Throwing boules for an hour without a target teaches very little. Each drill below has a fixed distance, a clear target and a score, so you know when you improve.
Pick two or three per session rather than all ten.
The ten drills at a glance
| Drill | Skill | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ten boules to one spot | Landing spot | 6 to 7 m |
| 2. Shrinking box | Landing spot | 6 m |
| 3. Paper plate | Pointing accuracy | 7 to 8 m |
| 4. Distance ladder | Weight control | 6 to 10 m |
| 5. Clock face | Angles and surface | 8 m |
| 6. Half-lob markers | Half lob | 6, 8 and 10 m |
| 7. Blox | High lob | Any |
| 8. Precision shooting | Shooting | 6 to 9 m |
| 9. Shoot once per end | Shooting in play | Full game |
| 10. The last boule | Pressure | Game scenario |
Landing-spot drills
1. Ten boules to one spot
Pick a landing spot, your donnée, about 6 to 7 m out and throw ten boules at it before collecting any. Staying in the circle keeps your rhythm and shows the spread of your landings at a glance.
2. The shrinking box
Mark a box on the ground with two markers about a meter apart and count how many boules land inside it. When your score rises, make the box shorter or narrower.
The drill comes from a practice method on All About Petanque, which calls hitting the donnée one of the hardest goals in the game.
3. Paper plate
Put a paper plate on the ground at 7 to 8 m and try to land on it. Switch to a smaller plate once you hit the large one often.
Distance and arc drills
4. Distance ladder
Set markers at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 m, the range a jack may be thrown in competition. Throw three boules at each and move up only when two of three stop within 50 cm of the marker.
Then work back down from 10 m, which forces bigger adjustments between throws.
5. Clock face
Place five or six targets around the circle, all at 8 m, like hours on a clock. Throw one boule at each in turn, since every direction brings a different slope and surface.
6. Half-lob markers
For jacks at 6, 8 and 10 m, place a marker about halfway out. Land on the marker and let the boule roll the rest of the way.
The half lob is the workhorse throw for most pointers. Our pointing technique page compares it with the roll and the high lob.
7. Blox
Lay a board about 1.5 to 2 m long across the lane between circle and jack so rolling is impossible. You have to lob over it, which builds the high lob you need on rough or blocked ground.
Shooting and pressure drills
8. Precision shooting
Precision shooting is a competition event with its own FPUSA rules: 20 shots across five layouts from 6, 7, 8 and 9 m, worth up to 5 points each. The FPUSA precision shooting rules show every layout and its scoring.
A score out of 100 gives you a number to beat each week. Our shooting page covers the technique behind it.
9. Shoot once per end
Play a normal game with one rule: every player must shoot at least once per end. Listed under the name Millieu’s Delight in a collection of training games, it gets pointers shooting and shooters pointing.
10. The last boule
Set up a losing end: an opponent’s boule 10 cm from the jack, the score at 11 to 12 and one boule left in your hand. Play it ten times, alternating a point and a shot, then write down how often you win the end.
Keep score of your practice
Log each session with the drills, the distances and your hit rates. After a month, the numbers show which throws need work.
For more ideas, see our drills page and our post on practicing alone.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I practice?
Short, regular sessions tend to help more than a rare long one. Two or three 30-minute sessions a week, each with a clear drill, is a solid rhythm.
Which drill should a beginner start with?
Ten boules to one spot. It trains the landing spot, which every pointing throw depends on.
Can I practice without a terrain?
Any flat patch of gravel or packed dirt works for the landing drills. Our public courts directory lists free terrain near you.
How many boules do I need?
Six is a practical minimum so you can throw several before walking out. A second set means fewer trips to collect.
