Insert wood screws through the 2-inch x 2-inch boards and into the 6-inch x 14-inch planks.

Backyard Bocce Ball Bocce is a superb way to spend time having fun with friends and loved ones. This time-honored activity has been played for centuries in other areas of earth. In many countries, this sport is taken very seriously as a sport. Regrettably, regulation dimension bocce courts are usually too large to fit American backyards. We have scaled this version down (click here to see the plans) to about 1/3 the regulation size, which makes it ideal for family fun.

Gather the Materials To make this bocce ball court, scoreboard and ball holder, you will need: bocce ball court programs / two 5/4-inch x 6-inch x 10-foot pressure-treated walnut planks / 2 5/4-inch x 6-inch x 12-foot pressure-treated walnut planks / 2-inch wood screws / bud cloth / shovel / paver base / decomposed granite / pea gravel / crushed oyster shell or oyster flour (optional) / stain and/or sealant as desirable / two 1/2-inch galvanized floor flanges / one 1/2-inch galvanized 45-degree elbow / 1 1/2-inch galvanized threaded pipe unitized curtain wall system installation . 1-inch or bigger (close) / one 36-inch threaded pipe / four 1/2-inch wood screws

Make the Cuts Download the bocce ball court plans, then create all necessary cuts according to the diagram.

Build the Ball Holder Attach the 46-inch plank (H) to the inside edge of the 72-inch board (F) by adding two wood screws throughout the 72-inch board and to the conclusion of the 46-inch plank. Attach the opposite end of this 46-inch board into the inside edge of the 12-inch plank (K). Attach the 13-inch board (J) to the outside of the 12-inch board by adding wood screws throughout the 12-inch plank and in the 13-inch board. The two boards should be flush to the end away from the 46-inch board and the 13-inch board should extend 1 inch beyond the joint of the 12-inch board and also the 46-inch board. To start construction on the courtroom framework, attach the ball holder into one of those 10-inch boards by inserting two wood screws throughout the 72-inch board (F) and into one end of this 10-inch board.

Building the Frame Insert two wood screws through the 10-foot board and in the 12-inch (K) and 13-inch (J) boards. Insert a 60-inch (B) board into the back of this 10-inch board and attach by adding wooden screws throughout the 60-inch board and in the 10-foot plank. Attach the other 60-inch plank to some other 10-foot board by adding wooden screws through the 60-inch plank and in the 10-foot plank. Attach the opposite end of the 72-inch board into another connected 60-inch and 10-foot planks by adding two wood screws through the 72-inch board and to the conclusion of the united 60-inch and 10-foot planks.

Completing the Frame Now attach the 73-inch board (E) into the 72-inch plank (F) by inserting wooden screws throughout the 72-inch plank and in the 73-inch board. 1 end should be flush at the finish of the 48-inch board (G) and the other end should be flush with the finish of the 72-inch board. Continue attaching 10-foot boards into the overlapping bits inserting wooden screws from the inside of the courtroom to the exterior boards. Finish with a 59-inch boards (C) on both sides of the interior of the court. In the end, attach the 58-inch board (D) to finish of both 59-inch boards (C) by inserting two wood screws throughout the 58-inch plank and to the end of their 59-inch boards. Finish by attaching a 60-inch plank (B) to the exterior inserting wooden screws in the 58-inch plank and into the 60-inch board. Safe joints by inserting two screws in the outside the 60-inch board and into the ends of the court sides.

Preparing the Ground Lay the frame out and mark the floor where you will dig using powdered chalk or flour (they'll wash away with just a lot of water). Have someone assist you move the frame from the way. With a shovel, dig the space for the framework deep enough so that at least two inches of the frame is going to be from the floor. Make the gap as much as you can.

Place the Frame Place the frame in the pit and check to be certain that it is level. Distribute the dirt within the framework evenly. It needs to be no greater than 4 inches from the surface of the framework. Add bud fabric to the peak of the ground and smooth out.

Pour Paver Base Add a layer of paver base at least 1 1/2 inches deep, which makes it as level as possible (roughly .75 cubic meters).

Add Granite Add decomposed granite into the paver foundation. You will need enough to cover the surface and at least two inches deep (about 1 cubic yard). Smooth out surface and compact it so it is quite firm.

Level it Out To make a level playing surface, attach a 5/4-inch x 6-inch x 4-foot plank the center of a scrap 6-foot plank with wood screws.

Smooth Out the Court Flip it over together with the 4-foot board inside the court and also the 6-foot board flush against the surface of the frame. Spread decomposed granite above the surface and find a helper to help you shimmy the planks back and forth from one end of this court to another to make certain that the granite is evenly distributed and level.

Fill the Ball Holder Insert bud fabric to the ball holder and fill with pea gravel (about 1.25 cubic feet) to approximately 1 inch from the surface of the frame. Distribute the dirt evenly.

Make the Scoreboard Place two 5/4-inch x 6-inch x 14-inch planks (I) side by side. Add the 2-inch x 2-inch x 10-foot boards (L) to the trunk about 2 inches from the top and bottom. Insert wood screws through the 2-inch x 2-inch boards and into the 6-inch x 14-inch planks. It's best to pre-drill these stains to prevent splitting.

Make the Scoreboard Twist the 2-inch x 2-inch x 10-inch board (M) to the front of the scoreboard by inserting wooden screws through the rear of the scoreboard and then in the 2-inch x 2-inch x 12-inch board on front.

Installing the Scoreboard Insert a galvanized floor flange into the very center of the back of the scoreboard using 1/2-inch wood screws. Attach another galvanized floor flange to the bocce court frame in which the ball holder matches the side of the court (see diagram). Screw the 36-inch galvanized pipe to the flange attached to the court and attach the 45-degree elbow towards the peak of the pipe. Add the pipe connector to the elbow and then screw the flange connected to the scoreboard onto the connector, which makes it quite tight.

Your Court is Total Since the decomposed granite settles you may want to incorporate additional, leveling the surface every time. The granite is acceptable for play, but for a smoother, quicker court you might wish to add a layer of crushed oyster shell (normally found at feed and seed stores).

The Way to Play Bocce Ball Prepared to question your friends and loved ones? Click here to find out (or find a refresher) on the principles. Good luck!