Beach bocce: frugal and festive
With the down economy continuing to spiral and a price on almost anything considered recreational, consider the game of beach bocce for free fun. Once you purchase the eight composite balls and pallina (target ball) set or find a friend who already owns one, the only expense after that are side bets.
Bocce was developed in its present form in Italy. It is traditionally played on natural soil or asphalt courts with certain dimensions within borders such as wooden boards of approximately 15 centimeters in height.
Beach bocce is more of a vagabond version of the original, disciplined game. There are no boundaries, major regulations or surface requirements. On a lower tide, the slope of the terrain can be very enticing yet challenging since the weight of the bocce ball carries farther than the pallina’s weight. Usually, the Gulf serves as an out-of-bounds territory in the game.
Beach bocce can be played on soft sand without court limitations. Traveling beach bocce may need a cooler of cold drinks to accompany the walk from one designated area to the next.
A bocce game can be between two players, or two teams of two, three, or four. Tournaments assemble even more friends and acquaintances and require more than one set of bocce balls. It is a very versatile game in which the rules may be changed according to the players.
A beach bocce match is started when a randomly chosen side is given the opportunity to throw the smaller pallina ball to wherever on the beach surface the elected player chooses. Once the pallina is thrown and lands, that player draws a line in the sand for all players to throw behind. The next step is to throw the first bocce ball towards the pallina in an effort to get as close to the target ball as possible. A player from the other team follows, and a rotation between the teams ensues.
The object of the game is to score the most points after a pre-determined winning mark with a two-point cushion is determined. At the end of each frame, the team with the closest ball gets one point for each of its balls that are closer to the pallina than the other team’s closest ball (e.g. if two team members position their balls closer to the pallina than the other team, then they are awarded two points.) If a bocce ball leans against the pallina, two points are awarded. If the pallina or any bocce ball is struck by another ball, that is part of the game. The points are tallied at the end of the frame. Keep in mind that if the two teams’ closest balls are an equal distance from the pallina, it is called a ‘push’ and no points are awarded. The scoring team begins the next frame. If no team previously scored, the team that threw the pallina last begins the next frame.
There are several ways to throw the bocce ball. The traditional underhand toss (like a softball pitcher with less velocity) is a good bowling style which many players incorporate. Due to the ball’s weight, an overhand throw is more difficult but can be effective. You can put backspin on the underhand throw by turning your throwing hand 180 degrees. With your knuckles pointing toward the sky, this throw will limit the bocce ball from moving forward once it lands.
The benefits of playing beach bocce include exercise, sun and camaraderie with your teammates. If it gets too warm, the Gulf will provide a cleansing and refreshing place to cool off. While some skill is needed, many players of any ages, gender or athletic ability rely on accuracy, strategy and luck to play the game. It’s only a game after all.