Q&A for How to Play Bocce Ball

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Question

Can I just play in a yard?

Community Answer

Yes, of course! You can play anywhere that you'd like. It's also a popular beach game.

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Question

What happens when I hit the Jack and it moves?

Community Answer

It's acceptable to hit the Jack. The rules don't change, the closest to the Jack rule still applies for scoring.

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Question

Can I play the ball off the wooden sides of the court?

Community Answer

Yes, you can play a ball off of the rail. It makes for some very fun shots.

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Question

When there are teams, are there four bowlers for each set?

Community Answer

Generally, yes, but there could be only two unless the rules being used prohibit it. More than four really defeats the purpose of teamwork.

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Question

Who starts first on the second round?

Joseph Trzaska

Community Answer

Each round is begun by opposite teams, so if Team A threw out the jack and bocce ball first, then Team B would do it the next round.

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Question

Can kids play without a strict adherence to the rules?

Lissa LaLiberte

Community Answer

I don't see why not. Use a small space in your yard and let them have fun. You can vary the rules to make it closer to "official" as they grow. The point of any game is to have fun!

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Question

When playing on a court, are you allowed to hit the back wall, or is the ball considered dead?

Community Answer

If the ball hits the back wall without touching another ball on the way, the ball is dead and removed from the court. If it touches another ball before hitting the back wall, the throw is valid and the ball remains where it stops.

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Question

Do I get three points if three balls of the same color are closest to the jack?

Community Answer

At least three. If, somehow, all three were "kissing" the jack, you would get six points, two for each ball kissing the jack.

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Question

Will it still count if you bounce the ball off the back board?

Community Answer

If your ball bounces off the back board before it touches another ball, it is removed from the court. If it touches another ball on its way to the back board, it remains on the court where it stops and is counted as a valid throw.

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Question

Is there a penalty for hitting the back wall?

Community Answer

If the ball hits the back wall without touching another ball, it is removed from the court. If it touches another ball on its way to the back wall, it remains where it stops and is a valid throw.

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Question

What if I hit the Jack ball?

Community Answer

There is no penalty and the Jack's new position is legal. Hitting the Jack is often used to re-position the Jack to change the score.

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Question

Who throws first after a point or points are scored?

Community Answer

The person/team that scored gets to throw the little ball and their ball first.

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Question

What happens if three balls are 'kissing' the Jack, two from one team and one from the other? How do I score that?

Community Answer

If the closest balls from both teams are the same distance (and kissing the jack would certainly be the same distance), no points are scored, and the team that delivered the jack delivers it again.

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Question

What if the Jack goes out of the court?

Community Answer

Then the initial team throws again. If it continues after the third try, the other team throws the Jack.

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Question

How many individuals can play on a team?

Community Answer

The number of players depends on the total number of balls. I've seen 2 sets of Bocci balls joined together, with 2 teams, but with 16 people it can get interesting. I prefer staying with 4 red balls, 4 green balls, which means 8 people with 2 teams.

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Question

What does it mean when my ball hits the other team's ball?

Community Answer

It doesn't mean anything. If it hits theirs and it moves, then it moves. It doesn't deduct from your total or anything. If you hit theirs and it moves and yours goes closer, then you get the point if it's the closest one.

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Question

If a bocce ball gets hit to rail, do you move it?

Community Answer

At your own peril. It is a perfectly valid strategy on the part of the player who just hit your ball, and you might get hit in the head with another ball if you try to move it.

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Question

When scoring, how many possible points can a team get per toss?

Community Answer

“IF” a team was fortunate enough to have all 4 balls kissing (touching) the jack, that team would earn a maximum of 8 points (this is given you are scoring 1 point for closest ball and 2 points for kissing the jack).

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Question

What if I hit the pallino out of bounds?

Community Answer

If the pallino is hit out of bounds, any points scored are canceled and you would then proceed with your opponent throwing from the opposite side of the court.

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Question

Can I knock the other team's balls away from the jack? Is this part of the strategy?

Community Answer

Yes. If your team has second and third shot, knocking out their first shot will give you 4 points, provided your last shot is also closer to the jack.

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Question

What is the rule regarding having to win by two points?

Community Answer

In both tournament play and casual play you must win by two. This makes the game more decisive.

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Question

What if I move the jack?

Community Answer

If you move the jack, then it re-adjusts the nucleus of where you want to aim your balls.

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Question

Can we play in the grass?

Community Answer

Yes, but you would probably find the game more fun playing on a gravel court.

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Question

Is it possible to play on a smaller court?

Community Answer

Of course. Bocce is a competitive and entertaining game and can be enjoyed in smaller areas. Tournament play, however, must be played on a regulation court.

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Question

What happens if the jack goes out of the frame during the play?

Community Answer

If the jack goes out of the frame, and there is no backstop where it went out, place the ball on the frame in the exact spot where it went out.

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Question

How many points do I get for a kiss?

Community Answer

You get 2 points for each ball touching the jack if all the balls are the same color.

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Question

Why were red and green picked for the ball colors?

Community Answer

Color-blind people can more easily distinguish between green and red than many other colors.

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Question

What happens if each player wants to play against each other, as in no teams?

Community Answer

In that case each person would have two balls the same color.

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Question

Can a player use two hands to throw the ball?

Community Answer

No. You cannot throw with two hands. Only one hand is allowed to throw the ball.

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Question

What do I do if the jack is hit and leaves the court?

Lance Hoboy

Community Answer

If the jack is knocked out of the court or it is knocked in the front of the center line, the frame will end, no points are awarded and the game will resume from the opposite end of the court with the same team tossing the jack (a do-over).

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