Just as the game has become more popular, so has the trend of the backyard bocce ball court.
The two main things to determine are the location and size of your court.
For this reason, this tutorial and the materials needed can easily be adjusted to suit your needs.
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Drainage is also important when considering materials.
For these reasons, sand or crushed oyster shells are the best options.
Tip
Take advantage of this free sod and use it to fill low spots throughout your yard.
Additionally, setting some aside to line the outside of the court once finished is a good idea.
Reinstall Strings
Once the corners are fully set in place, reinstall the string around the court.
Then, continue to mark the middle until the spot between marks is less than 6 feet long.
Add Optional French Drain
What Is a French Drain?
Depending on your specific yard, you may need to add additional pipe beyond the court for proper drainage.
The ends of the 2x6 should fall on a post to be fastened.
For the end rails, follow the same procedure and screw through the end rails into the side rails.
Repeat this process for all of the bottom rails, then again for the top rails.
If you want a more custom look, use amiter sawto miter the 45-degree corner joints.
If you’ve installed a French drain, this layer will cover the top of the drain.
If not, factor in enough gravel for a 2- to 3-inch layer.
Remove any high spots with a shovel.
Again, factor in enough decomposed granite for a 2- to 3-inch layer.
Shovel the decomposed granite onto the gravel until you’ve reached a roughly leveled 2- to 3-inch layer.
To perfectly level the granite, you oughta build a screed tool.
Next, cut a piece of plywood to a length that perfectly matches the interior width of the court.
Pack in Decomposed Granite
Use a tamper or compactor to firmly pack the decomposed granite.
Repeat the screeding process, adding and removing material where needed, and pack again.
Screed and Pack in Top Layer
This layer shouldn’t be any more than 2 inches.
Adding a little moisture as you compact can help the crushed oyster shell to pack more effectively.
Occasionally, you may need to add additional crushed oyster shell to the surface.
United States Bocce Federation.
