FAQs
Absolutely — new players are always warmly welcome at Ongar Pétanque.
You don’t need any previous experience to join us. Pétanque (often called French boules) is easy to learn, enjoyable to play, and wonderfully social. It’s a sport for all ages, abilities, and fitness levels — offering gentle exercise, friendly competition, and plenty of laughter.
Set within the beautiful historic surroundings of Ongar’s Motte & Bailey, with eight dedicated gravel terrains, our club provides a relaxed and inclusive environment where everyone can feel at home.
Is the game suitable for players with disabilities?
Yes. Pétanque is highly adaptable, and players with disabilities are actively encouraged to join. The official rules even outline how the game can be played from a wheelchair.
Do I need to bring my own equipment?
No — we have spare sets of boules in a variety of sizes available for newcomers, so you can try the game without purchasing anything.
What should I wear?
For comfort and safety, we recommend closed, flat footwear suitable for gravel surfaces.
Come along, enjoy the friendly atmosphere, and see how you get on — you may just discover your new favourite pastime.
Simple Petanque Rules
How to Play Petanque (Pay-tonk) Boules (Boolz)
The Place to Play
Petanque is also known as Boules and is played outdoors on any reasonably firm surface: your yard, the park, a
field, a gravel parking lot, cinder running track, etc. Hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt or very soft like a fine sand
beach or long grass are not recommended. The ideal surface is hard packed earth with course sand or pea gravel
approximately 1/8" - 1⁄4" deep covering the surface. Find a place that is open and fairly flat. If there are a few bumps
and hollows that's fine and can even add more challenge to the game.
Choose Teams
Divide up into two teams. You can play Singles with one player on each side, Doubles with two players on each side,
or Triples with three players on each side. For leisure play a good way to choose teams is for one person to take a
boule from each player and throw them out all at the same time. The owners of the boules that lie closest to the
thrower make up the first team.
Select Boules
Both teams select their boules. Each team's boules should have Groove Patterns that distinguish them from the other
side's boules: that way, they will be easy to identify when counting up points. When playing Singles or Doubles, each
player uses three boules and for Triples each player uses two.
Decide Who Goes First
Toss a coin to see which side goes first.
Toss the Jack
The team that wins the coin toss chooses the starting location and then selects one of their players to throw out the
jack. The starting location is indicated by a circle that is 14 to 20 inches in diameter and at least three feet from any
obstacles. The circle can be drawn with chalk, etched in the dirt with a stick, or made from a piece of rope whatever
works. Once the circle is drawn, the player then stands with both feet inside the circle and throws the jack. The jack
can be thrown in any direction but must land within 20 to 30 feet of the starting circle and three feet from any obstacle.
Throw the Boules
All boules must be thrown from within the starting circle and with both feet on the ground. The player attempts to
throw the boule so that it lands as close to the jack as possible it is okay to hit the jack. The player must remain inside
the circle until the boule has landed. A player from the opposing team then steps into the circle and attempts to land
his boule closer to the jack even if it means knocking his opponents out of the way. The boule closest to the jack
leads or is said to be "holding the point." The other team must continue throwing boules until they take the lead or run
out of boules. There is no order that team members must follow when throwing their boules however, they must only
throw their own boules, and they must go one at a time from within the starting circle. If they take the lead, the other
team then tries to recover by landing a lead boule.
Winning the Round
Once a team has usedall its boules, the other side is allowed to throw the rest of its boules. When all boules are
thrown, the points are counted. The team that has the boule closest to the jack wins the round. In addition, they also
receive a point for each boule that is closer to the jack than their opponents’ closest boule. Only one team scores
points during a round.
Beginning a New Round
Once the points are counted, the next round begins with previous round's winners drawing a new starting circle. This
starting circle is drawn around the final position of the jack in the previous round. The winning team then selects a
player to toss out the jack from this new starting circle and then throw out the first boule.
Winning the Game
The first team to earn a total of 13 points wins the game. There is not a required number of rounds that must be
played.
Pétanque Terminology – Glossary
Basic Equipment & Setup
Boule
A hollow metal ball used in pétanque.
Cochonnet (Jack / But)
The small wooden (or synthetic) target ball that players aim to get closest to.
Terrain
The playing surface. It may be gravel, hard-packed earth, sand, or a purpose-built piste.
Piste
A marked lane or court, typically used in competitions.
Circle (Cercle)
A 35–50 cm circle drawn or placed on the ground from which players must throw.
Match Structure
End (Mène)
One round of play, from throwing the jack to scoring the points.
Point
A scoring unit awarded for each boule closer to the jack than the opponent’s nearest boule.
Also used to describe the act of placing a boule near the jack.
Game (Partie)
A full match, usually played to 13 points.
Triples (Triplette)
Three players per team, two boules each.
Doubles (Doublette)
Two players per team, three boules each.
Singles (Tête-à-tête)
One player per team, three boules each.
Playing Roles
Pointer (Pointeur)
Player specialising in placing boules close to the jack.
Shooter (Tireur)
Player specialising in knocking away opponents’ boules.
Middle (Milieu)
In triples, the all-rounder who both points and shoots.
Types of Throws
Pointing (Pointer)
Throwing to place a boule close to the jack.
Shooting (Tirer)
Throwing to hit and remove an opponent’s boule.
Lob / High Ball
A high-arc throw designed to minimise rolling.
Rolling Ball
A boule thrown low so that it rolls toward the jack.
Common French Terms (Used in UK Play)
Carreau
A perfect shot where the shooter’s boule hits the opponent’s boule and remains in its place.
Carreau sur place
A “dead perfect” shot where the shooter’s boule stops exactly where the opponent’s boule was.
Palet
When the shooter’s boule hits the target but rolls slightly forward rather than stopping dead.
Biberon
A boule touching the jack.
Fanny
Losing 13–0. Traditionally the losing team must “kiss Fanny” (often represented by a picture or plaque in the clubhouse).
Devant (In Front)
A boule that stops short of the jack.
Derrière (Behind)
A boule that finishes beyond the jack.
À la Rafle
A shot played by skimming the ground rather than through the air.
Tactical & Situational Terms
Holding the Point
When your team has the closest boule to the jack.
Building a Head
Developing a cluster of boules around the jack to protect your position.
Blocking Ball
A boule deliberately placed to obstruct an opponent’s shot.
Killing the End
Deliberately shooting or moving the jack out of bounds to cancel the end.
Dead End
When the jack goes out of play and the end is replayed.
Measure (Mesure)
Using a tape measure or calipers to determine which boule is closest.
Yes, Pétanque England is the official national governing body for the sport in England.
Click here to visit Pétanque England
It:
Oversees national competitions and championships
Organises regional structures and leagues
Selects and manages England international teams
Sets rules in line with international regulations
Affiliates and supports member clubs
Provides coaching and safeguarding frameworks
It is affiliated to the international federation, the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP).
Eastern Counties is one of the 17 regions which make up Pétanque England.
Click here to visit ECRP.
They are devoted to promoting the sport of Pétanque and we have 14 Pétanque clubs across the region including Essex, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire.