this game is often called is pretty much a French national sport... and a particular favourite in southern France...It is a little like lawn bowling only the playing takes place beneath plane trees, on a gravel surface and often with a glass of pastis in the hand... so no clipped grass, precision courts, white uniforms or jaunty little hats for the French... it is casual relaxed plus beret..
The aim of the game is easy... to throw your boules as close to the target as possible. The target is called a jack or in French, the cochonet or coche... so knocking the opposition boules out of the way is the other main objective...
Games can be singles, doubles or triples... one against one or in teams... Single and double players have 3 boules each... triples have two...
The end is when all the boules have been thrown. Scoring is easy... A point is scored for each boule closest to the coche... The first to 13 points wins the game...
(Note... stance of players... very important to stand with legs apart and hands behind the back...)
Competition boules are about 80 mn in diameter and weigh around 800 gm... They are stamped with an individual code and must be used for official games. They have varying grooved patterns that make them easily distinguishable when playing... I collect the old wooden ones... they might not be regulation these days but their patina is far prettier...
(Note... concentration and serious watching... as he lines up for the throw )
A coin toss decides which team has first throw...
The first person to play from the winning team draws a circle in the gravel as their starting point... usually about 50cm in diameter... then the coche is thrown around 10 metres in any direction as long as it's not too close to the boundaries of the playing area. If the coche comes up short there are two more chances to throw... Failing that the other team takes over...
Standing within the circle... the first boule is thrown... A lob with palm facing down is the natural way as the player tries and gets as close as possible to the cloche...
(Note... mid throw with left leg action... his companions still haven't moved...)
Next the other team throw, from within the circle and they must decide whether to try and hit the first boule out of the way or to simply aim closer to the coche... After the two throws it must be decided which boule is closest to the coche... this is where a lot of 'discussion' comes in... The next player to throw is one from the team furtherest from the coche... They continue to throw and get closer to the coche until they have no boules left. Once they are out... the other team throw their remaining boules... If the coche gets moved during the game... the boules must be re-measured to check who is closer... and who should lead...
When all the boules have been thrown, the first game is over and points are tallied... the games continue until the 13 points have been made...
(Note... time to check the throw change players and stretch the legs...)
Did you get all that?? My game is a little less exact... I swap the beret for a sun hat and the pastis for a rosé... as for the scoring... and the measuring... that is where the artistic license comes in... xv
I see that when my family plays boules we are pretty close to the real deal- but as the game and drinks go on the rules get stretched. We love that the kids can play too. It has become a family xmas tradition. xxCorrina.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, every town and village has their boules green or yard. It is taken very seriously, my husband, The Artist, asked the local barman if he could play with him one day, not realising he was the local champion! The Artist has not asked to play again!
ReplyDeleteLoved your photos and creative commentary...for me watching the players is the best part.
ReplyDeleteGreat wardrobe change..the sun hat!
I love the "parties de boules" (or pétanque) too. You can see a legendary party de boules in the fantastic movie "Fanny", directed by the famous French writer & director Marcel Pagnol. All Marcel Pagnol movies - and novels - are great. He was from Aubagnes and describes the South of France like nobody else (great humour too!).
ReplyDeleteBonne journée from a Chilean travel writer in Paris (who loves France),
Francisca Mattéoli
www.franciscamatteoli.com/blog/
I would find it so interesting to observe (with a little smile). Yes, I think a sun hat and rosé would be perfect!
ReplyDeletexxx
Another stunning glimpse into French life. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh Vicki, I"ve photographed the boules players at Luxembourg Gardens many times. I even made friends one day with a group who did their best to explain it all to me in broken English. At one point , they sent me down two courts to another player for further "information" in English! Aren't they a delight to watch!
ReplyDeleteBTW, i photographed a suitcase outfitted with old metal boules at a flea market in Paris once. Too heavy to bring home!
V
I of course love your version with the rosé & sun hat. My son, who has spent quite a bit of time in France and studied in Aix was obsessed with pétanque for a while. He came home with a set (which of course has never been used considering we do not have a court) and even wrote his college essay about it, among other "French Essences".
ReplyDeleteWe just played this with the cousins in Noves...such fun!
ReplyDeleteVicki so fun to see this traditional sport played and captured through your lens!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Vicki dear .. .
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this explanation! I remember staying at La Colombe d'Or and watching the men on the plaza in St. Paul de Vence. It seemed simple and pensive - but, I hadn't a clue as to the object of the game. All the best for the happiest 2012 -
judith
I have never heard of this game. Thanks for explaining it. Guess only Guys play it. Looks
ReplyDeletelike fun. Great photo's, love the berets.
Best wishes for a Great new year.
yvonne
Oh to be standing in the sun with a glass of rose, waiting one's turn to play. Sounds perfect.
ReplyDeleteAh, la pétanque. How many games have I watched while I was growing up in Southern France? Thank you for this entertaining and humorous presentation on the much-loved French "sport" (not sure it qualifies as cardio but...) Bonne Année Vicki. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I have been wondering about the rules of this game and how it compares to the Italian bocce. Hope to see some players in action next spring when we are there.
ReplyDeleteAh what fun! I've played this game and found it a lovely way to spend an afternoon, especially with a glass of something refreshing at hand. Wishing you a beautiful 2012 Vicki!
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteWe love bocci ball...similar. We play it in our back yard with all of the irregular grass and minor hills and valleys that go with it! How fun boules appears and probably more challenging with gravel and a drink, although much more fun!
Karen
HI VICKI-
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Your explanation is perfect! I think the game, really, is an excuse for the men of the village to get together late afternoons on weekends after lunch. There is not much chatting (sipping, bien sur)...but it is all try convivial. I have seldom seen women playing. It's a guy thing.
Thank you so much for your photographs, so classic, and your superb outline of a traditional French pastime.
cheers, Diane
www.thestylesaloniste.com/
Hi Vicki, Wow--such drama and tactics. I love the concentration. Indeed, those French men are very competitive. Happy New Year. Mary
ReplyDeleteI've never understood exactly what is going on when I have seen these men (with their arms behind their backs) playing this game. I think I shall have to print this post and take it with me next time we go to watch the locals. Of course I will hide it under my sun hat. Happy 2012 to you.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice to see the men all getting together in the village makes a great community, love the pictures & your commentary :))
ReplyDeletewhat great photos. Reminds me of my childhood watching men play dominoes on small tables.
ReplyDeleteThe sound of the little squares, the drinks, cigars or cigarettes, the thought process that went into the game (what thought is involved? You either have the number or you don't!). In any event, I used to love watching the men play for hours and hours.
The women played canasta. It was not as relaxing as the men's games - the women played for money!!! HA
the best thing about petanque is that it can be played with one hand and the other can hold a glass of rose or whatver else takes your fancy! We love family get togethers on our "court" which we put in when we designed the garden. Sun hats, drinks bucket filled with ice, jugs of water, an outdoor umbrella and a few deck chairs for taking the weight off your feet occasionally!
ReplyDeleteThis post so reminds me of Peter and Annie Mayle in A Year in Provence series on PBS. Their desire to master this game in order to feel part of the locals was hilarious. But I never knew the actual rules. Wow... intense.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like St Remy! If it is, I have watched boules being played right there... lovely.
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