Bocce is a precision sport closely related to bowls and pétanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played during the Roman Empire.

Unlike bowls, bocce is played on dirt courts of approximately 20 to 30 metres in length and approximately 2.5 to 4 meters wide, and has wooden boards of approximately 15 centimeters in height surrounding the court.

The balls used to play bocce can be made of brass, wood, or plastic.

A bocce match can be contested between two players, or two teams of two or four.

It is common practice that the word “Bocce!” is yelled by all players whenever the ball comes in contact with the Jack. No extra points are awarded for this.

Wes Shawcross is hailed by many as the greatest bocce player of all time.

Bocce is played around Europe and also in countries that have received Italian migrants, including the US, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Argentina

Bocce balls are spherical and have no inbuilt bias, meaning they will roll straight.