Bocce ball is a competitive game in which players roll a set of balls at a target ball. The sport is a staple of Italian culture and is played by people young and old alike. While formal bocce competitions take place on standardized courts with strict rules and regulations, freestyle bocce can be played virtually anywhere, using the environment to add a greater degree of difficulty.
Equipment
Freestyle bocce requires eight bocce balls and a smaller target ball called a pallino. While any uniform set of eight balls may be used, standard bocce balls measure 4.2 inches in diameter and weigh 2 pounds. A standard pallino measures 1.6 inches in diameter, but any ball may be used as the pallino in freestyle bocce.
Players
Freestyle bocce ball is played with two individuals competing against one another. Each player is given four balls to roll at the pallino. Teams of two or four players may also compete. The number of players determines how many balls each player gets to roll per round.
Court
The absence of a defined playing court separates freestyle bocce from traditional bocce. Competitors may play freestyle bocce on grass, sand, snow or pavement. The nonstandard environment's unique features and obstacles add to the fun. For instance, if playing in a park, competitors will have to navigate tree roots, flowers and uneven terrain, all of which increase the level of difficulty of the game.
Called Shots
In all forms of bocce, the first player throws out the pallino to establish the target. This same player then rolls his first ball, trying to get as close to the pallino as possible. Each player then takes his respective turn, attempting to roll the closest ball to the pallino. However, freestyle bocce provides an interesting twist by allowing called shots with the pallino. For example, if the player calls his shot and states that he is going to throw the pallino off a tree and then does just that, each subsequent rolled ball must also strike the same tree on its way to the pallino.
Scoring
After all the bocce balls have been thrown, competitors determine the closest ball by measuring from the inside edge of the pallino to the inside edge of each ball. The player who rolled the closest ball wins a point. Rolling a ball that touches the pallino wins two points. If two or more balls measure the closest, then no points are awarded. Teams win one point for each ball that's closer to the pallino than the nearest competitor's ball. The first player or team to score 12 points wins the match, however all victories must be won by at least 2 points.
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