Is any synthetic jack allowed in FIPJP competition play?

This post is a short summary. See also our post on Rules governing the jack.

Q: Is any synthetic jack allowed in
   FIPJP-approved competitions?
A: NO. 

The requirements for a synthetic jack to be allowed in competition play

In order to be allowed in competition play, a synthetic jack must be both “approved” and “legal”.

1. APPROVED The FIPJP document called Fabricants de Boules: Labels des Boules et Buts agréés en compétition contains a list of the models of synthetic jacks that are approved (agréés) by the FIPJP for use in competition play. In order to be approved for competition play, a synthetic jack must be on this list. As of April 2024, the only synthetic jacks on the list are the VMS resin jack and the Obut “black jack”.
    
2. LEGAL Article 3 of the FIPJP international rules for the sport of petanque specifies size and weight requirements for jacks. To be legal, a jack must be between 29 and 31 mm in diameter and weigh between 10 and 18 grams.

Commercially available synthetic jacks

As of April 2024, four models of synthetic jacks are commercially available.

1. The VMS resin jack is approved but not legal. This jack, available in multiple bright colors, was introduced in 1996 as a promotional gimmick for VMS’s new tortue (“tortoise”) boules. It weighs 20g, which means that it is too heavy to be legal.
   
2. Obut’s “black jack”, which was introduced in 2013, is approved but not legal. It is made of hard epoxy resin mixed with iron filings. It is paramagnetic, which means that it can be picked up with a magnet. It weighs 22g, which means that it is too heavy to be legal.
   
    
3. The Geologic “red jack” (from Decathlon, a sporting goods retailer) is legal but not approved. It is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with a solid iron core that makes it paramagnetic. It is 29.5mm in diameter and weighs 17g.

   It meets the size and weight requirements in the rules, but Geologic hasn’t sought official approval for it. The Decathlon webpage states— Use restriction: This jack cannot be used in official competitions.

4. Geologic also sells bright fluorescent yellow, non-paramagnetic, “recreational” jacks. These jacks are legal but not approved. They are 29mm in diameter and weigh 11g. They meet the size and weight requirements in the rules, but they are designed for recreational use (like leisure boules) and Geologic hasn’t sought official approval for them.

Note that your local rules may allow some of these jacks in social play. When the VMS and Obut epoxy resin jacks were introduced, safety concerns got them banned from official competitions. Similar concerns have not been raised about the Geologic jacks, which weigh less and are made of a different synthetic material.

If you want a paramagnetic jack for use in social games, we recommend Geologic’s red jack, or making your own magnetic jack.