Regulation bocce balls come in four standard sizes with fixed weights. The 107mm raffa ball weighs 920 grams. The 110mm volo ball weighs about 998 grams. The 114mm volo ball weighs about 1156 grams. The petanque-derived 73mm metal ball weighs roughly 700 grams. The Federazione Italiana Bocce sets the tolerance at plus or minus 20 grams per ball and plus or minus 5 grams across every ball in a matched set.
Diameter and weight decide more than which ball fits your hand. They drive court length, throwing technique, and which league you can join. According to Encyclopedia Britannica's entry on bocce, the modern Italian rulebook splits the game into raffa and volo formats, each with its own ball specifications and court dimensions. Buying balls that match your format saves you from showing up at a club night with the wrong gear.
Key Takeaways
- Regulation 107mm raffa balls weigh 920 grams (about 2 lb 0.5 oz) and are the default for almost every American club.
- Regulation 110mm and 114mm volo balls weigh 998 grams and 1156 grams and are used in FIB international competition.
- Petanque-style 73mm metal balls weigh about 700 grams and follow boules rules, with their own throwing mechanics.
- The pallino target ball measures 40 to 60mm across formats and weighs roughly 30 to 60 grams.
- Tournament rules require every ball in a set to fall within plus or minus 20 grams of regulation weight and within plus or minus 5 grams of every other ball in the set.
107mm raffa: the American standard
Most American clubs and backyards play with 107mm raffa balls. The 107mm composite resin sphere weighs 920 grams, carries a rolling-friendly seam pattern, and matches the surface profile of crushed-oyster-shell and stone-dust courts seen at most US clubs. The Federazione Italiana Bocce sets the same dimensions for raffa worldwide so American manufacturers can match the official spec exactly.
Raffa is the most widely played bocce format. The United States Bocce Federation lists raffa under its competition rules and almost every regional league uses 107mm balls. A 4-ball set covers a doubles game and an 8-ball set lets four players compete without rotating balls between throws.
For the technical detail, the FIB raffa regulations (in Italian, cross-referenced by the Confederation Mondiale des Sports de Boules) define a 107mm diameter, 920g weight, and a hardness rating between 65 and 75 Shore D for the composite resin.
1. 107 mm Black/Orange/White Marble 4-Ball Set
Best for: adult backyard play, club training, and any buyer who wants regulation 107mm raffa specs.
This 107mm marble set hits the regulation 920 gram weight and 107mm diameter used by United States clubs. The marbled finish makes scoring easier to read from across the court. Order the 107 mm Black/Orange/White Marble 4-Ball Set for a doubles game or as a regulation upgrade to an older backyard set.
110mm volo: the smaller tournament ball
Step up to 110mm composite balls when you join a volo league or train on a groomed clay court. The 110mm ball weighs about 998 grams, slightly heavier and larger than raffa, which changes the throw. Players cup the ball and release with more shoulder drive, partly because the longer FIB volo court (27.5 meters) rewards a deeper trajectory.
Most American players see 110mm at regional FIB-affiliated clubs and at Italian-American cultural events. The 110mm size also acts as the entry size for players considering a move into volo from raffa. Switching costs the household one new set; throwing technique transfers within a couple of practice sessions.
2. 110 mm Dark Green Solid Color 4-Ball Set
Best for: volo training, club play on groomed clay, and players moving up from 107mm raffa.
This solid dark green 110mm set ships at 998 grams per ball, the standard volo weight referenced in FIB regulations. The matte finish reduces glare on a stone-dust court. Order the 110 mm Dark Green Solid Color 4-Ball Set to start volo practice without overcommitting to the heavier 114mm spec.
114mm volo: the heaviest regulation ball
The 114mm volo ball weighs about 1156 grams, the heaviest regulation size in international play. Italian and French volo championships use 114mm, and the ball is designed for partly aerial throws onto a hard groomed surface. The added weight provides a flatter, more predictable bounce and lets the thrower control finer placement at distance.
Recreational players rarely need 114mm. The set requires shoulder strength, a regulation court, and patience for the slower pace of competitive volo. Restaurant and bar bocce locations almost never use 114mm because casual players cannot throw the ball comfortably enough to enjoy the game.
According to Olympics.com's overview of boules sports, volo sits under the boules disciplines that the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognizes, and FIB volo events represent the highest level of bocce competition outside the Olympic Games themselves.
3. 114 mm 8 Bocce Ball Set Bundle
Best for: serious volo competitors, club teams, and players training for FIB-style tournaments.
