Lawn Bowling vs. Bocce Ball: Important Differences to Know

Have you ever confused lawn bowling with bocce ball and vice versa? Fret not! This article will discuss the differences between these two similar games.

I do not know if it is just me, but I consider people-watching a hobby. I just find it fascinating to watch people, especially when they are playing sports because I can see every nuance in one’s movements.

And while I often can guess the exact name of the sport from afar, it is not always the case. I often get lawn bowling and bocce ball confused. Both are fun boules games with similarities in characteristics and style.

Fortunately, I learned about the key distinctions between each sport after extensive research. Today, I will be discussing the differences between lawn bowling and bocce ball. I will also explain their similarities in more detail.

I will also go over petanque briefly because it is another sport often mixed up with bocce. 

Let us jump right into the article!

What Is Lawn Bowling?

Before I talk about the distinctions between lawn bowling and bocce ball, I would like to discuss the unique attributes of each sport.

Lawn bowling is also known as “lawn bowls” or just “bowls”. It is a sport where a ball is rolled onto the court with the goal to land it as close as possible to the target ball.

The target ball is a smaller than the one being thrown, and it’s called the jack ball or kitty. It is the first ball that players toss onto the court at the start of each game. 

When playing lawn bowl, any individual can hit the jack with their ball. It is a common strategy that moves the target and prevents the opponent from scoring as easily. 

Speaking of scoring, a player with the closest ball to the jack earns a point. It is usually easy to know which ball is nearer to the jack. But in the case it is unclear which ball won, players can use a measuring tape to determine the exact distance.

Finally, lawn bowling is a pretty old game, possibly born thousands of years ago. It rose in popularity in Europe during the 13th century. Today, lawn bowling is played in over 50 countries around the world. 

What Is Bocce Ball?

Bocce ball is similar to lawn bowling. The basic idea of the game is similar—players throw balls onto a court to try and land these balls as close to the target ball as they can. But instead of “kitty,” the smaller target ball is known as the “pallino” or “jack” ball.

Bocce can involve two to eight players, as long as the teams are even, making a great option for backyard or park games.

The team that has the closest ball to the pallino will win the round, or frame in bocce terms. They earn one point for the closest ball and an additional point for other balls closer to the jack than the balls from other team.

Furthermore, bocce is easily accessible. Players can enjoy the game on a strip of grass or sand. They can also buy a bocce ball set in sports stores and other online retailers.

Finally, bocce ball also has a long history dating back to ancient times. It is mostly popular in European countries and America today. It also hosts several international tournaments for professional players.

Lawn Bowling vs. Bocce

Now that I have discussed both bocce ball and lawn bowling in more detail, it is time to explore their similarities and differences.

What are the Similarities of Lawn Bowling and Bocce?

As you can probably tell from the previous section, bocce and lawn bowls have many similarities. I will discuss them in detail below. This way, you can better understand why both games often get mixed up.

Origins

The first similarity between lawn bowling and bocce ball is their origins. Both games date back centuries ago with almost the same history. English scientist Sir Francis Petrial discovered a painting of two boys playing a crude version of the sport in an Egyptian tomb. It involves throwing stones or coconuts with sticks as targets.

The version of bowls and bocce balls that we play today originated in ancient Rome. Both nobles, including Roman emperor Caesar Augustus, and the masses enjoyed tossing balls to a target.

Rules and Gameplay

Both lawn bowling and bocce ball have similarities in terms of rules.

The first notable resemblance is the goal of the two games. Players aim to get their balls as close to the target ball as possible. Although the names for these balls differ in each sport, the objective remains unchanged.

ItemLawn Bowling TermBocce Ball Term
Throwing ballBowl or WoodBocce
Target ballJack or KittyPallino or Jack

The gameplay flow is also similar. Teams, which consist of between one and four players, take turns throwing the ball. After all players used their shots, a point will be rewarded to the team with the nearest ball to the target. 

Some tactics used in the bowling game are also common in bocce games. These include blocking the opponent’s shots, building the head, and moving the target ball.

