15 min read
The best gift for a petanque player starts from what they own: if they are equipped, give a useful accessory, some kit or an engraved item; to help them improve, choose a video programme or a coaching course. But boules, the most tempting gift, should be chosen with them.
ContentsShow contents11 parts
- What gifts suit a petanque player, and at what price?
- What do you give a petanque player who already has everything?
- Which gift to choose for their profile and your budget?
- Giving petanque boules: good or bad idea?
- Which accessories will a petanque player enjoy?
- What kit should you give for playing petanque?
- What about an original, personalised or funny gift?
- What to give a dad, a woman who plays or a child?
- Giving a petanque coaching course: who is it for?
- Frequently asked questions
- In summary: which gift should you choose?
What gifts suit a petanque player, and at what price?
A gift goes down well with a petanque player when it is used in every game, dresses them for the terrain, carries their name or helps them improve. Here are our eight gift ideas for petanque players at a glance; each one is covered in more detail further down. Prices for the items were checked on 3 November 2026 at Obut and Bouloddo.
- Our programme as a gift (€299): it brings our coach Jean-François’s method, on video, to the player who already has everything or wants to improve.
- A bag (€25 to €52): it carries the boules, the jack and the tape measure to the terrain.
- A chamois cloth and a 2-metre tape measure: the first wipes boules and hands, the second measures points too close to call by eye.
- A throwing circle and a jack allowed in competition: for a licensed player, a folding circle must be approved by the international federation, and the jack must not be magnetic.
- Kit for the terrain: a polo shirt (€35), a cap (€20) or a jacket (€69) will go down well, provided you know their size.
- A personalised gift: a bag or a jack engraved with their name or initials.
- A set of soft indoor boules (€59 to €118): the whole family can play in the living room without damaging the floor.
- A coaching course with Jean-François: the player learns on the terrain, and our coach watches their throw up close.
Steel boules, on the other hand, are not on this list: we explain why further down, and how to give them anyway. Our petanque equipment section also brings together all our equipment advice.
What do you give a petanque player who already has everything?
A petanque player who already has their boules, their bag and their kit rarely needs yet another thing: what they are still missing is a method for improving. Our training programme, which you can give as a gift, brings them Jean-François’s method on video, to follow at home and at their own pace.
Jean-François, our FFPJP-qualified coach, who is also a mental performance coach, shares more than 40 years of petanque experience in it. The programme is made up of 7 modules: Fundamentals, including choosing your boules, then Physical preparation, Stance, Throwing technique, Pointing, Shooting and Mental preparation. It is for every level, from beginners to experienced players, and can be watched at any time on a phone, tablet or computer.
7modules, from fundamentals to mental preparation
1year to activate the gift code
In practice, the player will learn the different ways to point (the rolling point, the half-lob, the high lob) and to shoot (the running shot, the direct hit), then the routines, focus and managing emotions that make the difference in competition. Every video can be watched again as often as they like, and programme updates are included.
This gift suits the player who wants to point more accurately, shoot more consistently or cope better with the pressure of a competition. For someone who only gets their boules out on holiday, a game for the whole family will probably go down better.
Everything is done online, on the page for giving the programme, for the price of the programme (€299), in four steps:
- You buy the programme as a gift and receive a gift code, which the player can activate at any time within a year.
- You personalise the gift card (a PDF file with a QR code) by adding your message.
- You pass it on however you like: by forwarding the email, by sending the link by text, or by popping the printed card under the tree.
- The player then activates their programme in one click, using this code.
Nothing is sent by post: as soon as you have personalised the card, you receive the gift and the PDF card by email, ready to pass on. You will find the details of the videos on our training programme page.
Would you rather give something physical? The rest of this guide covers the other ideas, from boules to personalised gifts.
Which gift to choose for their profile and your budget?
The right petanque gift depends first on the player’s level: a beginner lacks basic equipment, a licensed player needs equipment allowed in competition, and a competitor is mostly looking to step up a level. And budget is no obstacle: a few euros are enough for a genuinely useful gift.
The table matches each profile with the ideas that hit the mark and the pitfalls to avoid.
| Profile | Ideas that hit the mark | To avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Bag, chamois cloth, 2-metre tape measure, then a first set tried in the hand | Leisure boules, which are not approved, if they are thinking of getting a licence |
| Weekend player | Boule lifter, folding chair, indoor game for the family | Competition equipment they have no use for |
| Licensed club player | Approved folding circle, approved jack, competition kit | A magnetic jack, refused in competition |
| Competitor | Gift card from a specialist shop, coaching course, work on the mental game | Boules chosen for them |
| Player who has everything | Our programme as a gift, coaching course, item engraved with their name | Yet another gadget |
The pitfalls linked to competitions come from the official FIPJP rules (opens in a new tab), set by the international federation and applied in France by the French federation (FFPJP); we go into them further down.
