Boules - Types of Boules Games

Types of Boules Games

Boules games may be sub-divided into two categories based on typical throwing technique:

• games where the balls are rolled (for example, bocce)
• games where the balls are thrown (for example, pétanque, bocce volo)

Boules games may also be subdivided into two other categories based on typical throwing technique:

• games where there is a "run up" to the throw (for example, boule lyonnaise, bocce volo)
• games where there is no "run up" to the throw (for example, pétanque)

Alternatively, boules games may be subdivided into categories based on the structure and material of the ball:

• games where the balls are solid and made out of wood, or a woodlike plastic, composite, or epoxy resin similar to billiard balls (for example, bocce)
• games where the balls are hollow and made out of metal, typically steel or bronze (for example, pétanque, bocce volo)
• games where the balls are ffed and made out of leather or some similar soft material (boccia, "soft pétanque")

Alternatively, boules games may be subdivided into categories based on the shape of the ball:

• games where the balls are spherical (most boules games)
• games where the balls are not spherical, but have a shape bias designed to cause the ball to travel a curved path (lawn bowls)

There may be other variations as well, for instance in the way the ball is launched, in the dimensions of the playing area, whether obstacles (such as trees) are considered in-bounds or out-of-bounds, and whether it is legal to play balls off of enclosing boards or obstacles.

• Balls are typically thrown underhand (as in American softball) rather than overhand (as in American baseball). In games where the balls are rolled, the delivery is typically done with the palm of the hand up, whereas in games where the balls are thrown, the delivery is typically done palm down. A palm-down delivery can give a thrown ball backspin, which helps to keep it from rolling away from the spot to which it has been thrown.
• Bocce, a rolling game, is played on a smooth, prepared court with markers and sideboards; the sideboards are a recognized part of the game and shots may be bounced off of the sideboards. In contrast, petanque, a throwing game, can be played on almost any relatively flat, unprepared outdoor surface. Sideboards are not a recognized part of the game — although an out-of-play line (or "dead boule line") is.

Finally, some boules games (boccia, pétanque) began as variations of earlier games, deliberately created and designed to accommodate the needs of players with physical disabilities.

Such variations produce a wide variety of boules-type games played all over the world.