Equipment
Each player needs 2 or 3 boules (steel balls) and somebody needs a cochonnet (or jack as the British might call them). A tape rule is also needed. Social Petanque differs from international competition in that different weight boules may be used. Common "leisure" boules and junior boules do not meet the international regulations.
Boules - boules for this type
of court should be hard chromed steel or stainless steel. This is mostly a
throwing variant of Petanque and soft boules will very quickly be heavily
dented.
Size - the size and weight
are not correlated! Pick a size most comfortable for you. 74mm seems the
most common diameter. Smaller hands (like my wife) like 72mm and larger
hands like mine seem to like 76mm diameter boules. It is important that the
size is such that you can comfortably release the boule with controlled
backspin when thrown underhanded.
Weight - official boules vary
from 680gm to 800gm. Junior and some leisure boules are much lighter. I've
never seen anybody use anything over 760gm in a throwing game as suited for
this type of court. Use a weight that lets you control your throw and play
your style. Often different weights for different teammates can be an
advantage. Some individuals are very accurate with lighter boules, others
use heavy boules as "bombs" to knock other boules away.
It seems to me that individual comfort (and possible fatigue) is most
important. Most inexpensive leisure boules are 74mm and either 600gm or
700gm. They are an inexpensive way to start but 600gm is way under the
international regulations.
Patterns - well, how do you
tell whose boule is closest to the cochonnet? Boules come in a limited
number patterns and there are few US suppliers. The patterns are circular
grooves (or no pattern) on various numbers and orientation. It is very
likely you will eventually end up playing with or against someone with the
same pattern. In locations where there are many players, individuals
sometimes use paint or nail polish to fill the grooves and personalize
theirs.
See the links section for equipment vendors