On a small budget, our price checks of 3 November 2026 at Obut and Decathlon turned up several ideas at €20 or less: a microfibre cloth (€2), a circle (€5), a boule lifter (€7), a pouch for the boules (€13) or a cap (€20).
In these price checks, an approved set of three competition boules costs from €45 to €320. But it should be chosen with the player, and here is why.
Giving petanque boules: good or bad idea?
Giving petanque boules is risky when the player hasn’t chosen them themselves. As Jean-François points out, the diameter is chosen to suit the size of the hand, the weight to suit the position (a pointer often plays a heavier boule than a shooter), the hardness to suit the terrains you play on. And in the end, it is the feel in the hand that decides. So the best thing is to let the player choose, or at least to work from the measurements of their current boules.
Many friends and relatives think of boules first and choose them by eye, won over by the shine of stainless steel, the black of carbon or a pretty groove. Yet a set that is too big, too light or too hard for its owner stays at the bottom of the bag, however beautiful it is. A boule is chosen with the hand, not with the eyes.
Why the feel in the hand decides everything
In our programme, Jean-François stresses the point: hand measurements give a guideline, but it is the feel of the grip that has the final say. He gives the example of Philippe Suchaud, a multiple world champion, who has always kept 72 mm boules even though the size of his hand would have pointed him towards 75 mm.
To find that feel, Jean-François advises borrowing several sets from friends who play and comparing weights, diameters and metals before buying. Nobody else, however close, can do this testing for the player.
What if you are set on giving boules?
If you are set on giving boules, two options stop you choosing the wrong set: a gift card from a specialist shop, or treating the player to a trip to the shop. You only lose a little of the surprise.
| Solution | Surprise | Risk of getting it wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Boules bought blind | Total | High: size, weight, hardness |
| Their measurements taken on the quiet, then the purchase | Total | Medium: how the boules feel in their hand is still unknown |
| Gift card from a specialist shop | Partial | Low: they choose for themselves |
| A trip to the shop as a gift, to try boules together | Low | Very low: they try before buying |
To take their measurements on the quiet, look at their current boules: the FIPJP rules of play (opens in a new tab) require the trademark and the weight to be engraved on them and to remain legible. As for the diameter, ask one of their clubmates. If they play in competitions, choose an approved set, in metal, from 70.5 to 80 mm and from 650 to 800 g, as the same rules require.
For a beginner who doesn’t have any boules yet, Jean-François recommends an all-round first set: 73 mm, 700 g, stainless steel, semi-soft, with one groove. Adapt this choice to the player’s hand with the help of our guide to choosing petanque boules, or watch Jean-François go through these criteria in our video on choosing boules, in French (opens in a new tab).
Sometimes the best gift is teaching the player to choose for themselves. In the “Fundamentals” module of our training programme, Jean-François devotes a video to choosing your boules, from measuring your hand to the density of the boule: the player will then be able to choose their next set knowing exactly what they are doing.
Which accessories will a petanque player enjoy?
The petanque accessories that go down well are the ones used in every game: a bag to carry the set, a chamois cloth to keep boules and hands clean, a 2-metre tape measure to measure the point and, for a licensed player, a circle and a jack allowed in competition. They have another advantage: you don’t need to know the player’s measurements.
Jean-François counts most of these items as part of a player’s basic equipment; here is what each one is for, and what to check:
- A bag In leather or canvas, it carries the set, the jack and the tape measure.
- A chamois cloth It is used to wipe boules and hands between ends (the rounds that make up a game).
- A 2-metre tape measure It settles close points without argument, and Jean-François strongly recommends having one.
- A folding circle It is handy on any terrain, but a licensed player needs one approved by the FIPJP.
- An approved jack It is made of wood or synthetic material, and never magnetic if it is to be used in competition.
- A magnetic boule lifter It saves bending down at every end, a real comfort for the back.
- A folding chair Jean-François lists it among the equipment for sunny games.
The official FIPJP rules (opens in a new tab) set precise requirements for the circle and the jack: a circle placed on the ground must be rigid, with an inside diameter of 50 cm, and a folding model is only allowed if it is approved by the international federation. The jack measures 30 mm and weighs 10 to 18 g, and it must not be possible to pick it up with a magnet. Our guide to the rules of petanque also explains what changes between a friendly game and a competition.
To keep score without a notebook, our online point counter opens on your phone, and there is nothing to buy.
What kit should you give for playing petanque?
Petanque kit makes a good gift if it is worn on the terrain: a breathable polo shirt, a cap for games in the sun, a jacket for winter, and enclosed shoes, which the FFPJP administrative and sporting rules (opens in a new tab) require in competition. For clothing, you will of course need to know their size.
