Petanque ball size chart

To get the most enjoyment from a game of petanque, it is important to play with a boule that is adapted to your hand shape and finger length. Use the Petanque Ball Size chart to find the perfect diameter for your Petanque set.


Tip from Obut 

  • The most common diameter for a man: 74 - 75 mm
  • The most common diameter for a woman: 72 - 73 mm


A diameter you choose according to your game:

  • the pointeurs choose a small diameter, harder to hit for the tireers
  • tireers choose a larger diameter, which makes it easier to hit the opponent's boule.

The boule hardness

Tip from Obut

  • The boule hardness + is the best boule for the modern offensive player.
  • The better players, and especially the tireers, prefer softer boules.
  • The semi-soft boule the most versatile on any terrain, both to shoot and place

Hardness + boules

  • A new technology, exclusive to Obut!
  • The <hardness + > boules are created from steel with high internal spring strength and an immersion hardening procedure unique in the world, developed to strongly dampen resonance in the boule.
  • As a result, the boule hardness + has excellent damping capacity, for example on a very hard surface, on a "plombé" (or high throw), and provides less rebound when shooting iron on iron.
  • For the better petanque players, pointeurs or tireurs, this boule allows an attacking game to stand out better on difficult terrains.

Semi-soft boules

  • Considered the most versatile boule for any terrain, whether <tirring> or <pointering>, this boule offers top performance with low surface marking.
  • This is the ideal boule for the "milieu" and at jeu provençal.

​Soft boules

  • The softer the boule (with the hardness close to, but never lower than 110kg/mm²), the less it bounces on a hard ground, and the less rebound at a carreau (which is a big game advantage).
  • Damages more when shocked

The boule weight

Tip from Obut

  • The most common weight for a man: 700 - 730g
  • The most common weight for a woman: 680 - 710g


A weight you choose according to your game:

  • Pointeurs prefer a heavy boule because it stops faster,
  • In contrast, tireers prefer a light boule because the throw is more accurate when it requires less force.

The boule Striage

These, along with the exclusive triplet number, serve to separate the boules during a game.

Tip from Obut

The pointeurs prefer boules with striage:

  • they give a better grip on difficult terrain
  • Are better suited to give the pitch effect

Tireurs, on the other hand, prefer smooth boules because they do not stick to the hand and slide off better.

​Other than that, it is a matter of feeling and personal preference!

Contest

To accommodate all petanque players, Obut has a very complete boule range, available in all competition-approved weights and diameters, for a great choice that adapts to every player's hand.