Craig Stewart

@Kevin ORourke I bought some Geologic Alpha a couple of years ago, they are very hard at 146 kg/m2. They were on sale and didn't have many sizes to choose from but had 72/690 which I wanted to compare against 73/680. When new I found the coating to be quite slippery, for pointing they were ok and the smaller size may have helped. For shooting they did not stay like Match+/RCX/semi-soft, tended to recoil more. They do not wear/mark very much.

Paul Cornwell

Aug 6 •

General discussion

Whats the difference?

Is there any difference in how different brand boules react or do they all travel/spin/bounce/stop the same?

New comment Aug 10

Craig Stewart

2 likes • Aug 7

Have tried a variety of boule and there is a slight difference in how they interact with ground/target boule. Experimented with a very hard boule (146kg/m2) and what I noticed was that when shooting the target is hit hard, the thrown boule did not stay as much as say one of the impact absorbers e.g. RCX, it is quite noticeable after using the hard boule for a while when going back to RCX. The hard boule also doesn't wear or mark as much. The following provides a comparison of characteristics Boules Analysis – Le Treiz • Pétanque

Thor Hestas

Apr 23 •

General discussion

Correct boule size?

How do I know I have correct boule size? If I compare all manufacturers suggestions and some suppliers my ball perfect size vary from 72-75 mm. (Handlength and longfinger size guides) I have then considered OBUT is the biggest manufacturer so they have probably some experience, and then it should be 73 mm, but in the lower end handsize 82-86 mm -> 73 mm. (I saw a list where many good male player had size and weight listed , and most had 71-73 680-690) Due to my handshape I think I could gain with 72 but how do I know if that is correct size ? Is there any exercise practice to do to decide with size is the correct one or is it only based on feeling ? I started with OBUT Match 73/690 my first ball in my short career, works ok, but when do a high lob or plombing it releases to early, is it size or technique? Then I tested OBUT RCC 72/690 a used ball, but very slippery, ok when hi loob and slippery when plomb, but shooting miss left, size or technique? Now I got MS Master Inox 72/690 to test, it is a used boule so the surface have good grip. Any suggestions how to decide correct size quickly, so I can drop that mental thought and focus on playing better.

New comment May 3

Craig Stewart

3 likes • Apr 23

There are many variables that vary between people - flexibility of hand/fingers will influence how you hold/release the ball and this can change over time. Best approach as others have mentioned is try a range of sizes and different material - I find that stainless boule too slippery so prefer carbon.

Kevin ORourke

Apr 20 •

General discussion

Very interesting game with terrible tactics in my opinion

I file d this and would like you to watch the end from minute 32.40 just for that end and say what you would have done. I discussed this in depth afterwards and the teams just couldn’t agree as they were set in their mindset https://youtu.be/1wIAd3r1850?is=tmTFR_OuYbm28c1U

New comment Apr 21

Craig Stewart

0 likes • Apr 21

In each game you need to determine what would be a good point on the terrain i.e. one that you would shoot to defend or shoot if your opponent points within that range. In this case they should have shot, having watched some of the earlier part of the game pointing is quite challenging on this surface with the boule often deviating or rolling through. If they were determined not to point then I don't understand why they continued playing the same shots and getting largely the same results, on a surface like this a high lob can work well as long as you don't land on a large stone.

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Craig Stewart

@craig-stewart-4206

Petanque Player from Adelaide South Australia since 2003

Active 4d ago

Joined Jan 12, 2026

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