Categories / Outdoor & adventure
Pétanque and Boules
Throwing steel balls to a target; casual and social.
How to start
Play a casual game on gravel or grass with friends. Learn to throw the boule underarm.
How to progress
Join a club.
What the evidence says
Evidence: limited
We found no trials of this particular activity. It is a gentle social activity.
Take care: Bend your knees to throw and avoid overstretching.
Sources
12-week starter plan
A weekly social game.
Tick each week as you finish it; your ticks are saved on this device only. Repeat a week if it felt hard. Weeks 4, 8 and 12 hold steady so you can settle. This is a general plan, not medical advice.
Add reminders to your calendar
Pick your days and time. You will download a calendar file that adds 12 weeks of reminders to Google, Apple or Outlook calendar.
Calories and weekly minutes
Enter your details for a rough estimate. Based on about 3 METs (Typical effort for this activity (estimated)). Real figures vary by 20% or more between people.
Tips and common mistakes
Tips
- Bend your knees.
- Play with friends.
- Aim carefully.
Common mistakes
- Overthrowing.
- Standing stiffly.
- Skipping warm-up.
Kit and cost
Low Approximate UK prices.
- A set of boules (about £20 to £50)
- Flat shoes
- A level surface
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy?
Very.
Is it for all ages?
Yes.
Is it exercise?
It is gentle.
Good for: Fun & social Balance
Compare with similar options
| Pétanque and Boules | Lawn Bowls | Golf (Walking) | Geocaching | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical session | 60 min × 1/wk | 120 min × 1/wk | 240 min × 1/wk | 90 min × 1/wk |
| Effort | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ |
| Cost | Free | Low cost | Moderate cost | Free |
| Equipment | Basic kit | Basic kit | Some equipment | Basic kit |
| Impact | Low impact | Low impact | Low impact | Low impact |
| Fitness needed | Any level | Any level | Any level | Any level |
| Evidence | limited | limited | limited | limited |