Bocce Pallino Size

Bocce Pallino Size featured photo

Bocce has gained love and traction as a fun and casual backyard game in recent years. Though widely enjoyed as a leisure game with friends and family, you might be curious about standards and guidelines including the official bocce pallino size and weight.

According to the CIB, the pallino in official games and tournaments is 4 cm in diameter with a 1-mm tolerance and should weigh 90 grams with a 7-gram leeway. The heavier and bigger bocce balls are 106 mm to 107 mm in diameter and 900 grams to 920 grams in weight.

Only official games, tournaments, and leagues are required to strictly adhere to these ball weight and size standards. If you’re only playing casual games, you have more room for adjustments. It’s also important to weigh in who your players are when shopping for a new bocce ball set.

The Official Size and Weight of Bocce Balls

Bocce is a ball sport that has gained immense love and popularity from players worldwide in recent years. It also has a lot of history, with its earliest form dating back to Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire.

Much of its modern form can be attributed to Italian pioneer players who came up with the game’s official regulations and standards for gameplay that we know today.

Similar to other sports and games, bocce ball has official standards when it comes to the size and weight of the balls.

Pallino Ball Size

The pallino – also called the jack or pallina – is the small ball in a bocce ball set. This is the target ball in the game that players aim to toss and throw their bocce balls to.

The team with the closer bocce ball to the pallino than the opposing team’s closest ball will win all and any eligible points for that round.

The pallino is not exactly a “playing” ball so their size and weight may often be overlooked. However, it also has a standard size and weight according to the guidelines set by the International Federation for Bocce (Fédération Internationale de Boules or FIB), the Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale (CBI), and the United States Bocce Federation (USBF).

According to the CBI, the pallino in official tournaments and games should be 4 cm in diameter with a 1-mm tolerance and weighing 90 grams with a 7-gram tolerance.

Bocce Ball Size

In a bocce ball set, there are eight larger bocce balls, which the players toss and throw during the game.

These often come in varying colors, designs, lines, and patterns to help players differentiate what belongs to their team and the other team whether you play on grass, sand, or gravel playing site and court. You can read more about the different patterns and lines in bocce balls and what they mean in our previous guide here.

According to the CBI, bocce balls should have a diameter of 106 mm to 107 mm with a leeway of  +/- 0.5 mm. Women can opt for 106 mm diameter balls instead if they choose to. The official standard weight is 900 grams to 920 grams with a leeway of +/- 0.5 mm.

Why Do I Need the Right Bocce Ball Sizes?

If you’re more than a leisure bocce player and would want to improve your playing skills with every game you play, bocce balls with the right regulation size and weight will be helpful.

Using the right equipment in the game, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, will help hone your skills and improve your game. This could prepare you for more official tournaments if you see yourself taking the game more seriously.

Additionally, bocce balls in the right size and weight could make even casual games more fun and competitive.

Why are There Different Bocce Ball Sizes?

If you find yourself looking for bocce ball-playing sets to buy, you will notice that they are typically available in varying sizes and weights.

Now you may be wondering why they are available in such variations when there is already a set guideline for standard weights and sizes.

The main reason for these variations is to accommodate players and games of all ages, levels, and athletic abilities.

Kids and younger players would fare better with balls that are smaller and lighter. The same goes for older people who might have trouble carrying and throwing much heavier balls.

Adult bocce enthusiasts would prefer other sets closer to the game’s official ball weight and size standards so they could feel like they’re playing in official tournaments.

Who will use and play bocce ball is one essential factor you should keep in mind when shopping for a new bocce ball set. The reviews for specific sets can tell you which players can benefit from them.

Conclusion

Bocce is a beloved game by millions across the world. And though it’s enjoyed by many as a fun, casual backyard game, there are still official guidelines for official games, including the standard bocce pallino size.

For official games and tournaments, the pallino should be 4 cm in diameter with a 1-mm tolerance and weigh 90 grams with a 7-gram tolerance. Bocce balls, on the other hand,  are larger and should have a diameter of 106 mm to 107 mm and weigh 900 grams to 920 grams.

Of course, if you’re playing only casually for fun, you are not required to stick to these official guides and standards. Which bocce sets you should buy would vary based on your players, their age, and athletic ability.

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