In bocce, the team that is not closest to the pallino keeps throwing, and only the closest team scores once all eight balls are down. Players roll weighted balls toward a smaller target ball, attempting to finish the frame closer than their opponent.
At PartyGameKit, we see organizers run into trouble when players assume bocce alternates throws like horseshoes.
Bocce Ball Rules for Beginners
Run a game in this order:
- Flip a coin to choose the starting team. The winner of the coin toss throws the small target ball, called the pallino, into the playing area.
- Throw the pallino and roll the first bocce ball. The player who threw the pallino immediately rolls their team’s first bocce ball, attempting to stop it as close to the target ball as possible.
- Pass the turn to the opposing team. The second team throws their first bocce ball, attempting to get closer to the pallino than the first team’s ball.
- Let the furthest team throw next. Whichever team is not closest to the pallino must throw the next ball. That team continues throwing until it either lands a ball closer to the pallino than the opponent’s best ball, or runs out of balls completely.
- Finish remaining throws. When one team runs out of balls, the other team throws all of its remaining balls to build its score for the frame.
- Score the frame. Once all eight bocce balls are thrown, inspect the court. Only the single team with the ball closest to the pallino earns points. That team receives one point for every ball that sits closer to the pallino than the opponent’s single best ball.
- Resolve any ties. If the closest balls from each team rest at an identical distance from the pallino, neither team scores those matching balls. Use a measuring tape or a length of string to confirm exact distances when a call is close.
- Start the next frame from the target end. The team that just scored throws the pallino to start the next frame. Play usually continues in the opposite direction, throwing from the end where the previous balls came to rest.
- Play until a team hits the winning score. Continue playing frames until one side reaches the agreed target total. Casual matches typically play to 12, 13, or 16 points.
The team farther from the pallino throws next, every time. Announce this rule before the first frame, because players used to horseshoes expect throws to alternate.
Equipment and Team Sizes
A standard set contains eight large bocce balls and one smaller target ball known as the pallino or jack. The large balls are divided evenly into two distinct colors or stamped patterns so players can quickly identify which team owns each ball on the grass. The pallino is noticeably smaller and is sometimes white for high visibility against turf or gravel.
Bocce works for two, four, or eight players, and each format keeps eight balls in play:
| Team Format | Total Players | Player Distribution | Balls per Person | Total Balls in Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One vs. One | 2 | 1 player per side | 4 balls each | 8 bocce balls |
| Two vs. Two | 4 | 2 players per side | 2 balls each | 8 bocce balls |
| Four vs. Four | 8 | 4 players per side | 1 ball each | 8 bocce balls |
Some groups place partners at opposite ends of the court so each pair throws alternate frames and nobody walks back and forth. Settle that before the first frame.
If you need a set for your yard, look for a bocce ball set that comes with distinct ball etching, which makes scoring much easier when rolling on tall grass.
How Scoring Works
Only one team scores in a frame. If your team has three balls near the target but your opponent holds the single closest ball, you score zero for that frame.
Scoring follows two strict rules:
- Find the closest ball on the court. The team owning that ball wins the frame.
- Count points by comparison. The winning team receives one point for each of its balls that sits closer to the pallino than the losing team’s closest ball.
The maximum possible score in a single frame is four points, which occurs when one team places all four of its balls closer to the pallino than any opposing ball. This sweep is rare and requires precise rolling or aggressive knocking.
Worked Example of a Frame
Take a two-on-two match between Team Green and Team Red:
- All eight balls have been delivered to the far end of the lawn.
- Team Green’s best ball sits twelve inches from the pallino.
- Team Red’s best ball sits eighteen inches from the pallino.
- Team Green’s second-best ball rests sixteen inches from the pallino.
- Team Green’s third ball is two feet away, and their fourth ball rolled out of bounds.
- Team Red’s remaining three balls are scattered beyond two feet.
Team Green wins this frame because their best ball (twelve inches) is closer than Team Red’s best ball (eighteen inches). To calculate the score, look only at Team Green’s balls that beat Red’s eighteen-inch mark. Green has two balls inside that distance: the twelve-inch ball and the sixteen-inch ball. Team Green scores two points for the frame. Green’s third ball sits outside Red’s best mark, so it earns nothing. Team Red scores zero points.
When two opposing balls appear equidistant from the target, players should never guess. Use a measuring tape for bocce to measure the gap between the pallino and the nearest edge of each ball. If a tie is exact, neither team scores those two balls.
Common Questions Mid-Game
Balls collide and roll to odd places in casual games.
