Pointing means placing your boule next to the jack, ideally within a few centimeters. Almost every end starts with a pointed boule, so small gains here show up all game.
Each drill below comes with a score, so you can see progress from week to week.
Set up before you start
Bring at least six boules, a jack and a tape measure. Practice on the surface you play on most; our page on reading the terrain covers how each ground behaves.
Keep the jack between 6 and 10 m, the range the FIPJP official rules allow in competition. If the throw itself needs work, start with our pointing technique page.
Accuracy drills
1. Three-zone score
Mark rings at 15, 30 and 50 cm around a jack placed 7 m away. Score 5 points inside 15 cm, 3 inside 30 cm and 1 inside 50 cm.
Throw 20 boules and write down the total. Move the jack to 9 m once you pass 50 points.
2. Random jack
Have a partner place the jack anywhere between 6 and 10 m, in any direction. You get one throw and no practice boule; it counts only if it stops within 50 cm.
Game-situation drills
3. Beat the point
Place an opponent’s boule 20 cm from the jack. Point until you beat it, counting how many boules that takes.
Move the opposing boule to 10 cm, then 5 cm, once you beat it regularly.
4. Behind the jack
Aim to stop each boule 20 to 50 cm past the jack instead of short of it. A boule behind the jack gets closer if the jack is pushed back, which makes it a safer point.
5. The 50-boule test
Throw 50 boules at a jack 8 m away and record hits within 50 cm in blocks of ten. A drop in the later blocks shows where tiredness or lost focus sets in.
Repeat the test monthly. Tournament days are long; this drill shows if your form holds up.
Track your scores
| Drill | What to record | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Three-zone score | Points from 20 boules | Move to 9 m past 50 points |
| Random jack | Hits out of 10 | Beat last week’s number |
| Beat the point | Boules needed | Tighten to 10 cm, then 5 cm |
| Behind the jack | Boules stopped 20 to 50 cm past | Repeat at 9 and 10 m |
| 50-boule test | Hits per block of ten | Keep the last block level with the first |
For more practice ideas, see our 10 drills that work and the drills page.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I practice pointing?
Two or three short sessions a week, each built around one drill, suit most club players. Regular practice matters more than long sessions.
Can I do these drills alone?
Drills 1, 3, 4 and 5 work solo. The random jack drill needs a partner to place the jack.
What distance should beginners use?
Start at 6 m and move back once your scores level off.
Which pointing throw should I use?
The half lob suits most ground. Wikipedia’s pétanque article describes the three options: a roll, a moderate arc and a high lob.
