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Aug 18 2010

Lighted Bocce Ball Set

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Playaboule Deluxe Glo Bocce Ball SetEvery time we have an afternoon BBQ, we pull out our bocce ball set. Bocce is such a simple game that no one ever feels too intimidated to play, so the lines of teams calling “next!” seems to never end… until it gets too dark to see the little pallina jack anymore! How many times have you played bocce ball in the afternoon and suddenly discovered you couldn’t really see the balls that well anymore? It becomes especially difficult to see the jack in tall grass in the dark, making the game more crap shoot than skill.

Fortunatelly, bocce ball set designers have come up with a solution – lighted bocce ball sets. They are often powered by LEDs (light emitting diodes) that are visible for much farther than you can probably throw the bocce balls. Lighted bocce balls are designed a little differently because they require a plug for the battery.

When you look for a lighted bocce ball set, here’s what you want to look for:

  • Everything you’d look for in a regular set – good diameter size, comfortable weight, solid construction, durable carrying case
  • Flashing and non-flashing plugs, so you can pick which one you want. Flashing makes it easier to see but sometimes people don’t like the constant flashing if it’s not necessary. A convenient way to turn the lights on and off is important too, you don’t need it to flash during the day.
  • A reliable warranty. Since these aren’t single piece bocce balls, they are more liable to break or crack. A good warranty, at least a year for the balls and 60 days for the lights and electronics.
  • Uses standardized batteries – you don’t want to have to go back to the same store to purchase special batteries. These are usually powered by watch batteries that you can buy in bulk online.

There aren’t too many Lighted Bocce Ball sets for sale but one that meets all the criteria I look for is made by Playaboule. The Playaboule Deluxe Glo Bocce Ball Set costs less than many un-lighted bocce ball sets.

Aug 12 2010

Bocce Ball Regulation Ball Size

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The Bocce Standards Association says the International Standard bocce ball diameter is 107mm (4.2 inches) with a weight of 902 grams (2 pounds). The International Standard for the pallino, or jack, is 40mm.

When it comes to recreational play, bocce balls will range in size anywhere from 100mm to 115mm. Pallinos will range in size as well, with as small as 40mm and as large as 60mm. In general, buy a set you will be comfortable playing as it will usually be within reasonable range of the International Standard. For children, it’s often better to buy a smaller diameter set, for their smaller hands, and lower weight.

Mar 23 2010

The Most Frugal Lawn Game: Bocce Ball

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The best Bocce ball sets can run you hundreds of dollars but if you wander into your local Target or Wal-Mart, chances are you can find this fun lawn game for around $25 with taxes. That’s because bocce ball is a very simple game without any breakable objects. It requires no setup, hardly any cleanup (you need to pick up the balls!), and you can play with a single set for years without having to replace any pieces.

With badminton, the shuttlecock can wear down or break after repeated use. The net requires quite a bit of setup and the rackets bend and break easily, especially if you switch them hard. Dive for the shuttle and you might break it on the ground.

Crochet? Fun game, but you can break the clubs or bend the gates. It’s also going to be slightly more expensive than a bocce ball set.

Bocce ball is fun, easy to understand, and cheap, making it my pick for the most frugal lawn game.

Sep 21 2009

Best Bocce Ball Set

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What is the best bocce ball set available? That answer depends on where you will be playing. If you are playing in a field or on an official bocce ball course, you’ll want to get a tournament set that’s

Affordable Tournament Bocce Ball Set

If you’re playing on an actual field and what an official set, I think you can’t go wrong with the Premier 107mm Bocce Set manufactured by Halex. Normally it’s $89.99 retail but for a limited time it’s on sale for only $56.98 at BocceBallSets.com.

The 107mm refers to the size of the player’s balls, which come in the usual green and red. The pallino, or jack, is yellow and 60mm. The balls are made of durable resin and it comes with a heavy-duty storage bag strong enough to carry the set. This is the standard tournament size and works great in the grass. I prefer the yellow pallino because it’s easier to see in the grass, compared to white, but that’s just personal preference.

Best Beach Bocce Ball Set

It’s debatable whether you need a whole new set just for playing at the beach but that’s a matter of personal preference. Beach bocce ball sets are usually smaller, lighter, and water-filled. Since you are going to be less competitive (or not!) and more family friendly, the lighter weights and more colorful balls make for a much more enjoyable time. Sportcraft makes a Beach bocce ball set that retails for less than $25.

