Every 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.