Bocce ball is a timeless Italian lawn game anyone can play. Toss your balls closest to the pallino to score. Learn the official rules, court setup, and winning techniques.
Bocce ball rules in one paragraph: two teams of 1-4 players each get 4 balls of one color. One team tosses the small pallino down the court, then teams alternate throwing, always the team that is not closest to the pallino. When all 8 balls are down, only the team with the closest ball scores: 1 point for every ball nearer the pallino than the other team's best. First team to 12 points wins (16 in tournament play). A regulation court is 60 by 12 feet, but any lawn, sand, or gravel strip works.
What You'll Need
A bocce ball set — 8 large balls (4 per team, in 2 colors) and 1 small target ball called the pallino (or jack). You can play on grass, sand, gravel, or a dedicated bocce court (60 feet long, 12 feet wide).
Setup
Divide into two teams. Each team gets 4 balls of the same color. With 2 players, each throws 4 balls. With 4 players (2 per team), each throws 2. With 8 players (4 per team), each throws 1.
How to Play
A coin flip determines who throws first. The starting team throws the pallino past the center line but not past the far line. Then that same team throws their first bocce ball, trying to get it as close to the pallino as possible.
The opposing team then throws until they get a ball closer to the pallino than the leading team's closest ball — or until they run out of balls. Then the first team throws again.
This back-and-forth continues until all 8 balls have been thrown.
Scoring
After all balls are thrown, only the team closest to the pallino scores. They get 1 point for each ball that is closer to the pallino than the other team's closest ball.
Example: If Team A has 2 balls closer to the pallino than Team B's nearest ball, Team A scores 2 points. Team B scores 0.
If the two closest balls from opposing teams are equidistant, no points are scored that round.
Winning
First team to reach 12 points (or 16 in some variations) wins. Some house rules play to 7 or 9 for quicker games.
Special Rules
Hitting the pallino is legal and strategic — you can knock it closer to your other balls
Hitting opponent balls ("spocking" or "bombing") is legal — knock them away from the pallino
Dead ball — if a ball goes out of bounds, it's removed from the round
Measuring — when it's too close to call, measure from the pallino to each ball. Any object can be used as a measuring tool
Tips & Strategy
Pointing vs. shooting: "Pointing" is gently rolling for proximity. "Shooting" is throwing hard to knock away opponents. Master both. Use the pallino strategically — hit it to reposition when your opponent has the advantage. Play defense — sometimes placing your ball between the pallino and your opponent's throwing position blocks their line.
BOCCE BALL FAQ
What are the basic rules of bocce ball?
One team throws the pallino, then throws a bocce ball toward it. The other team throws until they have a ball closer than their opponents' closest, then play switches back. After all 8 balls are thrown, the team closest to the pallino scores 1 point per ball that beats the other team's nearest ball. Play frames until one team reaches 12.
How do you score in bocce ball?
Only one team scores per frame. Count that team's balls that sit closer to the pallino than the opposing team's single closest ball; each one is 1 point. If the two closest balls are exactly tied, nobody scores and the frame is replayed.
How many points do you play to in bocce?
Backyard games usually go to 12 points. Club and tournament play often goes to 16, and quick games can be played to 7 or 9. Agree on the target before the first throw.
How big is a bocce ball court?
A regulation court is 60 feet long and 8 to 13 feet wide (12 feet is common). Backyard courts of 30 to 40 feet are fine; you can also mark a lawn with two cones and play without a court at all.
Can you hit the other team's ball or the pallino in bocce?
Yes. Knocking an opponent's ball away (called spocking, bombing, or shooting) is legal, and so is hitting the pallino to move it closer to your own balls. A ball that leaves the court is dead and removed for the rest of the frame.
How many players can play bocce ball?
Two to eight. Play 1 vs 1 with 4 balls each, 2 vs 2 with 2 balls each, or 4 vs 4 with 1 ball each. Teams must have the same number of balls.
