Pétanque court at Resort de Brabantse Kempen
You are probably familiar with pétanque. But what are the rules exactly? We are happy to explain them to you!
The object of the game
In a pétanque competition, a team can consist of one to three players. The object of the game is to throw your boules (large steel balls) closest to the jack (small wooden ball). The first team to reach 13 points wins the match.
Game rules
- There may be a maximum of 12 balls in the game. Does a team consist of a single player? In that case, he/she may have a maximum of 3 balls. If you play with several players in a team, each player gets 2 balls.
- Only underhand throws are allowed.
- The starting team is determined by a draw.
- The game starts by throwing the jack a distance of 6 to 10 meters. The jack must be at least 0.5 m from the edge of the court.
- The team that threw the jack may also throw the first boule. The aim is to throw the boule as close to the jack as possible.
- Next, it is the other team's turn. This team must throw the ball closer to the jack. If they do not manage to do this, they must keep throwing until a ball is closer.
- When they managed to do this, it is the other team's turn. This repeats throughout the game. The team that throws the ball closest to the jack passes the turn to the other team.
- If at any point a team runs out of balls, the other team may continue throwing. The aim is to throw as many boules as possible near the jack.
- The balls (jack and boules) may be bounced away on purpose to take the opponent away from the jack.
- The player (team) closest to the jack at the end of the game gets the points. 1 ball equals 1 point. If the first two balls of the same player are closest, that player gets two points. Continue counting this way until an opponent's ball is closer.
- The player (team) that was closest may throw the jack at the next turn.
- The player (team) who first scores 13 points wins the match.