This 114mm 8-ball bundle covers up to four players in a doubles match at the heaviest regulation weight. Eight balls let two two-person teams compete without rotating gear. Order the 114 mm 8 Bocce Ball Set Bundle when you need full tournament specs for a club roster.
73mm metal: the boules family entry point
Outside the three composite raffa-volo sizes, the smaller 73mm metal ball belongs to the petanque and Italian metallic boules family. Each metal ball weighs roughly 700 grams. The size and lighter weight make 73mm popular for children, travel, beach play, and adult players with grip or wrist issues.
Both 73mm metal balls and 107mm composite balls often get labeled simply as bocce on retail listings, which confuses buyers. Strictly speaking, the 73mm metal set follows French petanque rules: throw from a small circle, aim at a smaller pallino, and avoid rolling. American backyards often blur the difference and use 73mm sets on grass with bocce-style rolling, which is fine for a casual game even if it would not pass at a CMSB-sanctioned event.
4. 73 mm Metal Bocce/Petanque 6-Ball Set
Best for: three-player or six-ball games, beach trips, travel, and senior players who prefer a lighter ball.
The 73 mm Metal Bocce Petanque 6-Ball Set includes six chrome boules and a pallino, weighing roughly 700 grams per ball. Six balls fit a three-player rotation or a doubles game with a backup pair. Order the 73 mm Metal Bocce/Petanque 6-Ball Set for a travel-friendly metal set.
Weight tolerance and the pallino spec
Tournament play does not just specify the headline weight. The Federazione Italiana Bocce manual requires every ball in a regulation set to fall within plus or minus 20 grams of nominal weight and within plus or minus 5 grams of every other ball in that set. A weigh-in scale and a calibrated caliper are standard equipment at every official match.
The pallino (the small target ball, also called the jack) follows its own rules. Raffa uses a 40 to 45mm pallino weighing roughly 30 to 40 grams. Volo uses a 40mm pallino weighing 30 grams. Backyard sets ship with a pallino of about 50mm and 60 grams, large enough for the longer rolling throw on grass.
The full FIB technical manual lives at federbocce.it and is the document your league inspectors reference if a ball is challenged. Whenever you buy a set for tournament play, ask the seller for the actual measured weight rather than the nominal label.
How specs interact with court surface
Specs only make sense in context. A 920 gram raffa ball that rolls true on oyster shell can hook unpredictably on long grass; a 1156 gram volo ball that flies on clay will sink into uncompacted sand. Choose the size your court can support: lighter 73mm balls for grass and gravel, 107mm for backyard oyster-shell or stone-dust courts, 110mm or 114mm only on groomed clay or stone-dust tournament courts.
If you are sizing a backyard build, our companion guide on bocce ball size by age and skill level walks through which size fits which player. Match the ball to your household first, then your surface.
Why buy from BuyBocceBalls
We stock every regulation size from 30mm mini sets to 114mm tournament volo, with composite balls made in the USA and metal sets sourced from the same European foundries that supply French petanque clubs. We list real measured weights on each product, ship within one business day from our domestic warehouse, and back every set with a one-year manufacturer guarantee.
Browse our complete bocce ball sets collection to compare sizes, colors, and counts side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How heavy is a regulation bocce ball?
A regulation 107mm raffa ball weighs 920 grams (about 2 lb 0.5 oz). A 110mm volo ball weighs about 998 grams. A 114mm volo ball weighs about 1156 grams. Weight has to stay within plus or minus 20 grams of nominal and within plus or minus 5 grams across every ball in the set.
What size bocce ball is used in tournaments?
American clubs use 107mm raffa balls for most tournaments. International FIB events use 110mm or 114mm volo balls. The Confederation Mondiale des Sports de Boules publishes the rules for both disciplines, and your league will tell you which size to bring.
What is the difference between raffa and volo balls?
Raffa balls measure 107mm and weigh 920 grams; they roll along a shorter 20 to 24 meter court. Volo balls measure 110mm or 114mm, weigh 998 or 1156 grams, and use longer 27.5 meter courts with partly aerial throws. Raffa is the casual format; volo is the senior competition format.
How big is the bocce pallino?
The raffa pallino measures 40 to 45mm and weighs 30 to 40 grams. The volo pallino measures 40mm and weighs 30 grams. Most backyard sets ship a slightly larger 50mm pallino because it is easier to see at a distance on grass.
Do all balls in a set need to weigh the same?
For tournament play, yes. FIB rules require every ball in a matched set to fall within plus or minus 5 grams of the others and within plus or minus 20 grams of the nominal regulation weight. Backyard play is more forgiving and a small variation will not affect the game.
