Bocce Ball Rules: How to Play, Score & Set Up
Bocce is the relaxed, anyone-can-play classic that has been rolling around Italian backyards for centuries. Toss the little target ball, roll your big balls close to it, and you are basically playing. Here is how to keep score like you mean it.
What you need
- A set of 8 bocce balls (two colors, 4 each)
- 1 pallino (the small target ball, also called the jack)
- A stretch of flat grass, dirt, or gravel
- Optional: string or chalk to mark a court
How to play bocce ball
- Split into sidesTwo players or teams divide the 8 balls, 4 per side, by color.
- Toss the pallinoA player from the first team rolls or tosses the small pallino out to start the frame. It needs to land past the halfway point and clear of the back line.
- Roll the first bocceThe same team rolls one bocce ball, trying to land it as close to the pallino as possible.
- Other team rollsThe opposing team rolls their balls until they get closer to the pallino than the first team, or run out of balls trying.
- Closest team waitsWhichever team is NOT closest keeps rolling. You can knock the pallino or your opponent's balls around, that is fair game and good strategy.
- Finish the frameOnce all 8 balls are thrown, measure and award points. Then play the next frame from the other end.
Scoring
- Only one team scores per frame, the one with the ball closest to the pallino.
- That team earns 1 point for every ball that is closer to the pallino than the opponent's closest ball.
- So you can score 1 to 4 points in a single frame.
- Games are typically played to 12 points (some leagues play to 7, 15, or 16). Agree on the target before you start.
- If two opposing balls are exactly tied for closest, no points are awarded for that pair and the frame ends with the score it had.
Distance & setup
Fun variations
- No-court bocce: play open-lawn with no boundaries, just roll the pallino out and go. Most casual games skip the court entirely.
- Punto, raffa, volo: advanced league play distinguishes a precise roll (punto), a forceful hit (raffa), and an in-air throw (volo).
- Beach or park bocce on uneven ground adds a fun challenge.
- Play to 7 for a quick game or 16 for a longer match.
Bocce Ball rules FAQ
How do you score in bocce ball?
Only the team closest to the pallino scores. They get 1 point for each of their balls that is closer than the opponent's nearest ball, so 1 to 4 points per frame.
What score do you play bocce to?
Most games go to 12 points. Leagues sometimes play to 7, 15, or 16, so just agree on the target before the first toss.
Can you hit the pallino or your opponent's ball?
Yes. Knocking the pallino to a new spot or blasting an opponent's ball out of the way is completely legal and a core part of bocce strategy.
Do you need a court to play bocce?
No. A regulation court is 13 by 91 feet, but you can play on any flat patch of lawn, dirt, or gravel with no marked boundaries at all.
What is the pallino?
The pallino (also called the jack or boccino) is the small target ball you toss out first. The whole game is about rolling your bigger balls closest to it.
What happens on a tie in bocce?
If the two closest opposing balls are exactly the same distance from the pallino, neither team scores from that pair and the frame ends scoreless for that tie.
Ready to play?
Grab a set and start your league this weekend. We ranked the best bocce ball sets for every budget.
See our top bocce ball picks → Printable rules card