
Even as a casual backyard party game, bocce can’t help but bring out players’ competitive spirits. In an attempt to improve your skills, the question of whether you can throw overhand in bocce games or not may be lingering in your mind.
While most players, especially beginner and casual players, use the common underhand grip to throw bocce balls, you can use an overhand grip instead. This technique allows players to put in more force and spin into their throws, which is especially helpful as an attack tactic.
Of course, each player, professional or casual, has their own playing strategies and techniques they’ve grown to improve and harness.
Below, we’ll go over a detailed answer to the query of using an overhand grip to throw in bocce games. Then, we’ll go over the different grip, throw, and roll techniques all bocce players should know.
Can You Throw the Ball in Bocce With Overhand Grip?
Whether you’re a new or seasoned player, it’s safe to assume that you want to improve your bocce playing skills never stop.
You might also have tons of questions you’d like to ask the pros about techniques and strategies so you can look like a pro yourself in your next game with friends and family.
One common question many players have in mind is whether they can throw bocce balls using an overhand technique.
In bocce ball, the goal is simple: get your team’s ball closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s closest ball. The team whose ball is closest to the pallino at the end of the frame is the only team that gets to score any points for that round.
The game starts after a coin toss that decides who tosses the pallino and plays the first thrown ball into the game. You may throw, toss, roll, or bounce your bocce ball to get it into play.
Though most playing bocce ball, especially casual players, use the underhand grip in most games, you can use the overhand grip instead.
Using both overhand and underhand techniques in throwing balls into play is permissible in bocce ball games. Many even alternate between the two to get ahead of their opponent’s bocce ball.
Overhand vs Backhand in Bocce
Another common query in circles who like to play bocce ball is the difference between overhand and backhand techniques in playing the game.
To better understand what these terms are, you should know that the best comparisons should be underhand vs overhand and forehand vs backhand instead of overhand vs backhand.
We will discuss all these terms below:
Bocce Ball Gripping Techniques: Underhand vs Overhand
In bocce ball, there are two common gripping techniques:
Underhand
The underhand gripping technique, or palm up, is what most bocce ball players use in most games, especially casual and beginner players in more casual games. With the underhand grip, you hold the bocce ball with your palm facing up as if you’re holding a bowling ball.
Overhand
The overhand technique is holding the bocce ball with your palm down. This is less common in casual games but many players use it, especially among professional bocce ball players.
Bocce Ball Throwing Techniques: Punto vs Raffa
In relation to the two gripping techniques, there are two common throwing techniques as well:
Punto
A gentle underhand throw is known as the punto throwing style. This is best used to send your ball near the pallino when no other bocce balls are in the way.
Raffa
The raffa throwing style uses an overhand grip and generally has more force and spin behind the throw. This is meant to displace or move an opponent’s ball out of the way and take its place near the pallino.
Bocce Ball Rolling Techniques: Forehand vs Backhand
Lastly, there are also two rolling techniques players use:
Forehand
The forehand rolling technique is typically used by beginners and casual players. This uses the underhand grip and reduces the bounce of the ball, making it easier for you to calculate and predict where your ball lands.
Backhand
The opposite of the forehand roll is the backhand roll. This uses the overhand – or palm down – grip to release the ball into play. This rolling technique puts a little more spin into the ball and might throw off the opposing team (pun definitely intended).
Conclusion
Huge fans of bocce don’t shy away from continuously improving their playing skills. Whether you’re a new or seasoned player, you might be wondering if you can throw overhand in bocce games.
Though most casual and beginner bocce players use the underhand grip in most situations, you can use the more advanced overhand grip instead. This involves holding the bocce ball with your palm down. This gives your throw more force and spin.
And that has been our detailed guide on throwing the ball in bocce with an overhand grip. Hit us up below if you have any more queries you’d like to be addressed!