What sort of boules should I buy?

This is a question often asked of me so I have included a separate web page to address this issue.

Never rush into buying boules. I would suggest that you play a while and become comfortable playing with club boules or whatever boules you have yourself. Once you have decided that Petanque is your game, then look for a set of boules.

A this stage you probably know what sort of game you play best and what category you fall in. Positioner or Attacker.

Positioner; makes up just about all players and most players will remain positioners throughout their playing career. You start playing the game as a positioner. A positioner is a player who throws the ball and lets it roll hopefully right next to the jack. It is the basic form of petanque and yet the most important form of petanque. A good positioner in your team is quite often a deciding factor and I have seen many a good positioner destroy an attacking player simply by being consistant in placing his or her boule.

Attacker; makes up a small percentage of players. An attacker is basically a positioner who when cornered or threatened can attack your boule and knock it out or away from the jack and hopefully leaving his or her boule in place next to the jack. An attacker has to be confident, accurate and most importantly consistant. His hit rate should be as high as possible. My feeling is that if you cannot strike an opponents boule one in three then forget about attacking as the miss rate will work against you in a tight game. Attacking is a double edged sword, if all goes well it could well decide a game at a crucial point and is often psychologically devastating to an opponent if it works correctly. However every attacking shot that misses its target is a lost boule. Attackers acquire their skill by constant practice and if you have the ability to do so it certainly enhances your ability to dictate and control a games outcome.

Boules for Positioners; usually use smaller diameter boules, heavier in weight and with more 'striations' (cut lines in a boules surface) to grip the ground. The weight, diameter and striations are dictated by your hand size and personal preferences. A harder metal boule is preferable as they will last longer (a lifetime).

Boules for Attackers; usually go for a lighter boule with larger diameter and without any striations. Attackers prefer softer metal boules so that when they strike another boule the shock will be partly absorbed by the softer metal reducing rebound and hopefully leave their boule exactly where the struck boule was before. The struck boule is sent flying into oblivion!

Basically a boule should fit in your hand with the thumb and forefinger just touching each other in a light grip.

If you take the above onboard you should be able to make a better informed choice in selecting your boules. Remember you need a set of three boules and it is well worth buying a carry case or pouch while you are at it. A boule set well looked after should last you a lifetime and countless hours of good fun Petanque.

Below are some pictures of boule sets that are available.

The box set and vinyl cased set are cheap boule sets you can buy at any sports store. You can buy a set for as little as $25. The club has several sets for beginners to play with. They are cheap and deteriorate quickly. They are usually made of inferior metal and quickly loose their shine and become 'bruised' and badly dinted. They are usually made in China and worst of all they come only in paired sets of two boules (same striations) so you can never make a set of three the same marked boules. Somebody should inform the Chinese that Petanque requires sets of three boules. They are OK for beginners, games at BBQ's and those who play maybe once or twice a year. I would suggest avoid them and go for something a lot better.

The next two sets below (green case) and (black case with red clips) These are standard good quality, mid range competition boules and what you should be aiming for. They range in cost from a little over $100 to about $300 dollars. They are good quality evenly balanced and weighted boules with matching striations. They come in sets of three. Buy an attractive carry case to go with them, it makes transporting them a lot easier. If you like you can have your name engraved into the surface. A nice touch!

The third set of boules shown with leather carry pouch is the Rolls Royce of boules. They are ATX boules and cost a little over $500 to buy. Personally I cannot afford to buy such expensive boules and I know only a few people who have done so including my son. I still think it all boils down to how good you play on the day and whether that is with a cheap set of boules or ATX's makes little difference. Maybe I am jealous. When just out of the box the ATX's sure do look hot and feel nice in the hand. They go nice with your BMW sports coupe. Oh well...

The Capital Petanque Club recommends that you order your boules from OBUT Australia (see website) and mention you play with the club when ordering. Speak to Marcel Linares who will help you make the correct choice. The website is http://www.obutaustralia.com/