These rules, in their 2026 version, require shoes enclosed on top, at the front and at the back, ban vest tops and rule out clothing with holes, sequins or loud multicoloured patterns. For a licensed player, it is therefore better to give kit they can wear in competition.
Jean-François adds a cap and sunglasses to a player’s equipment, so they are not bothered when the sun is beating down. To compare polo shirts and sizes, have a look at our guide to Shilton petanque kit: it also explains what the rules allow in competition.
What about an original, personalised or funny gift?
An original petanque gift often comes down to a personal touch, such as initials engraved on a new set, or a bag or a jack marked with their name. A book or a comic about petanque, or a joke item for friendly games, also makes a change from the usual.
For a personalised gift, engraving has a little-known advantage: Article 2 of the FIPJP rules (opens in a new tab) allows the player’s first and last names, or their initials, to be engraved on the boules, along with logos or emblems, in line with the FIPJP specifications for manufacturing boules. The simplest way is to ask for it when ordering the set, if the manufacturer offers it as an option.
For a funny gift, a bucket hat or a slogan T-shirt will raise a smile among the people they play with, especially if it gives a nod to Fanny: in France, losing 13–0 is called “faire Fanny”, an expression every player knows. A collector will appreciate painted jacks or jacks in the colours of different countries.
What to give a dad, a woman who plays or a child?
A petanque gift for a dad, a woman who plays or a child follows the same logic as for any player: start from their level and what they already own. A few ideas do stand out depending on the person, from a boule lifter for a grandad to smaller boules for a licensed child.
For a dad or a grandad
For Father’s Day or Christmas, go for comfort and keepsakes: a boule lifter that is kind to the back, or a bag engraved with his initials. If he replays every missed end over dinner, the programme or a coaching course will give him the means to improve. You could also point him towards our guide to improving your petanque, from training to the mental game.
For a woman who plays
There is no petanque gift “for women”: a woman chooses her boules, her bag and her kit using the same criteria as a man, starting with the size of her hand and her position, whether she points or shoots. Our training programme and our coaching courses are for women and men alike.
For a child or the whole family
For a licensed child, the FIPJP rules (opens in a new tab) make an exception: in competitions for young players aged 11 or under in the current year, they allow boules of 600 g and 65 mm, provided they come from an approved brand.
For the family, think of a set of soft indoor boules: you can play with them in the living room without damaging the floor, and they cost from €59 to €118 in our price checks of 3 November 2026.
Giving a petanque coaching course: who is it for?
Giving a petanque coaching course suits the player who likes learning on the terrain, with a coach watching their throw up close. Jean-François runs our course: to find out about formats and availability, just fill in the form on the coaching course page.
The course and the programme complement each other: the course happens on the terrain, and the programme then lets them go over each technique again at home, as many times as needed. A course takes a little planning: find out more before announcing it under the tree.
Frequently asked questions
What should you give a petanque player if you don’t know what to choose?
If you know neither their measurements nor what equipment they have, go for a gift that doesn’t depend on either: a gift card from a specialist shop, so they can choose for themselves, or our programme as a gift, which is for every level and whose gift code can be activated at any time within a year. An accessory used in every game, such as a 2-metre tape measure or a chamois cloth, is also a safe bet.
What is the best-selling petanque boule?
As far as we know, no public figures identify the best-selling petanque boule. In any case, the best-selling model would not necessarily suit the hand of the player you want to spoil: for them, the boule’s diameter and weight matter far more than its popularity.
Which boule does Dylan Rocher use?
In our video on choosing boules (opens in a new tab), published in 2022, Jean-François explains that Dylan Rocher moved from 73 mm to 74 mm boules in 2018, to get a better feel. Giving a champion’s boule only makes sense if it suits the hand of the person receiving it.
How long does a petanque boule last?
A steel petanque boule lasts for many years. As Jean-François reminds us, stainless steel doesn’t rust, and carbon holds up if it is wiped, oiled and stored somewhere dry. In competition, a boule must be replaced when wear erases the trademark or weight engraved on it, because the FIPJP rules (opens in a new tab) require them to stay legible: it is a good excuse to give a new set, to be chosen with the player.
In summary: which gift should you choose?
A good gift idea for a petanque player starts from their level and what they already own. It might be an accessory used in every game, kit allowed in competition, an engraved keepsake or a coaching course to learn on the terrain. Boules, though, should be chosen with them. And if they already have everything, give them what no object can replace in our wonderful game: a method for improving, with our programme as a gift.
This programme is not sports instruction within the meaning of the French Sports Code. It is informal educational support, designed to enrich your personal practice of petanque, with no individual supervision and no qualification awarded.
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