I am keen to know about any petanque players in South Africa! I'm positive
there's some scope to set up a club, particularly in the Western cape, where
there's keen interest from several wine farms.

Any info?

Thanks

Mike Venter
Cape Town

I think that the rule of not being allowed to step out of the circle before the ball has landed is a silly rule. Someone only steps out as a natural reaction to a shot, not in order to run, catch the ball and play it again. Does this rule have a particular reason behind it that I am overlooking?

I have some questions to ask the Umpire. How do I do that?

Does anyone know where to get a VHS/NTSC version of the Ma Methode video in the United States? Thank you.
Loi

I suspect that the origin of this was to distinguish pétanque, meaning “feet together/fixed (to the ground)” from its predecessor, Le Jeu Provençal, where players take a step outside of the circle when pointing and 3 running steps when shooting. This is just a supposition – I suspect one would have to ask the French Federation for an official explanation.

However, just an observation: the tendency to step outside of the circle often indicates an incorrect technique. If you watch good pointers and shooters, they appear to play almost effortlessly with no tendence to step forward. In contrast, beginners often tend to lunge forward in their effort to throw the boule.

To ask a question to the umpire you may either post it here, or send it to petanque.org.

cheers,
Stig Bordsenius
petanque.org




Martyn Fribbens wrote:
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I have some questions to ask the Umpire. How do I do that?

You have to use the same 3 (or 2, in triplette) boules for the duration of the game, unless one is broken or lost. Your boules do not have to be from the same set, though. Some players prefer to use, for example, two pointing boules and one lighter shooting boule.

Loi Nguyen wrote:
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Does anyone know where to get a VHS/NTSC version of the Ma Methode video in the United States? Thank you.
Loi

This is a good video - I learn't the importance of well groomed hair.

Thanks for that. I didn't realise the idea behind it. It just gets on my nerves because when I knew I'd hit I used walk out of the circle as a natural reaction like a footballer might run away celebrating when he knows a shot is in. I have since changed my habits. This is for two reasons. Firstly, when you walk thinking you've hit you then look like an idiot when it goes just over. The other reason it's a great feeling to watch your ball from behind all the way to a carreaux.

Ray Ager wrote:
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I suspect that the origin of this was to distinguish pétanque, meaning “feet together/fixed (to the ground)” from its predecessor, Le Jeu Provençal, where players take a step outside of the circle when pointing and 3 running steps when shooting. This is just a supposition – I suspect one would have to ask the French Federation for an official explanation.

However, just an observation: the tendency to step outside of the circle often indicates an incorrect technique. If you watch good pointers and shooters, they appear to play almost effortlessly with no tendence to step forward. In contrast, beginners often tend to lunge forward in their effort to throw the boule.

We're working on it. We plan to have an NTSC version available by the end of october.
Will post on this forum when it's ready.


Loi Nguyen wrote:
------------------------------------

Does anyone know where to get a VHS/NTSC version of the Ma Methode video in the United States? Thank you.
Loi

This is a good video - I learn't the importance of well groomed hair.

We just got them in, NTSC version and English spoken. br
a href= http://www.petanqueamerica.com/books1.html www.petanqueamerica.com/books1.html /a /p



Loi Nguyen wrote:
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Does anyone know where to get a VHS/NTSC version of the Ma Methode video in the United States? Thank you.
Loi

This is a good video - I learn't the importance of well groomed hair.

Just if you may not lift the leg before the bowl falls is silly.

As for the standpoint is enough but even more strictly to say: Mark it with with a curve. and: Players must stand at its top against the jack.