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The game of bocce ball is among the oldest in the world. It started in Italy and began gaining popularity in the United States when Italian immigrants brought it with them. It goes by a few different spellings, such as bocci or boccie in Italy, or bocha or bochas in South American countries. However, the game remains the same. The gist is that a small ball called the jack or pallino is tossed into a small zone, and the larger balls are tossed in an attempt to get them as close as possible to the pallino.
Bocce balls come in various sizes to best match the intended players or for other reasons, such as being smaller for easier travel. The balls in tabletop bocce ball sets can be as small as marbles, but most measure between 65 and 107 millimeters. Official regulation-size bocce balls must measure 107 millimeters, but most sets don’t quite hit that mark.
Along with varying sizes also comes varying weights. Depending on the size and the material, bocce balls can weigh as little as 9 ounces to as much as the regulation weight of 2.03 pounds.
Bocce balls can be made of several types of material.
Bocce balls typically come in at least two colors per set, though there can be up to four. Typically, the colors are red and green, with yellow and blue popping up on occasion, too. Some balls can also have markings to differentiate between teams and players or might have only markings and no color at all.
Most bocce ball sets include a storage/carrying case. They are typically made of one of three materials.
As bocce ball is a game of distances, most bocce ball sets also include a method of measuring said distances, like a fabric tape measure or a string. You can also use a tape measure.
Low-priced bocce ball sets can cost as little as $15 and are usually made of plastic. Midrange sets can cost up to $100 and can be made of wood, metal or resin. High-end bocce ball sets can cost $300-plus and are usually made of the highest-quality resin.
Amazon Basics Bocce Ball Set
These balls are 100 millimeters and are made of a poly-resin composite. There are four each in the colors red and green, plus a pallino, a measuring device and a helpful carrying/storage case.
Baden Champions Bocce Ball Set
The main balls in this set measure either 90 or 107 millimeters, are made of poly-resin and come four each in red and green. The pallino is either 50 or 60 millimeters and there is a measuring device and a storage bag.
Available at Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Franklin Sports Bocce Ball Set
The balls of this set are made in Italy and from wood. They can be either 90 or 100 millimeters and there is two each of the colors yellow, blue, red and green. The pallino is 40 millimeters.
The balls of this set measure 100 millimeters and there are four each in the colors red and green, but two each of each color have square or circle markings to make it easier for team play.
Available at Amazon and Home Depot
GoSports Backyard Bocce Ball Set
This set stands out for its colorful, glossy balls which can be made of rubber or resin. The four included colors make it possible to play in four teams or two.
Available at Amazon and Home Depot
GoSports LED Bocce Ball Set
When it’s too hot during the day for bocce, use these LED-light-containing balls to play in the coolness of the evening. There’s one each in the colors green, red, blue and yellow and they can be 85 or 100 millimeters.
GoSports Travel Bocce Ball Set
These miniature bocce balls are perfect for playing while camping or in the park. They measure only 65 millimeters and weigh just 9 ounces each. The set also includes a tote back.
GoSports Tabletop Bocce Ball Set
This tabletop bocce set is perfect for rainy days or for teaching younger kids the rules with less chance of them fumbling heavy balls. The table has color-matching score tabs on the sides for easy tracking.
Hey! Play! Bocce Ball Set
This poly-resin set mimics the feel and look of a more expensive set and works well for casual players and especially for beginners. There’s a red-and-green and a petanque set.
Available at Amazon and Home Depot
Jordan C. Woika is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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