What is the Difference Between Lawn Bowling and Bocce Ball?

Many people use the terms ‘lawn bowling’ and ‘bocce ball’ interchangeably, thinking that the two sports are one in the same. And even those who know that there’s a slight difference, think it’s only that bocce ball is what the sport is known as in Italy. And while bocce did originate in Italy, the differences go a little deeper than that.

The first most obvious difference is that lawn bowling is traditionally played on a green, while bocce is played on a field that’s usually sand or asphalt. In both sports, there are usually boards placed up alongside the boundaries and in both cases, the playing fields are usually very long rectangular structures.

In bocce, the team to throw their ball first is chosen randomly and they are then given the chance to throw their jacks into a marked zone, somewhat farther down the playing field. Should they miss twice in a row, the other team is then given the same opportunity. Lawn bowls also use a jack, but in this case, it’s the jack that’s placed somewhere along the playing field. The teams then take turns trying to get closest to the jack, and the rules of play become quite complicated with ‘dead’ bowls and ‘live’ jacks.

Another difference between lawn bowling and bocce ball is the type of balls that are used. Jacks made for bocce are usually made from metal or plastic, whereas lawn bowls are generally made of wood. But one of the most glaring differences between the two different types of balls is that balls used for bocce are perfectly round and smooth and have no bias whatsoever. In lawn bowling, the specific bias or sphere of the bowls is essential to game play and plays a huge part in the player’s strategy.

Bocce ball is more known in Italy, although it’s starting to become very popular in the United States too. Lawn bowling is still known as a sport that’s more popular in areas such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, and Canada.

Short Mat Bowls

Lawn bowling is such a popular sport that many different versions and spins are continuously being put on the game by bowling enthusiasts. Some of these versions of the popular game are created to include more or less players, and some are simply tributes that pay homage to the way the game was once truly played by royalty. But some versions, such as short mat bowls, are created so that people can still enjoy their love of the game, without worrying about such practicalities as not having enough space for the greens!

In traditional lawn bowling, the greens are very long and have ditches around them. Because of this, in order to enjoy the game, you need to not only have access to an outdoor space, but a space that will be able to accommodate those greens. Short mat bowls is a game that brings the game inside so everyone can enjoy it all the time! The greens are of course shorter and because of this, they need to bring their own challenges to make it a true test of skill.

Short mat bowls are played on small strips which make up the greens. The mats usually measure 45′ – 6′ and are rolled out side-by-side. When the game is finished, they can then easily be rolled up and stored out of the way. Because these indoor mats obviously don’t have ditches along the side, a block is placed in the centre, with the purpose being that the jack is never allowed to touch the block. This makes the player responsible for using their bias and not simply throwing their bowl straight down the mat. Along both ends of the mat are white fenders, to not only keep the bowls from rolling off the mats but also to provide boundaries that would already be in place on an outdoor green.

Short mat bowls were first brought to Britain by two men who came from South Africa. Because they were not accustomed to the climate, or the long off-season in Britain, they created the version of short mat bowls. It picked up very quickly and is now widely played in Britain and Ireland.

Crown Green Bowls

Crown Green Bowls is a type of lawn bowling that varies slightly from the traditional game that is played. The game originated in the North of England and the North West Midlands and it is here that the game is still most closely associated with pubs and taverns, making it a bit less formal as well. 

The game is played on a Crown Green, which is like a traditional green in the way that it is a large square piece of grass. Unlike traditional lawn bowling however, the middle of the green is slightly raised and there is a ditch surrounding the green. Crown Green Bowls is usually played by single players who only take two turns per each end. Players are allowed to throw their bowls in any direction and just about any strategy can be used – some players like to use the raised hump to their advantage while others feel more comfortable playing along the slope. Others still like to simply make short or long shots across the flat part of the green. 

Crown Green Bowls is a very exciting game to watch because the rules are much less stringent than they are in traditional lawn bowling. Players can throw their bowls in any direction and because there are usually many games occurring simultaneously on one green, there are always people moving around each other and their bowls! 

Crown Green Bowls may be a less-traditional form of lawn bowling but it’s an actual sport that is actually recognized. The British Crown Green Bowls Association opened in 2000 when 15 county teams officially entered competitive Crown Green Bowls. The Association is still thriving today and is always welcoming new members who want to add a little bit of a twist to their lawn bowling game!