General Info

• 1 game consists of 3 matches.
• Each match consists of 4 throws per participant. So each participant will get 12 throws per game.
• Whoever gets the best 2/3 matches wins the game.
• It may sound crazy, but it will quickly become a favorite activity for your family, friends, or coworkers!

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

The toss of a coin determines which team will start. The starting team chooses which color (or pattern) ball they will play with.

The first team member throws the pallino and 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 pallino than the starting ball, the starting team rolls each of their remaining 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 which is closer to the pallino than the closest opposing team’s ball.

Thus, a 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 a score of 7 points

It’s a race to hammer your nail flush with the stump. Sounds pretty simple but watch out! It’s addicting!