There are four pairs of 100mm bocce balls (compared to the 107mm in the tournament set) and a 41mm white pallino. The white pallino may make for a little difficulty at the beach but you can always color it something else. The lighter balls make it easier for children to play and the balls are made of molded plastic.

Best Indoor Bocce Ball Set

Did you know they made indoor bocce ball sets? One company, named Boho, does. The Boho Indoor Bocce Ball Set is a little pricier, $159.99 retail and $99.98 on sale, but it’s the only one of its kind that I know of.

The balls are made of wool felt and come in purple and green, four of each. The pallino is white with the same swirl pattern. They don’t provide any sizes for the ball but considering the fact this is to be played indoor, chances its not a big deal what size they are, right? The fun of these sets is in playing indoors – you get to use all the obstacles to your advantage.

There you have it, the best tournament bocce ball set, the best beach bocce ball set, and the best (only?) indoor set. Have I missed anything?

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Apr 15 2009

Bocce Ball Throwing Technique

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Throwing Bocce BallsThere are many ways to throw a bocce ball but how you throw it will depend on what you’re trying to achieve, the playing surface, and where the jack is resting. If you’re playing on a surface that doesn’t provide much movement after a ball lands, such as in sand or oyster shells, then it’s less important to arc the throw. If you’re playing on grass or a stiffer surface, where the ball is more likely to roll after landing, then height is more important because you want more force coming down to help stick the ball.

There are two basic characteristics in a throw: height and spin.

Height

The higher the throw the ball, the less likely it will roll when it hits the ground. The higher it arcs, the greater the force with which it will hit the ground. On soft surfaces like sand, it probably won’t move at all when it hits the ground because it will dig into the sand. On grass, where it won’t dig in as far, there’s a greater chance it will roll.

Think about what happens when you roll the ball, that’s when you put no height. It keeps on rolling until it runs out of energy right? Well how high you throw it will determine how much energy is in rolling and how much is in height.

Spin

Spin will, in part, determine how the ball will roll. Remember, if you’re throwing forward, the ball will tend to roll forward regardless of its spin. If you put forward spin, it will roll farther. If you put backspin, the backspin will slow the ball down initially and it won’t roll as far. If you want to plant the ball firmly where you land it, the best strategy is to throw it high and put backspin on it.

To throw it with frontspin, hold the ball in the palm of your hand with your hand below the ball. As you throw it, the ball will naturally spin towards the jack. If you want more spin, flick your fingers at the last moment and it will add some additional spin. It’s much like rolling a ball, except you’re giving it a little bump.

To throw with backspin, grip the ball in the palm of your hand but keep your hand above the ball, as if you were holding a cane. As you throw it, the ball will naturally have a backspin or no spin at all. If you want more spin, again flick your fingers at the last moment.

Practice!

As you can see, these aren’t difficult concepts to master but the key is to get used to the weight of the balls you’re using. There are other techniques you can use, such as throwing the bocce ball like a baseball or shotput, but they lack the consistency you get with a more controled technique. Aslo, bocce balls are heavier than baseballs, much heavier, and you risk injury to your shoulder and rotator cuff if you try to throw it like a baseball.

(Photo: locusolus)

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Apr 08 2009

Ultimate Bocce Ball

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Here’s an entertaining video about how to play bocce ball using your typical home rules. If you’re not familiar with the game, watching this 2 minute video will explain everything you need to know about it. One word of caution, these are home rules and not the official bocce ball rules, where you play on oyster shells and have other similar requirements (and the guy can get a little bit irritating).

You may have variations on the rules even in your home game. For example, the video says one point per round, we like to play multiple points that are awarded to the balls closes to the jack. If you have two balls closer than your opponent, you score two points. You’re welcome to do whatever you like though, it’s just a game!

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Apr 03 2009

Boules Family of Sports: Pétanque and Boule Lyonnaise

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Did you know that Bocce Ball is in the “boules” family of sports? Before you start getting all crazy on me, Boules is just the name given to games that are played with metal balls. Bocce’s is close cousins to two other games, Pétanque and Boule Lyonnaise, and it’s interesting to read the differences.

