How to Play Bocce
Ever walked past a park in South Philly or Fishtown on a perfect summer evening and seen people gathered around a court, drink in one hand, colored ball in the other, cheering and heckling? You’re probably looking at a classic game of Philly bocce.
And you probably thought, “That looks fun. And also… what exactly is happening?”
Good news. While it’s one of the city’s fastest-growing social sports, you can learn how to play bocce in Philadelphia in about five minutes. It’s perfect because it’s simple to learn, but has enough strategy to keep it interesting (especially after a drink or two).
So, let’s break down the rules so you’re ready for your first game.
The Gist: Get Your Balls Close
If you remember nothing else, remember this: The goal of bocce is to throw your big balls closer to the little ball than the other team.
That’s it. That’s 90% of the game.
The little ball is called the pallino (pronounced pa-lee-no). The big ones are the bocce balls.
How a Game Works, Step-by-Step
A game is made up of several rounds, called frames. Here’s how one frame plays out:
- Start the Frame: A player from Team A stands behind the line and tosses the small pallino down the court. It just has to go past the halfway line.
- The First Bocce Throw: The same player from Team A now throws their first bocce ball, trying to get it as close as possible to the pallino.
- Now Team B Throws: A player from Team B now takes their turn. Their goal is to get their ball closer to the pallino than Team A’s ball.
- Who Throws Next? This is the most important rule! The team whose ball is further away from the pallino is the team that has to throw next. This back-and-forth is what makes every frame of Philly bocce so exciting.
- Finish the Frame: The “out” team keeps throwing until they land a ball inside their opponent’s. This continues until both teams have thrown all four of their balls. The frame is then over, and it’s time to score.
Scoring (The Easy Part)
Only ONE team can score per frame.
Walk down to the pallino and see which team has the closest ball. That’s the winning team. Now, count how many of that team’s balls are closer to the pallino than the best ball from the losing team.
- Example: Your red balls are closest. You have two red balls that are nearer to the pallino than any of the opposing green balls. You score 2 points.
After scoring, the team that just scored gets to throw the pallino to start the next frame. You keep playing until one team hits the winning score (The Philly Bocce league plays to 16).
Two “Pro” Tips for Your First Philly Game
- Hitting is Legal! See an opponent’s ball sitting perfectly? You are encouraged to blast it away. It’s a key tactic in any competitive Philly bocce league, and it’s guaranteed to get a reaction from the crowd.
- Use the Walls: We play in the park without walls, so this doesn’t apply to playing in the Philly Bocce League, but if you play in a court, a key to winning is using the back and side walls. Don’t be afraid to bank a shot to nestle up perfectly to the pallino.
Ready to Play?
See? That’s all there is to it. The best way to really learn the ropes of Philly bocce is by playing. If you’re ready to give it a shot, there’s no better place than in a relaxed, social bocce league in Philadelphia.
[Check out our upcoming Philly Bocce leagues and sign up today! No experience necessary—we promise.]