BOULES

French Jeu De Boules, also called Ptanque, French ball game, similar to bowls and boccie. It is thought to have originated about 1910, but it is based on the very old French game of jeu Provenal. Boules is played between two players or teams. Players take turns throwing or rolling a ball (boule) as close as possible to the target ball (called the jack, or cochonnet); if necessary the player will use his ball to knock the opponent's ball away. The balls are usually made of steel and are about 78 cm (2.753.15 inches) in diameter; the target balls are smaller, about 2535 mm (11.35 inches) in diameter. The game is played on a pitch some 15 m (49 feet) long and some 4 m wide.