Bocce Ball: Setup, How to Play & Scoring

If you’re looking for a yard game that’s fun for all ages, bocce ball is the perfect thing to play. Bocce ball (also known as bocci or boccie) has been popular since Ancient Egyptian and Roman times, and it’s still a relaxing way to fill your afternoon. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through all the rules from setting up to winning the game!

Bocce Ball Overview

Earn points by throwing your team’s bocce balls closer to the pallino ball than your opponents.
The starting team throws the pallino past the halfway mark on the bocce court.
The starting team tosses one of their bocce balls to get as close to the pallino as possible.
The opposing team tries to throw their ball closer to the pallino.
Turns continue with whichever team is not closest to the pallino until all the bocce balls are thrown.
The team with the closest bocce ball scores 1 point for every ball closer to the pallino than their opponents.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Set Up Bocce Ball

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1
Get a bocce ball set. A standard bocce set typically contains 4 green balls and 4 red balls. It also includes a smaller ball, called the pallino, also known as the pallino or jack.
- Bocce balls come in different sizes based on skill levels. Use smaller bocce balls if you’re a beginner or playing with children. Stick to regulation-size bocce balls with a diameter of 107 mm (4.2 inches) and weight of 920 g (~2 lbs) if you want to play more professionally.
2
Split into 2 teams with equal players. You can play bocce with 2, 4, 6, or 8 players. Give each team all the balls of a single color.^{[1]
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- If you play with 3 players per team, then one person will get to go twice each round, or frame.
- Avoid playing with teams of 5 or more because not everyone will get to throw bocce balls during the frame.
- If your bocce ball set comes with 4 different colors, give each team all the balls with the same pattern engraved in their surface.
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3
Play on or set up a bocce court. Play on a constructed bocce court for the most official game. If you don’t have access to a court, then find a flat grassy area and stake the corners of the court.^{[2]
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- Mark a foul line about 3 meters (10 ft) from the ends of the court if they aren’t already there. Players cannot step past the foul line when they toss a bocce ball.
- Place a regulator peg in the exact center of the court to mark the halfway point. This marks the minimum distance players have to toss the pallino during each round. If you don’t have a peg, just have all the players agree on how far everyone needs to throw the ball.
- If you want to build a bocce court, regulation sizes are a maximum of 4 meters (13 feet) wide and a maximum of 27.5 meters (90 feet) long. Give your bocce court a raised barrier that’s about 20 cm (~8 in) high.
As an alternative, randomly decide which team gets to throw out the pallino first.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Play Bocce Ball

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1
The starting team throws the pallino to the other end of the court. Any player on the team may throw the pallino. They get 2 opportunities to throw the pallino past the half-court line. If the team fails to get the pallino across half-court or crosses the foul line during their throw, the other team tosses the pallino instead.^{[4]
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- In some professional or tournament games, you must toss the pallino so it lands in a 5 m (16 ft) zone that ends 2.5 m (8 ft) from the far end of the court
- If you're not playing bocce on a court, throw the pallino wherever you want. Just be sure to decide on a minimum distance with the other players.
2
The starting team throws the first bocce ball toward the pallino. Any player on the team that threw the pallino can take their turn. Players must stand behind the foul line during their turn. To throw the ball, players can either toss it underhanded into the air or roll it on the ground. Try to get the bocce ball as close to the pallino as possible.^{[5]
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- If the bocce ball hits the back wall of the court or goes out of bounds without touching the pallino, then it’s considered a dead ball and removed from the court.
- If a player crosses the foul line during their toss, then they lose their turn and the other team gets to go instead.
Any one player from the opposing team can take their turn. The goal is to get the ball closer to the pallino than the starting team.
4
The team furthest from the pallino throws the next ball. If the starting team is still closer to the pallino, then the opposing team takes another turn. If the opposing team is closer to pallino, the starting team takes their second turn.^{[6]
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- If you toss a ball closer to the pallino than another ball, it’s considered “inside.”
- Try to hit the pallino or another team’s ball when you toss your bocce ball. This can push your opponents further away or nudge the pallino closer to one of your balls.
5
Switch the throwing team when a ball gets closer to the pallino. Any ball that’s closer to the pallino than the previous closest ball is considered “inside.” Whichever team is “outside” takes their turn. After all 8 balls have been thrown, the frame ends.
- A team may take multiple turns in a row if they’re not able to throw a ball “inside.”

Section 3 of 4:

How to Score Bocce Ball

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1
Measure which team's bocce ball is closest to the pallino. After everyone is done tossing, the team with the ball closest to the pallino has the opportunity to score. The other team does not earn any points for the frame.^{[7]
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- If each team has a ball an equal distance away from the pallino, no points are awarded and another frame starts immediately.
2
Score 1 point for each ball that’s closer than the other team. The closest team always scores at least 1 point for the closest ball. If there are any other balls that are closer than your opponent’s, score 1 additional point for each one.^{[8]
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- If the bocce ball is touching the pallino, it's called a "kiss" or "baci" and is worth 2 points instead.

Section 4 of 4:

How to Win Bocce Ball

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At the end of each frame, tally the points that were scored. Start the next frame at the end of the bocce court where you just picked up the balls.
A team must have a 2-point lead in order to win. Alternatively, play until a team reaches either 15 or 21 if you want a longer game.^{[9]
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Can I just play in a yard?

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Yes, of course! You can play anywhere that you'd like. It's also a popular beach game.

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What happens when I hit the Jack and it moves?

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It's acceptable to hit the Jack. The rules don't change, the closest to the Jack rule still applies for scoring.

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Can I play the ball off the wooden sides of the court?

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Yes, you can play a ball off of the rail. It makes for some very fun shots.

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Tips

If you don’t have the space at home to play bocce ball, check if there are any courts in your area. Otherwise, visit your local park to play a quick game.

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