All About Bocce Balls

Get some friends together and bocce!

Whether you are a beginning bocce player, a weekend enthusiast, or a seasoned tournament player, you have several options to consider when buying bocce balls.

Getting started

Before you start your bocce game, you'll need to purchase the basic equipment, including bocce balls, a pallina, and an optional measuring device.

A set of bocce balls consists of eight balls, four of one color and four of another. Bocce balls can be made of brass, compressed wood, or various kinds of hard plastic. Each ball has a distinctive color or stripe pattern to help players identify their particular ball.

The small ball in a set of bocce balls is called a "pallina." It is the first ball thrown in a match and is used to determine scoring.

Normally, a measuring device is reserved for serious players or tournament play and is rarely used in backyard bocce since most distances in recreational games can be judged with the naked eye. But there are times when a measuring device is needed to settle measurement disputes.

Different strokes for different folks

Bocce balls are differentiated by their size, their price, and their suitability for play by different age groups. Because bocce is a game enjoyed by young and old, every member of your family may want to join in the fun. It is important to buy bocce balls light enough so that the youngest members of your family can throw them comfortably. 

80mm bocce balls are ideal for young children between the ages of three and seven because they are lightweight and easy to throw or roll. Older children, depending on their strength and athletic ability, may find 90mm or 100mm bocce balls more comfortable.

If your goal is family fun, 100mm or 107mm bocce balls are a good choice. These sizes roll easily in areas of mixed terrain, such as backyard grass or beach sand and won't be so heavy that they discourage recreational players.

Serious tournament players most often opt for bocce balls in 107mm or 110mm sizes that have been endorsed by the International Bocce Association. These larger, heavier bocce balls are best suited for play on regulation bocce courts. 

Remember, you aren't required to spend a lot of money to enjoy bocce.  There are bocce ball sets for any budget. To enjoy a game of bocce all you need is a group of friends and a set of bocce balls.

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