Pétanque

Pétanque is an ancient game in which you try to throw metal balls as close as you can to a cochonnet, their name for a jack. The game is played on dirt or gravel, rather than oyster shells, and the starting position has your feet together inside a small circle, thus restricting your physical movement. The game originated in Provence, located in southern France, and Pétanque means “feet together” in the Provencal dialect of Occitan.

Boule Lyonnaise

Boule Lyonnaise is yet another French boules game and considered the oldest. It is also played in Italy under a different name, Volo, with bronze balls rather than metal. The game is thought to have originated in Lyons and the rules differ greatly from Petanque in that players are expected to take running starts.

It’s interesting to see how a simple concept, throwing larger balls and getting them as close as possible to a jack, can have so many variations!

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Mar 26 2009

Bocce Ball Sizes – 80mm to 115mm

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Bocce BallsBocce balls come in a variety of sizes ranging from 80 mm all the way to 115 mm. The “size” refers to the diameter of the Bocce ball, with the measurement referring to the width of the ball. An 80 mm ball means that the ball is 80 millimeters wide. Since the balls have uniform consistency and weight, the weight will increase with the width of the ball.

International Standard/Tournament Regulation Balls: The International Standard ball used in international play is the 107 mm (4.2 inches) ball weighing 920 grams, or about two pounds. The Pallino/Jack, which is less important, has no official regulation size but the International Standard size is 40 mm.

What size should you get? If you’re a recreational player, any size between 100 mm and 110 mm will do. Children may find it easier to use a smaller ball, under 100 mm, and tournament players probably want to use between the regulation 107mm and the maximum of 115 mm. As for Pallinos, the only recommendation is that you get a larger one if you play on lawns so that you can see it in taller grass.

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Mar 22 2009

Crushed Oyster Shells Bocce Mix

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Crushed Oyster ShellsIf you want to build a legal Bocce ball playing field, you’ll need to find some Crushed Oyster Shells to put on the surface. You’ll need quite a bit of crushed oyster shell, sometimes called oyster shell flour, but how much will depend on how evenly and how thick you spread the mixture.

There are several places you can buy the mix:

  • eBay has a few sellers of crushed oyster shells, but they are mostly for fishtanks and come in 10-20 lb. bags.
  • Home Depot/Lowes, or your local home improvement shop, should carry crushed oyster shells in 50 lb. bags if you ask around. I recommend this method because shipping a 50 lb. bag can get very expensive.

Personally, I think using sand is sufficient but if you want the true Bocce Ball experience, you’ll want to get crushed oyster shells… especially if you’ve put in all the time and effort it takes to build your own field!

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Mar 18 2009

Do I Need A Beach Bocce Ball Set?

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Spalding Water Filled 100mm Bocce SetShort answer: No… unless your regular bocce ball set is a really nice one that you don’t want to get damaged.

Beach bocce ball sets differ from “regular” bocce ball sets in one of two ways:

  • More colorful: Rather than the dark reds and greens of a standard set, beach bocce balls are typically more lively versions of red, orange, yellow, and blue. They’re designed to stand our more in the sand and the colors fit better with the liveliness and aloofness of the beach. In most other respects, they’re the same.
  • Filled with water: Some sets are designed with portability in mind, so they are lighter to carry and the balls need to be filled with water before you can play. They are usually colorful too, much like other beach bocce ball sets.

Do you need a special beach bocce ball set? I don’t think you do. Having fun lively colors is great but do you really need to spend a hundred dollars on yet another set just because the colors are more lively? I suspect not. The standard colors are just as easy to see in the sand. As for the ones filled with water, I think that you can find someone willing to carry the heavier balls. I’ve seen water filled bocce balls crack and be rendered useless, then you’re stuck with an incomplete set which can be a hassle (though water-filled sets are usually very cheap – this Spalding Water-Filled 100mm bocce set is a mere $13!).

When would you want one? If you have a really nice bocce ball set that you don’t want to get scratched or grimed up by taking it to the beach, you might want to get a beach set so you don’t unnecessarily damage your good set. A nice set doesn’t come cheap so you’ll want to preserve it for as long as you can.

If you want a cheap colorful set, consider this Family Starter 90 mm Bocce Gift Set that retails for under $25 or visit eBay for a full selection of bocce ball sets.

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