Players can make casual bocce games even more fun by using pro strategies and techniques as if they are on a real official game. One of the most basic things players can learn is the bocce punto throw.
The punto throw is the most common type of throw in the game. It’s a normal throw players use to get their ball as close to the pallino as possible, in hopes of scoring a point. This is best done when there are no other balls obstructing the route to the pallino. While the thrown ball typically won’t hit other balls, it can in some instances.
Using throwing strategies like this and implementing strict rules is not mandatory and only optional for more casual games. However, applying them can make the game more challenging.
What is Punto Throw in Bocce Ball?
Seasoned bocce players know that bocce, even casual fun games in the backyard with friends and family, isn’t just rolling or tossing your bocce ball into the field.
When things get competitive between you and other players, of course, you’d want to win. This would involve familiarizing yourself with the different types of bocce ball throws you can deploy in games.
One of these bocce ball throws is known as the punto throw. Of course, casual games among friends and family are more lax than the rules and guidelines implemented in official games and tournaments.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to know these rules on the punto throw to up your playing skills after the coin toss that signals the start of the game and the tossing of the first bocce ball into the playing surface.
The punto throw is the most common type of throw in the game of bocce. “Punto” is an Italian word that means “a point” and that is quite literally the goal of this type of throw.
Basically, a punto throw in bocce is a normal and gentle underhand throw whose goal is to gain a point during the frame. Players use this throw to get their bocce ball closest to the pallino as possible. This is best used when there are no other balls or objects obstructing the way to the target position.
A player who will throw a bocce using the punto technique must do so without crossing the throwing line or foul line, otherwise, the ball will be void. The player must release the ball before they cross the foul line.
The punto throw, typically, does not typically hit other bocce balls or objects in the field. But in the instance that it does, the referee will have to determine if the throw is valid or not.
Here are some other rules and guidelines regarding the punto throw in bocce games, all according to the guidelines set forth by Confederation Boccistica Internationale (CBI), which the United States Bocce Federation (USB) also implements:
Successfully rolling your ball
The main goal of a punto throw is to get close to the pallino for a point. If the ball manages to do that without hitting another ball in the field along its way, then it is a valid ball.
What is the advantage rule?
Before we move on, there is this thing called the advantage rule. This states that the opposing team has the liberty to consider all irregular throws to be valid if they feel that the new ball positions (including the thrown ball) are an advantage to them, whether the throw is punto, raffa, or volo.
Moving balls in a punto throw
In the instance that the player’s thrown ball hits another ball in the field, the following rules apply:
A direct hit
When the thrown ball hits and displaces the opponent’s bocce ball or the pallino, the ball is valid only if the movement is less than 70 cm. Anything more than that deems the ball void, except for the advantage rule.
A chain reaction
When the thrown ball displaces another ball, which then causes another ball or the pallino to move, the total movement of both displaced balls must be 70 cm or less for the turn to be valid. Otherwise, it is a dead ball and the displaced items are returned to their original positions, except for the advantage rule.
A hit with consequences
A thrown ball that moves one or more bocce balls that don’t fall in any of the specified instances above and have a total displaced distance of more than 70 cm, will remain in its new position. Any other balls it has moved will be put back in their original positions, except for the advantage rule.
A hit while touching the backboard
Lastly, a thrown ball that touches the backboard of the court after moving other balls on the way will be considered void, regardless of the distance of movement, except for the rule of advantage.
Conclusion
Learning a few official bocce ball game strategies and techniques can be pretty helpful, even if you only play casually. One of the most common things you can learn about is using punto throws throughout the game.
A punto throw is the most common and normal throw in the game. Its goal is to roll the ball as close to the pallino as possible in order to gain a point. This is best used when there are no other balls, including your own and your opponent’s ball, obstructing the way. Typically, a punto throw wouldn’t hit other balls, but if it does, then special rules will apply.
These guidelines and rules of bocce are only strictly followed by professional bocce ball players in official games and tournaments. If you’re only playing casually, you can be more lax on these rules.
