Bocce vs Boules: What Are Their Similarities and Differences?

Silver metal balls (or boules) on a gravel court

I get a lot of questions about the difference between bocce and boules. There are definitely a lot of similarities, but they actually don’t mean the same thing. Let’s break down what makes bocce and boules distinct from one another.

Bocce is a popular backyard game that involves rolling or throwing large balls toward a target ball called the pallino. Boule is a French word for ball and can refer to multiple similar games played with balls. To make matters more confusing, the term boules is often used to refer to pétanque which is a specific game popular in France with many similarities but important differences than the game of bocce.

Boule can also refer generically to the metal ball you must toss toward a target in a game of pétanque or other ball games. Below, we will clarify the differences between boules (or pétanque) and bocce. We will also compare petanque and bocce to help you understand the similarities between these ball sports.

What Is Boules?

Boules is a collective term from the French language that is used for various ball games that involve bowling or throwing.

The French word “boule” literally means ball. So when people say boules, they usually refer to various ball games that involve bowling or throwing.

However, some players use boules to describe pétanque. It is a specific form of lawn bowling with similarities to bocce that originated in France. 

Boule is also the name of the metal balls players throw when playing pétanque

However, boules are neither a sport nor a piece of equipment. In theory, this could refer to several ball games, like bocce and lawn bowls, also known as pétanque. In practice, if someone says they want to play boules they most likely mean that they want to play pétanque. But actually, bocce is also another type of boules game because it also is played with balls.

What Is Bocce Ball?

a small stack of bocce balls on grass

Bocce ball is a popular backyard ball sport. The word “bocce” means boss in Latin. However, it also comes from the Italian term “boccia,” which means to bowl. 

The main goal of the game is to throw eight colored balls toward a smaller target ball called the pallino. The player or team who can toss their balls nearest the pallino scores a point. And the first group to reach a pre-determined number of points wins the game.

Bocce ball is easy to set up. All you need is a flat and even surface. It does not matter if you play on grass, clay, or sand. You can enjoy bocce on various bocce court surfaces and sizes. Just make sure the playing area is long enough. Typical dimensions for backyard bocce courts are 60 x 12 feet.

Although bocce is known as a backyard game, it can also be played professionally. Official bocce leagues and tournaments require bocce courts to be 91 feet long and 13 feet wide. Besides court dimensions, they are also strict when it comes to the ball size and weight. Bocce players must throw a bocce ball 107mm in diameter and weigh 2.03 pounds.

Bocce vs. Boules: What You Need to Know

Most inexperienced players often confuse bocce with competition boules and vice versa. They usually refer to boules as petanque because both words originate in France. Plus, the balls in petanque are called boules due to their French roots.

But as previously mentioned, boules is just a term used to describe different ball sports. These include a petanque ball and bocce.

So, at the end of the day, you should not compare bocce to boules. Bocce is a form of boules or ball sport.

What Is Petanque? And How Is It Related to Bocce?

metal pétanque balls, also called boules

Petanque is a popular outdoor game in France. The goal of petanque is to throw hollow metal balls (boules) as close as possible to a wooden target ball. This target is known as the cochonnet or jack ball.

Teams consisting of one, two, or three players can play petanque. Each group has a set of boules and takes turns throwing these balls toward the cochonnet. The player or team that has their boules closest to the target ball earns points. The match continues for a pre-determined number of rounds. And the group with the highest score wins the game.

Petanque is usually played on hard dirt or gravel surfaces. However, public parks and dedicated sports facilities called boulodromes also allow you to play the game.

Petanque, mistakenly called boules, is often compared to bocce. Both sports have the same objective of throwing balls to get them near the target. They are also relatively easy to learn, making them ideal for players of all ages and skill levels. However, they also have several differences.

In the next section, we will cover the petanque vs. bocce debate in more detail.

Petanque vs. Bocce: What Are the Similarities?

Inexperienced players may mistake petanque and bocce as the same sport. After all, both games involve the use of balls and bowling or tossing motions. They are called boules sports for that very reason.

Another similarity between petanque and bocce is the game objective. Players or teams must throw the larger balls toward the small target ball to score. Individuals mostly use a traditional underarm throw to get as close to the target as possible. And prior to the match, one must toss the small ball toward the playing field.

Plus, players usually remain in the same stationary position when rolling the ball onto a specified playing area. 

Finally, both petanque and bocce require two teams. These groups should have a minimum of one player.

Petanque vs. Bocce: What Are the Differences?

Although petanque and bocce have similarities, they are completely different boules sports. Below, we will teach you the major differences between these two games.

Origins

Petanque has its origins in France. Meanwhile, bocce ball originated in Italy. That said, bocce dates back to 5200 B.C. in Egypt, where a painting of two boys playing bocce was created.

Ball

The main difference between petanque and bocce ball is the balls used.

Petanque has hollow metallic balls with 70.5 to 80mm diameter. These petanque boules or balls usually use steel as their main material. They weigh 650 to 800 grams (23 to 28 ounces).

As for the target ball, petanque uses the terms cochonnet or jack to refer to them. The jack ball is made of wood and is around 30mm in diameter.

On the other hand, bocce is known for large colorful bocce balls. These balls are available in different materials, such as wood, plastic, and metal. They also vary in size from 74mm to 107mm. Regulation-size bocce balls must be 107mm and weigh 920 grams (32 ounces). 

In bocce ball, the target is called the pallino. It is typically 50mm in diameter. It is also usually white in color to help players aim properly. 

Playing Area

The playing surfaces for petanque and bocce ball are also different.

Petanque is usually played on a hard dirt or gravel surface. The area where individuals play a single game is known as the terrain. However, a petanque court typically involves one or more terrains. These make it possible to host multiple matches for tournaments. A world championship petanque court terrain must be at least 49 feet long and 13 feet wide.

In contrast, bocce ball courts are usually made of clay or grass. However, players can also enjoy bocce on sand, concrete, and oyster shells. There are no strict rules when it comes to the size of backyard bocce ball courts. They are usually 60 feet long and 13 feet wide. However, official leagues must meet the 91 feet by 13 feet court dimensions. 

Scoring

Petanque and bocce also differ in terms of scoring and playing rules.

In petanque, the team with their metal balls closer to the cochonnet than the opponent earns points. Each metal ball is worth one point. So if you manage to toss multiple balls nearer the target than the opposing team, you get two or more points. However, only one team can score points after each round. After a pre-determined number of rounds, the group with the most points is declared the winner.

Bocce ball rewards the team who tossed their balls closer to the pallino than the other team. A player can receive one or more points. It depends on how many bocce balls they managed to get nearer the smaller target ball than the opponent. A team can also score two points if they touch the pallina with their bocce balls, known as the baci or kiss. The first team to reach a set number of points (usually 11 or 13) wins the game.

Conclusion

If you play ball sports, you probably know bocce and boules. You may also think that they refer to the same thing.

However, bocce is a backyard game that involves throwing weighted balls toward a target. Meanwhile, boule is a French word for ball. In the sports sense, it describes various ball games. It is often used as a synonym for petanque, a French lawn bowling game.

Do you have other questions about bocce, boules, and petanque? Feel free to visit our contact page to send your queries.

Related Articles