How to Play Bocce

Unlike regular Bocce, our Ultralight Indoor-Outdoor Bocce Set from Bella Luna Toys weighs just one pound -- half the weight of just one official Bocce Ball. So take this portable game anywhere and have a blast – at the park, at a campsite, at the beach or inside the family room. No court needed! 

SETUP:

  • Divide the balls into two teams by color.
  • Teams can be one on one, or two on two.
  • Flip a coin to decide which team will go first.

PLAY:

  • Winner of the coin toss throws the Pallino (the smaller Pelotie ball) first.
  • That person then throws their first ball.

SCORING:

  • The winner of each round is determined by the team’s ball that is closest to the Pallino.
  • Once that is decided, the winning team will get one point for each of their balls that are closer to the Pallino than the opposing team’s closest ball.
  • The winning team will always get at least one point but could get up to four points.
  • Too close to tell visually? The game pouch has a drawstring that can be used as a “measuring tape." Compare the two balls in question by stretching the string from the Pallino to each ball to see which is closest.

BONUS KISS: Get a bonus point if your ball is touching the Pallino at the end of the round.


SIMPLE RULES:

  • The next round the other team throws the Pallino and goes first. Continue switching rounds until one team gets to 12.

OFFICIAL RULES: 

  • Each team throws one ball. The team who’s ball is farther from the Pallino must keep shooting until they land one that is closest, then the other team takes a turn.
  • The team closest to the Pallino will always wait until the farther team has shot all their balls or gets one closest, at which time the other team goes, and so forth.

TIPS AND MANEUVERS & VARIANCE:

  1. Unlike classic Bocce Ball where you must use a court and a specific shooting area, in our Bocce game, it's the choice of the team throwing out the Pallino that determines what the round looks like.
  2. Throw the Pelotie (Pallino) anywhere you like – on the couch, the coffee table, down the hall. Move around the house, yard, campsite, etc. over the course of the game.
  3. If you are closest to the Pallino, consider landing your next shot to act as a blocker to prevent the opponent from knocking your closest ball or the Pallino out of the way.
  4. You can knock your opponent's closest ball away from the Pallino.
  5. You can knock the Pallino to a position that is closer to your balls and farther from your opponent's.
  6. Each team has two tightly stuffed balls called Rollers and two floppy ones called Kerplunkers. The Rollers are great for items #4 and #5 above, while the Kerplunkers are good for #2 and for drop shots that you don't want a lot of movement on after they hit the ground. 
  7. Master your "Body English." Backspin and topspin and sometimes side spin will serve you well when needed.

Take your Bocce set with you everywhere you go and most importantly, have fun!