Bocce, also known as Italian lawn bowling, is one of the oldest lawn or yard games. The word “bocce” is a plural of the word “boccia” meaning ball in Italian. “Volo,” as it is also called by the Italians, derives it’s name from the Italian verb “volare,” meaning “to fly” and refers to the manner of throwing a ball through the air in the attempt of striking away an opponent’s ball. The French refer to the sport as “Boule Lyonnaise.”
Best known in Italy, where you may see a group of retired Sicilians gathered in a town square for a daily afternoon game, bocce has been gaining popularity in the United States and other locations. Its pros: the game is simple, can be played by people of all ages and skill levels, and you can use just about anything as a bocce court.
Where to Play Bocce
Bocce can be played on any stretch of level ground—pavement, grass, gravel, hard-packed dirt (DG), a sidewalk, patio, deck, etc. Wherever your chosen court, the surface should be level, of course we recommend a synthetic turf surface for playing Bocce simply because it is easier to maintain the necessary surface and appearance.
While two people can play against each other, bocce is a great team game, simply form two teams with an even number of players — usually eight (four on each team).
How to Play Bocce Ball
To get started, you will need a bocce set, which consists of:
- One pallina (target smaller ball).
- Eight larger bocce balls (four each of two different colors or patterns).
- A tape measure, which isn’t required but is handy to settle close calls.
- An above-mentioned bocce court. Official bocce courts measure 76 feet long and 10 feet wide, but any similarly shaped space in your yard will suffice.
Top Recommended GrassTex Bocce Turf Product:
Bermuda
Bermuda is one of our most popular and versatile surfaces and comes in the following colors: Spring Green, Pine, Oyster Tan, White, Yellow, Red, Florida Blue, Clay, Brown and Black
