Pen-Y-Coed Petanque Petanque
Petanque Boule Shop and Mail Order Sales Office
Up Street, Bardwell,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, 
IP31 1AA

Tel or Fax  01359 250829

E mail    pycpetanque@aol.com

 

Our Company
featuring our company details, privacy policy, delivery details, returns policy and
Frequently asked questions FAQ's

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Company Details

Pen-Y-Coed Pétanque are specialized in helping Pétanque players everywhere. All our staff play the game and are able to help and advise on the choice of boule that is right for you. Like any other sport you need the best equipment to play your best and as the UK stockist of boule from the oldest boule manufacturer in the world, La Boule Intégrale, we have the expertise to supply the top quality boule. We hold large stocks of boule but as our range is so extensive and you want the right size boule for you we sometimes have to ask you to wait 2 - 3 weeks for your choice. Supplying boule is not the end of our business as we also promote the game of Pétanque within the UK. We have sponsored the Great British team at the World Championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and have contacts of where to play in your area whether you wish to play at Pub, Club, Regional or National level.

In 2002 Pen-Y-Coed Petanque have launched a sponsorship deal with the 2000 Champion of Champions, from left to right Marion Halsey ( MD PYC Petanque)  Team Intégrale, Micheal Hourcastagnou, Bruno Bove and Dave Chalkly.  Phil Boarder. PYC Petanque. 

Our web site www.pycpetanque.com has all the latest equipment, news and tournament information. Assistance given to players and clubs ranges from piste installation to help sheets on how to play, boule selection, history of the game and even which measure to use!
We attend exhibitions and come and try events as well as Pétanque tournaments all over the UK from Inverness to Llandudno, from Cardiff to Hastings. If you would like any assistance with your Pétanque please do not hesitate to contact us. We have two site that maybe of interest www.winningpetanque.com includes all our helpsheets and coching tips and www.prestigetrophies.com contains a selection of the finest trophies and awards

Is Pétanque played in the UK
There are over 25,000 players in the UK that play regularly in leagues and competitions. Many Public Houses, Leisure centres and sports grounds have piste's though many are hidden away in corners and under trees and if no one is playing on them they can look just like car parks. Contact us to find details of a club near you or join many of our customers who have laid their own piste in their garden. Piste Helpsheet

What is the difference between Competition Boule and Leisure Boule
It does appear at first glance that all boules are the same, this in fact is not the case. Competition Boule vary in diameter, weight, hardness and pattern or stripes, all within the limitations set out in the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (F.I.P.J.P.) rules. It must be noted that all boule conforming to the FIPJP rules should have the name of the manufacturer, the type or mark of boule, the weight in grams and a serial number. The player may have his / her name or initials engraved on the boule but this is carried out at the manufacturing stage so as not to alter the balance of the boule in any way.   Competition Boule

The permissible diameters are from 70.5mm to 80 mm and the weight must be between 650 grams and 800 grams. Even the Hardness of the boule is governed but they are generally  classified as Hard or Soft.

Leisure Boule are generally 74 mm dia and are lighter in weight at approx. 660 grms.They are usually guaranteed for a year but there are some very dodgy leisure boule about that need extreme caution if buying. The safest option is to buy from a boule manufacturer who also makes competition boule. Leisure Boule

Can you play on Grass
Many people play on grass but the problem is with the landing area. In wet conditions the area can cut up badly and in dry conditions clumps of root can send the the boule off at an angle thus disrupting the game and making it less fun.But if you only have grass then that will have to do. But keep a look out for gravel drives, car parks etc that may provide a suitable playing area.

How did Pétanque start
Boule is a generic term covering many ball and jack games i.e. Boccia, Pétanque, Boule Lyonnasie and Jeu Provencal all from the European continent. Boule Lyonnaise is a game similar to Lawn Bowls, played over long distances and a run up is required to launch a metal boule up to 17 metres. Just take a moment here to imagine an English lawn bowl thrown through the air to remove an opponents bowl hitting the bowl without hitting the ground first. Some shot!  The athleticism required to play this game makes it a sport for the dedicated sportsman. However the sport of Boule Lyonnaise is the direct relation to Pétanque. A master of the sport of Lyonnaise suffered from arthritis in his latter years and found the running and throwing difficult to maintain with accuracy. In 1910 he devised a game where you stood with your feet together in a circle. With no run up allowed the game was played between six and ten metres from the circle. The game caught on very quickly and the game of Pétanque was born. One of the few sports played at World championship level that was created by a disadvantaged person. With this beginning the sport is indeed suitable for all.

Should I shoot with my last boule
This is possibly the most asked question from players who have played for years. We like the statement "Never mess up with your last boule" The reason the question is asked is because many people say it when you have a disaster and give away points or even the game by moving the jack or removing your only boule in the head. So before you shoot with your last boule just take a moment to look at the worst possible scenario because it will probably happen! Visit our winningpetanque web site for coaching tips and tactics

What is the Boule in Hand Rule
If you have no more boule left and the jack is deemed dead i.e. moves over a dead boule line or shoots off the piste. All the unthrown boule the opposition have in their hands count as points. However if you have only one boule left to throw the end is deemed dead and the team that started the dead end starts another and no score is given to either team on that dead end. This rule allows you to kill an end without lost of points as long as you have one boule left. Unfortunetly it also allows teams to kill the end and score the boule in hand if you have thrown all your boule. For example you have thrown the first point and it is very close. The other team shoot and miss, they shoot again and miss. They then thrown their last four boule and defend the jack so well you would have trouble scoring any more points. The option maybe to kill the end by hitting the jack with a shot. Hopefully the jack is deemed dead and you would score four points from an end where you may have only scored one or two. But back to the last question "Should I shoot with my last boule" you should always weigh up the opptions of shooting. If the jack moves but does not go dead it may stop you scoring points, remember the opposition shot twice and these two boule may be at the back of the head still live. Yes the jack will land on them if you are unlucky.

Are every countries rules the same
The British rules are a direct translation of the Federation Internationale de Petanque et Jeu Provencal dated 1984 and revised version curently dated October 2002. I have always assumed all other countries playing Petanque are playing to the same rules. I have glanced at the USA rules and they seem to confirm this. I understand however the interpretation of the rules may differ from country to country and so differences may occur.
 

Visit our winningpetanque web site for coaching tips and tactics

For answers to any other questions you may have please E mail pycpetanque@aol.com

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