Categories of Boules	Inexpensive leisure boules (for casual picnic play) produced in France, China and elsewhere can be purchased from a variety of sources. These boules are usually of legal diameter and weight, but not of surface hardness (sometimes denting easily), may lack required markings to identify the boule’s properties to other players, and cannot be used in competitions. If one is going to take up playing Pétanque, it is best to obtain a set of competition boules from the beginning, which start in price from about $50. Competition boules are made by one of several manufacturers in France, and are marked with the manufacturer name or abbreviation, the weight of the boule, the model number of the boule, and optionally the name of the player or club. The information below is provided to assist you in selecting the right boule for you, which will vary based on your size, preferences, and style of play. Use this information as a guide, but remember to choose a boule that you are happy with. There are, in fact, thousands of possible combinations of characteristics for a boule. Don’t let this overwhelm you or delay the purchase of your first set, as you’ll quickly adapt to your chosen boule (and should you change sets in the future, you’ll have a spare set to share with a friend or family member).
Official Guidelines	An officially accepted boule is defined by Article 2a of the official rules of Pétanque: Article 2a - Pétanque is played with boules which are approved by the F.l.P.J.P. (Federation International Pétanque & Jeu Provencal) and which must conform to the following criteria: (a) They must be made of metal. (b) Their diameter must be between 7.05 cm (minimum) and 8 cm (maximum). (c) They must weigh between 650 grams (minimum) and 800 grams (maximum). The trademark of the manufacturer and the weight must be imprinted on the boules and must always be legible. (d) They must not be weighted nor sanded down. As a general rule the boules must not be tampered with in any way, nor altered or modified after manufacture by the maker approved by the F.I.P.J.P.     It is particularly forbidden to re-temper [re-heat] the boules in order to modify the hardness provided by the manufacturer, however, the player's name or initials may be engraved on them, as well as various logos, initials and acronyms, applied during manufacture. Note: Some loss of weight may occur over time as boules begin to wear during regular play. A boule may not be used in competition if it has lost more than 15 grams from its original weight, or if the markings have worn off.
Pointer or Shooter?	A Pointer (Pointeur) is a player who attempts to place their boule closest to the jack (cochonnet), or to place their boule in a specific strategic location. The three basic types of throw for a pointer are: 1. The Soft Lob (Demi-Portée), where the boule is thrown in a moderate arc and lands halfway between the player and the target location. The higher the arc, the less the boule will roll forward after landing. 2. The High Lob (Portée), where the boule is thrown in a vary high arc, preferably with backspin, to land nearly vertical less than 2 meters from the target and stop at the intended location. 3. The Roll (Roulette), where the boule lands on the ground less than 3 meters ahead of the player then rolls to the target location A Shooter (Tireur) is a player who attempts to strike the opponent’s boule and knock it away from the jack. The three basic types of throw for a shooter are: 1. Shot on the Iron (Tir au Fer), where the boule is thrown in an arc straight at the target boule, striking it directly on the metal. This shot is the most difficult, is used on uneven terrain, and may result in a bounce over the target boule if landing short of the target. When the boule remains in place of the opponent’s boule after impact, this shot is the perfect shot known as Carraeu. 2. Short Shot in Front (Tir Devant), where the boule is thrown in an arc to land between 20 and 30 centimeters in front of the target boule. 3. Ground Shot (Tir à la Rafle), where the boule is thrown low and hard, landing a few meters in front of the player and rolling to the target. This shot is legal and can be effective, but may not be highly regarded by other players. Understanding which type of player you are, or intend to be, will affect your choice of boules. If you are unsure (or want to do both), choose a boule in between the weight and sizes preferred by either type of specialist.
Diameter	This is governed largely by the size of your hand., although Shooters tend to prefer a larger boule and Pointers may prefer a smaller boule. Too big or too small can affect the control you have over your boule, so choose whatever feels most comfortable in your hand. If you are not able to try different sizes in person to see what fits best, then here are some general measurements sometimes used when outfitting a player. Open your throwing hand wide, and measure the distance in centimeters between the tip of your thumb and the tip of your middle finger. Hand Measurement = Common Boule Size: 18 cm or less = 71 mm 19 cm = 72 mm 20 cm = 73 mm 21 cm = 74 mm 21.5 cm = 75 mm 22 cm = 76 mm 22.5 cm = 77 mm 23 cm = 78 mm 23.5 cm = 79 mm 24 cm = 80 mm
Weight	Shooters tend to prefer weights 710 grams and below (650-710). Pointers tend to prefer weights 710 grams and above (710-800). Players in between may wish to consider 680 to 730 grams.
