The Best Backyard Bocce Ball Sets
Bocce is the perfect backyard game — easy enough that anyone can play in two minutes, strategic enough that it actually gets competitive after a few rounds. But the cheap sets feel it: light, hollow-sounding balls that scuff and crack, and a flimsy case that falls apart by midsummer. A good set, on the other hand, lasts for years and just feels right in your hand. Here’s what to look for and the sets I’d actually buy.
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What Separates a Good Set from a Cheap One
Start with the balls, because that’s the whole game. Quality sets use dense, solid resin or composite balls that have real heft and hold up to hard throws and rocky ground — avoid the lightweight hollow ones that crack and bounce unpredictably. Size and weight tell you who a set is for: full 107mm balls are the official tournament size and feel substantial for adults, while 100mm sets are a touch lighter and easier for mixed ages and kids. A complete set is eight large balls (four per color), one small target ball (the pallino), and a sturdy carrying case — that case matters more than you’d think for keeping the set together.
The Sets I’d Recommend
For most families, a solid recreational set in the 100–107mm range hits the mark — durable resin balls, good color contrast, and a carry case, without overspending. A well-reviewed 107mm bocce ball set covers casual and semi-serious play alike. For families with younger kids, a lighter 100mm bocce set is easier for small hands to throw accurately. And for serious players who want tournament feel, a tournament-grade bocce set with precision-weighted balls is worth the step up.
Caring for Your Set
Bocce sets are low-maintenance, but a couple of habits keep them looking and playing new: wipe the balls down after they’ve rolled through wet or muddy grass, store them in their case out of temperature extremes, and check the pallino doesn’t go missing (it always wants to). Treated decently, a quality set is genuinely a buy-it-once purchase. Want more lawn games to round out the yard? See my roundup of classic lawn games for every backyard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bocce balls should I buy?
107mm is the official tournament size and best for adults; 100mm is a bit lighter and friendlier for mixed ages and kids.
What are good bocce balls made of?
Dense resin or composite — solid, not hollow — so they have proper weight and resist cracking and scuffing.
How many balls come in a set?
Eight large balls (four per color), one small pallino target ball, and usually a carrying case.
Buy a set with dense resin balls in the right size for your players and a case to keep it together — do that and bocce becomes the easygoing, endlessly replayable centerpiece of your backyard.
