Pétanque
Pétanque is a French target sport where players throw hollow steel boules close to a wooden target ball called a cochonnet. Unlike related boules games, players must throw while standing with feet planted together inside a small circle.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- Early 20th century
- ORIGIN
- La Ciotat, France
- PLAYERS
- 2 to 6 players
- EQUIPMENT
- Steel boules, jack
- PLAYING AREA
- 15 × 4 m court
- DURATION
- 45–90 minutes
- GOVERNING BODY
- FIPJP
- OLYMPIC
- No
Scoring rules
| Outcome | Points |
|---|---|
| Closest boule to jack | 1 point |
| Each additional boule closer than opponent's best | 1 point |
| Winning score | 13 points |
| Losing 13–0 ('Fanny') | 0 points |
| Format | Players per Team | Boules per Player |
|---|---|---|
| Tête-à-tête (Singles) | 1 player | 3 boules |
| Doublette (Doubles) | 2 players | 3 boules |
| Triplette (Triples) | 3 players | 2 boules |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1907 | Jules Lenoir invents pétanque in La Ciotat, France. |
| 1910 | First official tournament organized in La Ciotat. |
| 1958 | International governing body FIPJP is founded. |
| 1959 | First World Pétanque Championships held in Belgium. |
How a game works
A team throws the wooden jack (cochonnet) 6 to 10 meters from a throwing circle. Players alternate throwing steel boules to get closest to the jack or knock away opponent boules. The team furthest from the jack continues throwing until they regain the lead or run out of boules.
Scoring in one line
At the end of an end, the team with the closest boule to the jack scores 1 point for every boule closer than the opponent's best boule, continuing ends until one side reaches 13 points.
Where it came from
Pétanque was developed in 1907 in La Ciotat, Provence, as a variant of jeu provençal. French player Jules Lenoir created the format to accommodate his severe rheumatism, fixing the throwing stance inside a small circle with feet planted on the ground ('pèths tanqués').
Pétanque today
Governed internationally by the FIPJP, pétanque has over 600,000 registered players across more than 100 countries. It is widely played in Europe and Southeast Asia and features regularly in the World Games.
Run a Pétanque tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — 13 points (approx. 45 min).
FAQ
What is the difference between pétanque and bocce?
Pétanque uses hollow steel boules thrown underhand from a stationary circle onto hard dirt or gravel, whereas bocce uses larger resin or metal balls rolled on smooth, walled courts.
How many boules does each player get in pétanque?
In singles and doubles, each player uses three boules. In triples, each player uses two boules, keeping the total at 12 boules per match.
What does 'fanny' mean in pétanque?
Losing a game 13–0 is called 'fanny' (embrasser Fanny). Custom dictates that the losing team must kiss the backside of a figurine or drawing of a woman named Fanny.