Pétanque (French pronunciation: ​[petɑ̃k]; Occitan: petanca [peˈtaŋkɔ]) is a form of boules where the goal is to toss or roll hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (literally piglet) or jack, while standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground. The game is normally played on hard dirt or gravel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9tanque
In general, the smaller your hand the smaller the boule. Pointers usually prefer smaller boules and shooters usually prefer larger ones. The International Pétanque Federation (FIPJP - Federation International Petanque & Jeu Provencal)) only allows boules with diameters from 2 3/8 and 3 1/8 (70.5mm to 80 mm). To determine the size of a boule, measure your throwing hand in centimeters from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your middle finger.
https://www.playaboule.com/How_to_choose_petanque_balls.aspx
Things to consider when buying your first set of competition boules. This page contains information for the American player who has decided to purchase his/her first set of competition boules. For our specific recommendations based on this information, see the recommendations on our page for beginners.
https://petanque.wordpress.com/select-boules/
Boules games, broadly speaking, are games that involve rolling or throwing balls toward some sort of target. The category includes such games as (French) petanque, (Italian) bocce, (English) lawn bowling, and (American) bowling. Boules games have a very long history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9tanque
Features to consider when choosing boules ▲. Considerations related to the boule’s physical composition include: the material (carbon steel or stainless steel) the hardness (how elastic or “bouncy” the boule is) the finish (for carbon steel boules… chrome finish, matte chrome finish, no finish)
https://petanque.wordpress.com/select-boules/
For the casual/leisure player the groove patterns greatest value is in distinguishing which boules belong to which players when it is time to add up the score. For this reason most leisure sets are sold in groups, 3 boules each with 1, 2, 3 or 4 grooves.
https://www.playaboule.com/How_to_choose_petanque_balls.aspx
The Game & Rules. Petanque is extremely simple, just like horseshoes. There's a target, and you have to get as close to it as possible. What makes it so appealing, is that you can be way ahead for a while, yet lose a second later, or vice versa. Because nothing is decided until the last player plays the very last boule.
http://petanqueamerica.com/game.html
BOULES (Pétanque) 1  The game of boules, otherwise known as pétanque , is perhaps the sport that is closest to French hearts. Similar to British lawn bowling or Italian bocce , the French version is traditionally played with metallic balls on a dirt surface beneath plane trees, with a glass of pastis at hand.
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Sports/DF_boules.shtml
The only really essential equipment is a set of three steel boules. A set costs anywhere from US$5 for a rusty old set you may be lucky enough to come across to US$120 for a competition set. To be legitimate for competition play, a boule must conform to the following specifications:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Sports/DF_boules.shtml
Petanque vs Bocce. We are often asked what the difference is between bocce, the Italian bowling game and petanque. The difference is right there: traditional bocce is more of a bowling game, whereas petanque is more of a tossing game, like horseshoes.
http://petanqueamerica.com/game.html
what is boules petanque
Boules petanque is the game of boules.