Can You Hit the Pallino in Bocce?
Yes, standard bocce rules allow hitting the pallino. A trailing team benefits most: when an opponent has two balls clustered around the pallino, roll your ball into the pallino to push it away from their balls and toward your own.
In normal backyard play, the pallino remains in active play wherever it comes to rest, provided it stays within the boundary lines. If a hard throw knocks the pallino completely out of the playing area, groups usually replay the frame or follow a house rule set before the game.
Can You Hit Other Bocce Balls?
Yes. Knocking an opponent’s ball away from the pallino is a normal move, usually done with a hard roll called a raffa.
You can also roll into your own team’s balls. If a partner threw a ball that stopped short of the target, you can use your subsequent throw to bump their ball forward into a scoring position while leaving your own ball in play nearby.
What Is a Kiss in Bocce?
A kiss occurs when a thrown bocce ball comes to rest in direct physical contact with the pallino. In Italy, this contact is called a bacio.
Under basic backyard rules, a kiss earns no special bonus points; it simply counts as a standard ball resting at zero distance from the target. Because it is physically touching the pallino, an opponent has to knock your ball away, or move the pallino, to take the point. Some groups adopt a house rule that grants an extra point for an unbroken kiss at the end of a round.
Throws Worth Learning
All throws in bocce ball must be delivered underhand. Within that underhand requirement, players use three distinct delivery styles depending on the position of the balls:
- Punto: A gentle, controlled roll designed to stop as close to the pallino as possible. This is the foundation of regular bocce play and is used primarily on the opening throws of a frame.
- Raffa: A firm, fast roll or low throw intended to smash into a specific target. Players use a raffa delivery to break up an opponent’s cluster, knock a scoring ball out of contention, or drive the pallino toward open turf.
- Volo: A high, lofted underhand throw that travels through the air and lands directly on or next to a targeted ball. The volo takes practice and is useful on rough lawns, where it flies over balls blocking the rolling path.
On thick, uneven lawn a smooth punto is hard to place. A raffa is the more reliable way to dislodge an opponent’s lead there.
House Rules to Settle First
Before tossing the pallino for the opening frame, settle four basic house rules with all participants.
| Rule Choice | Common Standard | Alternate House Rule | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Winning Score | 12, 13 or 16 points | A lower target the group agrees on | Controls the total match duration |
| Pallino Distance Line | Must cross the midpoint of the court | Any forward distance accepted | Prevents excessively short, cramped frames |
| Out-of-Bounds Pallino | Dead frame; replay from start | Opponent places the pallino manually | Resolves wild or overly aggressive throws |
| Kiss Bonus | Standard 1 point | 2 points or 1 bonus point | Rewards pinpoint accuracy on the target |
Settle the minimum pallino throw first. If a player barely tosses the small ball two feet past the throwing line, the frame is cramped and players end up stepping on balls. Require the pallino to pass the halfway mark of your yard so each frame has room to play. If a player fails to pass the line on their toss, allow them one re-throw before passing the pallino toss to the other side.
Where to Play and Court Boundaries
Formal bocce courts feature flat surfaces made of packed clay, decomposed granite, or fine gravel enclosed by wooden borders. However, you do not need dedicated court architecture to enjoy the game. Any reasonably level area of mowed grass, packed dirt, or sandy beach functions well for casual matches.
To establish boundaries in your yard:
- Mark a throwing line and agree whether stepping over it before release voids the throw.
- Define outer perimeter boundaries using garden edging, driveway borders, or bright cones.
- Use a dedicated bocce court boundary rope if your yard lacks natural borders, which gives everyone an objective line for determining when a ball rolls out of bounds.
Settle before play whether a ball that rolls out of bounds or hits a patio wall, tree trunk or lawn chair is removed for the rest of the frame. If an out-of-bounds ball moved other balls before leaving the court, house rules decide whether to restore those balls to their approximate previous positions or leave them where they came to rest.
Who this game is not for: Bocce requires an open, relatively flat patch of ground and underhand tossing technique. If your group is gathered indoors or lacks yard space, switch to party games for adults or tabletop activities that require no physical footprint.
What would change our advice: If you are playing on deep, unmowed grass where heavy bocce balls cannot roll smoothly, switch to games with elevated targets or flying components, such as cornhole or disc tossing.
For organizers planning a full afternoon of outdoor entertainment, bocce pairs naturally with other rotation favorites. Use our lawn games guide to plan a multi-game tournament, and the cornhole rules for your tossing stations. The party games hub has more games for the rest of the lineup.