Rules for Freestyle Bocce Ball

Freestyle bocce ball (sometimes referred to as open bocce) is a variation of the lawn bowling game, Bocce Ball. It is popular throughout the world and can be played by people of all ages just about anywhere. In freestyle bocce players use different rules to make the game more challenging.

  1. Playing

    • A game can be played between two players, or two teams of two or four. The number of players determines how many balls each player gets to roll per round. Each player (or team) then chooses a set of colored balls and the game begins.

    Undesignated Court

    • Unlike standard bocce, freestyle has no designated court. Games can be played on any type of surface. To start a game, a randomly chosen player is given the opportunity to throw the small white ball (the pallino) to any location within throwing distance. It is up to the player who is throwing the pallino to decide where the current round will be played.

    Called Shots

    • Once the pallino is placed, the same player then has the first opportunity to bowl. The player tries to get as close to the pallino as possible. From then on, players alternate bowling their balls until every ball has been rolled. Additionally, in freestyle Bocce the player who is placing the pallino has the opportunity to call a shot. For example, if the player calls his shot and states that he is going to throw the pallino off a cement pathway and then does so, every other player must then strike the pathway with his ball on way to the pallino.

    Scoring

    • To score, the player receives one point for each of his balls that is closer to the pallino than the closest ball of the other player. If the pallino is hit, it is automatically two points for that player and the pallino is immediately picked up and thrown to a new location by the opposing player. There is no set length to the game, and players can rack up any number of points. The only stipulation is the winning player must win by two points.