# How do you play bocce? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/how-to-play-bocce/ Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-13 · Publisher: Zestasy *Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.* One side throws the small target ball, the pallino, then the two sides take turns rolling their larger balls, the bocce, as close to it as they can, usually four balls per side. When all the balls have been played, only the side with the ball nearest the pallino scores, earning a point for each of its balls closer than the opponents' best. Play continues end by end until someone reaches the agreed total, and on a beach or a gravel path the rules are as flexible as the company. Bocce is one of those games that looks idle and turns out to be fiercely competitive. On an Italian beach, in a village square or at the back of a bar, you will find people playing it with the concentration of surgeons and the commentary of football pundits. ## What you need - **The bocce.** Larger balls, traditionally wood and now often composite or metal. Each side has its own colour. - **The pallino,** also called the boccino in some places. A small target ball, often white or yellow. - **A patch of ground.** Official courts are long, narrow and enclosed by low boards, but sand, gravel, a park lawn or a dirt path all work for a casual game. - **Two sides.** One against one, two against two, or more. According to the [Wikipedia article on bocce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocce), the game descends from games played in the Roman Empire and took its present form in Italy, and the target ball is called boccino or pallino depending on local custom. ## The basic rules ### Throwing the pallino A coin toss decides who throws first. That side throws the pallino to the far end of the playing area. In formal rules it must land within a certain zone; in a casual game, just agree a sensible distance. ### First ball The side that threw the pallino then rolls the first bocce, trying to get as close to it as possible. ### Taking turns Here is the clever bit: it is not strictly alternating. The side that is not closest to the pallino plays next, and keeps playing until it either gets a ball closer or runs out of balls. The Wikipedia article describes this rule for standard bocce, with four balls per side. ### Scoring an end When all the balls have been played, only one side scores. It gets one point for each of its balls that is closer to the pallino than the opponents' nearest ball. Then a new end begins, usually with the scoring side throwing the pallino. ### Winning Play to an agreed total. Wikipedia notes games typically run to between 7 and 13 points. Casual games often stop when the light goes, or when lunch is ready. ## Tactics - **Pointing.** Rolling a ball gently to land close to the pallino. The basis of everything. - **Blocking.** Placing a ball in front of the pallino to make it harder for the other side to get close. - **Knocking away.** Throwing a ball to knock an opponent's ball away, or to move the pallino. The Wikipedia article notes that players may throw the ball through the air to knock another ball or the jack. - **Keeping one back.** The last ball is valuable. Save your best player for it. ## House rules and arguments Most bocce games have local rules: how far the pallino must go, whether you can bounce off walls, what happens when two balls are equally close. Agree them before you start. Measuring disputes are part of the game; bring a tape measure, a piece of string or a friend with good eyes and impeccable neutrality. ## Where to play - **On the beach.** Many Italian beach clubs have courts, and a set of bocce in a bag goes anywhere along the shore. - **In parks and squares,** in towns where courts are part of the furniture. - **At home,** on a lawn or a gravel drive. - **In clubs,** for the more serious, where there are leagues and proper courts. The joy of bocce is that anyone can play together: children and grandparents, the sporty and the not at all. It needs no fitness, just a steady hand and a willingness to argue amiably. ## FAQ ### What is the difference between bocce and pétanque? They are cousins. Pétanque is the French game, and the Wikipedia article notes that, unlike some forms of bocce, it is played without a run-up. Bocce balls are thrown underarm, usually rolled along the ground. The rules are similar enough that a family game may become a mixture of both. ### How big should a bocce set be? For casual play, any set with eight balls in two colours and a pallino works. Lighter sets are easier for children; heavier ones roll more steadily on rough ground. ### Can you play bocce on sand? Yes, and it is a classic beach game. Sand slows the balls and makes the game more about rolling than bouncing. Firm, damp sand is easiest. ### Is bocce played seriously anywhere? Very. The Wikipedia article names the Fédération Internationale de Boules as the sport's top governing body, and there are clubs and competitions with proper courts. Most people, though, play it for the pleasure of a summer afternoon. ## Sources - [Wikipedia: Bocce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocce) ## Related - [What is an Italian lido, and how does a beach day work there?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/lido-culture/) - [What is the passeggiata?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-the-passeggiata/) - [What are good active things to do on an Italian holiday?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/active-italian-holiday/) - [How do you get into beach volleyball?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/beach-volleyball/) - [What is pickleball?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/what-is-pickleball/) - [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)