Pétanque: the iPhone app that measures the distance between your balls

Between two Diabolos Mint (wink), fiery discussions around the jack on the background of cicada songs are part of the folklore of the pétanque. But this summer, an application available on the Apple store may well agree – or not. Designed by a French developer, Pétanque Measure: Socut Use the iPhone camera to measure the distance between each ball and the junk to the nearest centimeter.

Thanks to augmented reality, the app allows you to transform your smartphone into a pocket referee, capable of designating the winning team in real time, without tape meters, nor hazardous measurement at the Tong.

An app that operates exclusive iPhone technologies

Behind this typically frank idea, we find Pierre Boudoin, a developer passionate about tech and concrete solutions. This is not his first creation: he is also at the origin of Purra meditation app that literally vibrates the iPhone as a purring cat, and Medicoa tool to manage your personal pharmacy.

In the case of Jackthis is based on advanced technological bricks:

• Swiftui for the user interface
• Coreml, Apple’s automatic learning engine, with an AI model trained to detect balls and jacks
• An ultra minimalist design, which respects the visual codes of iOS

Result: a fluid, intuitive experience, even for those who swear by the Mölkky!

In addition to measurement of distances, the app also manages scores and teams. In short, it acts as a referee, marker and mediator. The entertainment is clear, the information well presented, and everything is thought of so that you stay focused on the essentials: point or shoot.

Free access and alternatives on Android

Good news: the application can be downloaded for free from the App Store. Less good news: unlimited measures require a premium subscription for less than € 2/month. A modest price which could however cool more than one. That said, for regular players, the investment can quickly make profitable, especially when the issues are the general tour of the losers!

Note that similar tools are available on the Play Store, as Penetration meterwhose last update dates from April 2025.

An app that touches one without moving the other

So yes, some will say that pétanque without bickering is no longer pétanque. And for part of the editorial staff, they are not wrong: the charm of the game also lies in the bad faith well placed. But for those who want to avoid endless debates or just have fun with friends with a little tech in his pocket, Jack could well become the ally of your summer aperitifs.

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