World Bowls describes outdoor greens as usually 35 to 40 meters long, with rinks about 5 meters wide; each bowl weighs about 1.5 kilograms and curves by its bias. USBF Open Bocce uses eight balls plus a pallino, with tournament balls 106 to 107 millimeters across and 900 to 920 grams. Choose by the playing format and space you can set aside.
Both games aim to finish close to a small target, but their equipment and playing areas are different. Lawn bowls uses a biased bowl delivered along a green; USBF Open Bocce uses a set of eight balls and a pallino on a marked court.
Compare the game and playing area
| Game | Equipment and layout |
|---|---|
| Lawn bowls | Bowls weigh about 1.5 kg and curve toward the jack. Outdoor greens are usually 35 to 40 m long, with rinks about 5 m wide. |
| USBF Open Bocce | A set has eight balls and a pallino. Tournament balls are 106 to 107 mm and 900 to 920 g. The official court is 86.92 ft by 13.12 ft; unofficial courts can be smaller. |
World Bowls describes players delivering bowls from a mat toward a jack at the far end of a rink. The built-in bias makes a bowl travel along a curve. The USBF Open Bocce rules set out a different ball format and court layout. Its Open Bocce overview says that unofficial courts can be smaller and that the format is played in backyards and on beaches.
Choose the format that fits your yard
- Choose lawn bowls if you have a long, flat green and want the curved delivery and rink format described by World Bowls. Its typical outdoor green length is 35 to 40 m, so measure the open lane before planning a full layout.
- Choose USBF Open Bocce if you want a set of eight balls, a pallino and a court format that can be adapted for casual play. The federation permits unofficial courts smaller than its listed tournament dimensions.
- Check the exact set and rules. Bocce products vary, while World Bowls and the USBF describe different equipment and play formats. For ball dimensions and court-building details, see bocce ball sizes and court dimensions.
For another comparison between bocce and a boule game, see pétanque vs bocce. For a different lawn game with measured field layouts, read backyard vs nine-wicket croquet rules, or browse ball games.
Sources
Common questions
How much space does lawn bowls need?
World Bowls says outdoor greens are usually 35 to 40 meters long, divided into rinks about 5 meters wide.
How large is a USBF Open Bocce court?
The USBF Open Bocce rules list an official court at 86.92 feet by 13.12 feet and allow unofficial courts to be smaller.
Are bocce balls and lawn bowls interchangeable?
The equipment differs: World Bowls describes bowls at about 1.5 kilograms each with a curved bias, while USBF tournament bocce balls are 900 to 920 grams.
Can Open Bocce fit a smaller backyard?
The USBF allows unofficial courts to be smaller than its tournament layout, so agree on a casual layout before play.