There is no single best bocce ball set. There is the best set for tournament play, the best set for backyard weekends, the best set for kids, and the best set for someone who plays twice a summer at a beach house. Those are four different purchases. This guide walks through the choice that actually matters, matching the set to how you will use it, and gives one honest recommendation per use case.
We sell bocce sets, so treat this as a shop-of-record talking about its own catalog. That said, we test every set we carry against how it plays on real grass, packed clay, and oyster shell, and we return the ones that don't hold up. The recommendations below reflect what our team actually uses in league play, at home, and in gifts to family.
The quick answer. If you're serious about league or tournament play, buy the EPCO 107 mm Tournament Set. If you want one set that covers backyard weekends with friends and family, buy the 110 mm 8-Ball Bundle. For kids ages 5 to 10 or petanque-curious travelers, the 73 mm Metal Petanque Set is the right entry.
How we picked
We evaluated the sets we carry against five criteria. Weight consistency across the eight balls in a set (regulation tolerance is around 2 grams; we accepted 5 grams for backyard tier). Sphericity under caliper measurement, since out-of-round balls curve unpredictably on any surface. Surface durability after 100 hours of play on packed clay. Color visibility at 60 feet on both grass and shell surfaces. And value per year of expected use, calculated from manufacturer warranty periods and internal wear testing. A set had to score in the top quartile on at least three criteria to make this guide.
For broader context on how bocce equipment is regulated, the United States Bocce Federation publishes tournament specs, and the Federazione Italiana Bocce maintains the international standard. Our top picks meet both.
Top picks at a glance
| Set | Best for | Size | Price | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EPCO 107 mm Tournament Black & White |
USBF league & tournament play | 107 mm · 920 g | $389 | 20 to 25 yrs |
|
110 mm 8-Ball Bundle Red & Green |
Backyard casual, family play | 110 mm · 780 g | $273 | 10 to 15 yrs |
|
73 mm Metal Petanque 6 balls, silver |
Kids, travel, petanque | 73 mm · 680 g | $89 | 15 to 20 yrs |
For tournament and league play: the EPCO 107 mm
The EPCO 107 mm is the set our team uses in every USBF-sanctioned event we play. It is made in Rhode Island, weighs the regulation 920 grams, and hits the tolerance windows required for sanctioned competition. The black-and-white colorway is our default recommendation because contrast at 60 feet matters more than aesthetic preference once you are in league play. A red ball against a green ball against a grass court is genuinely hard to read from the throwing end at dusk.
What actually distinguishes this set from mass-market alternatives is weight consistency across the eight balls. We measured a $99 recreational set alongside this EPCO. The recreational balls varied by 47 grams across the set, which is 5.9% of total ball weight. The EPCO varied by 3 grams, which is 0.3%. That difference shows up in every close frame. If you are competing, this is the set.
EPCO 107 mm Tournament Set, Black and White · $389 · Ships from RI in 1 to 2 days · USBF-recognized. Regulation 920 g. Includes 8 balls, pallino, and tournament-grade bag. Not the right choice if you play less than 10 times a year. The 110 mm bundle below gives you 80% of the play for 70% of the price. For a full breakdown of EPCO's other colorways, see our EPCO Colorways Compared.
For backyard weekends: the 110 mm bundle
Most of the people who buy from us are not competing. They are playing 15 to 30 games a year in their yard with the family and want a set that feels good, looks good, and lasts. The 110 mm bundle is our recommendation for that person. It is slightly larger than regulation at 110 mm versus 107, a little lighter at 780 g versus 920, and easier for a mixed group of adults, teenagers, and older players to throw comfortably.
Larger diameter matters more than most casual buyers expect. Hands that struggle to comfortably palm a 107 mm ball do fine with 110 mm because the extra 3 millimeters give the fingers a better anchor point. The reduced weight also means the ball is easier to control for players who are not throwing tournament-strength distances. Coverage of backyard-tier bocce in Wirecutter's outdoor recreation guide lands in the same price range, though they weight portability higher than we do. If you are specifically playing at the beach or on vacation, our travel bocce guide covers lighter sets that pack better.
110 mm 8-Ball Bundle, Red and Green · $273 · Ships in 1 to 2 days · Includes bag and pallino. Complete kit for backyard doubles or mixed group play. Larger balls, lighter weight, easier for kids and older players to handle. Not the right choice if you are playing sanctioned tournaments. The 110 mm size disqualifies from USBF regulation events.
For kids and travel: the 73 mm metal petanque
The 73 mm metal petanque set is our answer for two audiences. Kids ages 5 to 10 whose hands cannot comfortably palm a full-size bocce ball. And travelers who want a set that packs into a duffel. It is a real petanque set, the French cousin of bocce, but the game plays close enough to bocce that it works for casual family play. The metal construction is more durable than kids' plastic sets, and at $89 it is low-commitment.
For kids specifically, our Best Bocce Sets for Kids and Family guide covers the age-by-age fit in more detail. The short version: 73 mm from age 5, 110 mm from age 10, 107 mm regulation from age 14 or once they can consistently throw 60 feet without arm strain.
Sets we do not recommend
Under $60, quality drops off a cliff. We tested three under-$60 sets from major online retailers this year. Two had visible seams in the balls that affected roll, and one had a pallino that was measurably out-of-round when checked with calipers. If your budget is under $60, our honest advice is to wait, borrow a set to try the game first, and save toward the 73 mm petanque at $89. It is a real bocce experience at nearly the same price.
We also do not recommend plastic recreational sets from mass-market retailers as a first purchase. They work as an introduction, but the balls compress unevenly over 20 or 30 games and the pallino tends to lose its shape. If you enjoy the game with a borrowed or plastic set, upgrade to metal on the next purchase rather than replacing plastic with plastic.
What about Italian imports?
Perfetta and other Italian-made brands are legitimate tournament-tier sets. They are excellent equipment with real heritage. They also cost 10 to 20 percent more than the USA-made EPCO equivalents and typically ship in 2 to 4 weeks because they clear customs. For most US buyers, EPCO is the practical choice on price and speed. For buyers who specifically want the Italian heritage story, see our Best Italian-Made Bocce Ball Sets guide, which covers the tradeoffs honestly.
Frequently asked questions
What size bocce ball is regulation?
107 mm is the tournament regulation size, weighing 920 grams. 110 mm is a common backyard size that is slightly larger but not tournament-legal.
Do I need 8 balls or is 4 enough?
4 balls is enough for singles play (2 players). 8 balls covers doubles (2 vs 2) and works for larger group games where you rotate. Most buyers should get 8.
What is a pallino?
The small target ball, roughly 50 to 60 mm, that players aim at with the bocce balls. Every set should include one; check before you buy.
How long should a bocce set last?
Tournament-tier EPCO sets last 20 to 25 years with typical use. Backyard 110 mm bundles last 10 to 15 years. Under-$100 metal petanque sets last 15 to 20 years. Cost-per-year favors the tournament sets for anyone who plays regularly.
Should I buy the same set as my friend's league team?
If you are planning to compete in the same league, yes. It removes any ambiguity about which balls are which. Otherwise, buy the set that fits your play frequency and budget.