Equipment

GoSports Backyard Bocce Set

Bowls and bocce require more or less the same types of equipment. The balls may differ in name and size (I will discuss these later), but their principles are similar.

Both sports include a set of bowls for each team, a target ball, and in some instances, a measuring device for precise scoring after a game.

Events

Finally, the last similarity between lawn bowling and bocce is the events where they are played. The two games participate in the Paralympics and Para-Commonwealth Games.

However, lawn bowls have been a part of the Para-Commonwealth Games longer than bocce. The former joined ever since its inception, while the latter was introduced in 1984.

What are the Differences Between Lawn Bowling and Bocce?

By now, you probably know how bocce and lawn bowling are similar. It is time to look at what makes a lawn bowl different from bocce ball.

Ball Shape and Size

The main difference between bowls and bocce is the ball thrown.

Bocce balls have a perfectly round shape. They also have the same size and weight for all players. Hence, they can roll in only one direction when you throw the object ball.

Meanwhile, lawn bowls are only round on the running surface. Each bowl side features a different shape, which makes the bowls curve. They are also available in different sizes and weights to accommodate the preferences of the player. For instance, bowlers with smaller hands can choose a smaller bowl.

Technique

Lawn bowling is also different from bocce in terms of the throwing technique used.

Bocce requires players to throw or toss the ball into the air. On the other hand, lawn bowls allow individuals to roll the ball in the ground.

Bocce players also tend to toss the ball directly towards the target. However, bowlers usually aim off the center and consider the curve of the ball. Thus, individuals have to consider the playing field before bowling.

Court Surface

The playing surface in bowls is different compared to bocce ball.

Bowlers can enjoy lawn bowling indoors on a carpet or outdoors on grass or an artificial playing surface. Depending on the condition of the grass, it usually has a large effect on the game. For instance, long grass can reduce the speed and spin of the ball in a different way than bent grass.

Meanwhile, individuals can play bocce on pretty much any surface or playing field. Common bocce court surfaces include clay, concrete, grass, or sand. However, bocce ball courts must be wide and long enough, regardless if you are into casual play or professional games.

Ditch

A lawn bowling rink features ditches at each end. These have extra rules associated with them. Hence, they can add another dimension to how the game is played. For instance, you can hit the opposing team’s bowl by hitting it into the ditch.

Bocce courts do not have any ditches. Instead, the sport requires a border or wall around the court. Players can use the court border to change the angle of the balls and get closer to the jack.

Regions of Play

While both bowls and bocce are popular around the world, they are mostly played in different regions.

Lawn bowling is famous in Commonwealth countries, such as Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. 

On the other hand, bocce is more popular in mainland Europe and the United States.

Petanque vs. Bocce: What Are the Differences?

Besides lawn bowling, there is another game similar to bocce. This particular boules game is called petanque. However, they are different sports.

One of the main differences between petanque and bocce is the number of players. The maximum number of petanque players is up to three individuals on each team. In contrast, the bocce tossing game can accommodate up to four people to play.

The balls thrown in both sports are also distinct from one another. Petanque features steel balls without color. Meanwhile, bocce has resin or composite balls in two colors, usually green and red. However, both petanque and bocce still have two teams who aim to hit the small ball acting as a target.

Moreover, petanque does not require any dedicated playing area. Petanque enthusiasts can play anywhere they like, no matter the environment or surface. The same could not be said for bocce, though. It requires a smooth and even surface for playing competitively. The court size is also important to bocce, unlike petanque.

Finally, petanque has a different scoring system than bocce balls. Petanque does not allow you to hit the small ball. The game is over once you do. However, bocce lets you touch the target with the ball to make the match just as much fun.

Conclusion

That sums up the main differences between bowls and bocce! Both sports are fun to play and can bring people together. However, if you want to win in either game, it is essential to consider what makes them different. Hopefully, this article helped you learn these and more.

Read more about these different games in our favorite bocce books.

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