Alloy	Boules must be made of metal, but there several alloys available to choose from. Carbon Steel Carbon Steel boules are susceptible to rust, and should usually be maintained by regular cleaning and oiling. These boules may have matte or colored finishes, and may provide a better grip in the hand. Stainless Steel Stainless Steel boules come in a variety of surface finishes, and usually do not require maintenance. Bronze Alloy The Intégrale AC boule is the only boule made from a soft bronze/brass alloy, and the only boule cast from a single mold (instead of being made by two halves welded together). It does not rust, cannot be picked up using a boule lifter magnet (used by some players to pick up their boules without bending over), and produces a unique tone when struck (because they are cast as a single piece). In production for decades, it claimed to be the first boule made entirely of metal (in the early 1900’s, wooden balls completely covered with nails had been used).
Hardness	The surface of a competition boule is tempered to an exact hardness, measured and reported as kg/mm2. This formula results in a rating between 110 (Very Soft) and 140 (Very Hard) for each model of boule. A softer boule will rebound less when shooting, giving an improved chance to stay in and take the point after impact. Soft boules mark easily and quickly begin to show scratches and other markings from play. Soft boules used regularly for shooting may gradually develop a textured pattern of tiny indentations. A harder boule may roll a bit straighter over rough terrain with pebbles and rocks, and will mark less.
Patterns	The pattern of grooves or lines (striation) on the boule affects the grip of the ball in the hand and on the ground. They also help distinguish boules among players. Many shooters prefer a smooth boule, with few markings, for an easy release from the hand. Many pointers prefer a greater number of lines for grip, and control of spin in the hand and on the ground. The choice here is one of comfort, practicality, and aesthetics. Below are examples of some of the patterns (and codes) you will find are available for different models of boules. These will differ by manufacturer and model:
Coating	Some boules are coated with a finish color (such as black, gold, or blue) that will wear off over time. Some are coated to prevent or discourage rust (in some cases when the alloy used is susceptible to rust). Coatings will depend on the model of boule selected.
Engraving	For a slightly higher cost to special order your boules (and a longer wait), they can be engraved with your initials or name at the factory during manufacture. The number of character spaces available is reduced on boules with more lined patterns. If you enjoy the game enough to play long-term (as many do), then this certainly adds a nice personal touch to your boules.
Manufacturer & Model	The major manufacturers are Obut, Intégrale, MS Pétanque, La Boule Bleue, JB Pétanque, and La Boule Noire. Each will offer a line of varying characteristics to meet your needs, now that you have an idea of what you’re looking for.
Where To Buy	Here are the best sources for purchasing boules in the United States: Playaboule Great selection of pétanque boules and accessories. Carries boules from Intégrale, MS Pétanque, and La Boule Bleue. Can handle custom engraving orders. Ordering online via the Internet at: http://www.playaboule.com Ordering by phone at: (888) 225-2865 (toll-free within the USA) (206) 340-5995 (Seattle local or outside the USA) Pétanque America Great selection of pétanque boules and accessories. Carries boules from Obut and La Boule Noire. Can handle custom engraving orders. Offers a 10% discount if you are a member of FPUSA (the USA Pétanque Federation). Note: all members of an FPUSA club such as San Diego are FPUSA members. Ordering online via the Internet at: http://www.petanqueamerica.com Ordering by phone at: (800) 68-BALLS = 682-2557 (toll-free within the USA) (305) 591-7160 (Miami local or outside the USA) Toulon Imports Carries boules from JB Pétanque. Ordering online via the Internet at: http://www.petanque.net Ordering by phone at: (877) 459 5314 (toll free within the USA) Max Legrand President of the Los Angeles Pétanque Club Ordering by phone at: (310) 475-8681 La Boule Bleue Manufacturer in Marseille, France. Will ship internationally and has a good website (available in English, French, or German) with a section to help design a recommended set of boules for an individual player. Ordering online via the Internet at: http://www.laboulebleue.fr