How to Play Bocce
The Hone Dogs love playing Bocce and we also love teaching others to play. We all have Ph.D.'s in Bocce theory from Hone Dog University (sign up now for the Fall quarter). Here is a quick and dirty lesson on how to play Bocce so that you too can fall in love with this beautiful game. The rules described here are basically the United States Bocce Federation (USBF) "Open Rules" which are what we use in St. Helena. For a more thorough and complex description of the various styles of Bocce play, in addition to the St. Helena rules you can click here:
Rules and Regulations.
Equipment A set of Bocce balls consisting of eight large balls (four of which are of a different color, usually green and red). In addition, there is a smaller object ball called the "Pallino" (or sometimes the "jack") which is usually white or yellow. Also, a scoreboard and tape measure are often used. See our award-winning
Bocce Equipment page for a more detailed description.
A typical set of red and green Bocce balls, a pallino and carrying bag
Playing Surface
The playing area can be an established Bocce court with side boards and back walls, or a reasonably flat and level surface that consists of packed dirt, fine gravel, short grass or even packed or loose sand. While some people prefer to play on a manufactured court, a gravel driveway or backyard make acceptable playing surfaces.
A standard Bocce court
Players
The game is played with two teams; each team can have one, two, or four players
Four Player Team - each player throws one ball
Two Player Team - each player throws two balls
One Player Team - player throws all four balls
Object
The object of the game of bocce is for one team to get as many of their balls closer to the pallino than the opposing team's closest ball.
Play
A toss of a coin determines which team will start. The team that wins the coin toss gets the choice of either throwing the pallino first or the color ball they will play with. The team that chooses to throw the pallino then rolls his/her first ball as close to the pallino as possible. It is now up to the opposing team to roll a ball closer to the pallino than the starting team.
If the opposing team uses all four balls and fails to get closer to the pallino than the starting ball, the starting team rolls each of their remaining three balls, trying to place them closer than the opponent's closest ball.
However, if the opposing team succeeds in placing one of their balls closer to the pallino, the starting team must then roll again to attempt to get closer or "better the point". Each team continues to roll until it beats the point of the opposite team.
While the object is to get close to the pallino, it is permissible for a player to roll his/her ball as to knock an opponent's ball away from the pallino. Likewise, a player may knock or move the pallino toward his/her own team's balls. The pallino is playable anywhere on the playing surface.
Scoring
When all balls have been played, this concludes the frame and ONE team is awarded one point for each of its balls that are closer to the pallino than the the closest opposing team's ball. Thus, one team may score up to four points per frame. If the closest ball of each team is equal in distance from the pallino, NO points are awarded. The team that scores in a frame starts the next frame by throwing out the pallino and playing their first ball. Play continues until a team wins by reaching the established final score, usually 12 points (but it can range between 10-16).
Here is an example of 3 points for green b/c all three
green balls are closer than the closest red ball.
Now mosey on over to our
Bocce Equipment page for a continuation of this discussion and a more in-depth look into the nuances of the game and the various kinds of specialized items it takes to play Bocce.