Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Petanque?
Think of pétanque (pronounced “pay-tonk”) as being similar to the game horseshoes, except played with balls. The aim of the game is to toss or roll a number of hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. It is sort of like marbles, sort of like shuffleboard, and sort of like curling.
What is the difference between boules, petanque and bocce?
“Petanque” and “boules” are two different names for the same game. In French, the word “boule” means “ball” and in France people often refer to the game simply as boules (pronounced BOOL). Outside of France the game is usually referred to as “petanque” (pronounced pay-TONK).
In the United States, more people play bocce than petanque, so when an American sees a group playing petanque, the first question that he is likely to ask— after: “What is that game?”— is: “What’s the difference between petanque and bocce?”
The two games are cousins. Bocce is Italian. Petanque is French. The rules of the games are similar, but the equipment and the way the games are played is different.
What is the standard or regulation size for a petanque court?
There are no specifications for an exact size. The FIPJP (the international petanque federation) specifies minimum dimensions for terrains in FIPJP-sanctioned competitions. For regional competitions the terrain must be at least 3m x 12m (10′ x 40′). For national and international competitions the terrain must be at least 4m x 15m (13′ x 50′). So 4m x 15m (13′ x 50′) is usually considered the “standard” size for a petanque terrain.
How do you tell the balls apart? They all look the same to me!
This is a common problem for new players. Don’t worry— with time and experience it will become easy to tell one player’s set from another’s. Here are some tips to get you started.
Think of pétanque (pronounced “pay-tonk”) as being similar to the game horseshoes, except played with balls. The aim of the game is to toss or roll a number of hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. It is sort of like marbles, sort of like shuffleboard, and sort of like curling.
What is the difference between boules, petanque and bocce?
“Petanque” and “boules” are two different names for the same game. In French, the word “boule” means “ball” and in France people often refer to the game simply as boules (pronounced BOOL). Outside of France the game is usually referred to as “petanque” (pronounced pay-TONK).
In the United States, more people play bocce than petanque, so when an American sees a group playing petanque, the first question that he is likely to ask— after: “What is that game?”— is: “What’s the difference between petanque and bocce?”
The two games are cousins. Bocce is Italian. Petanque is French. The rules of the games are similar, but the equipment and the way the games are played is different.
What is the standard or regulation size for a petanque court?
There are no specifications for an exact size. The FIPJP (the international petanque federation) specifies minimum dimensions for terrains in FIPJP-sanctioned competitions. For regional competitions the terrain must be at least 3m x 12m (10′ x 40′). For national and international competitions the terrain must be at least 4m x 15m (13′ x 50′). So 4m x 15m (13′ x 50′) is usually considered the “standard” size for a petanque terrain.
How do you tell the balls apart? They all look the same to me!
This is a common problem for new players. Don’t worry— with time and experience it will become easy to tell one player’s set from another’s. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Look at the color of the boule. It may be silver or gold. It may have a polished or matte finish. It may have colored paint or magic marker in the grooves. It may be new and shiney, or old and rusty.
- Look for the number and pattern of the grooves. Leisure boules usually have a very limited set of groove patterns, but competition boules have a much larger set of available patterns. In a boule with single grooves, the grooves may be narrow (set close together) or wide (set farther apart).