SPORT
BOCCE
Bocce is a classic Italian sport at the heart of every pub loving pensioner in Italy. It may not appear as impressive as many other famous Italian sports, but the pallino can be a fickle mistress. Use your bocce wisely!
Many a Sunday afternoon has been enjoyed with a relaxed game of Bocce in the dusky corners of Italian piazze. The relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere that surrounds the game makes it feel engrained in Italy’s roots. Time is no object in the game of Bocce. It is deceptively skilful and has gone on to captivate the whole of Europe. In fact, it is nowadays a trending fashion.
But what actually is Bocce? You may already know something similar in the form of the British bowls or the French pétanque, which are all in fact offspring of the Italian Bocce. Every player has four (normally metal) balls or bocce. Players take turns to try and roll these as close to the pallino - a small white ball - as possible. It can be played in teams or just with two individual competitors. The team or individual who has one of his balls closest to the pallino wins a point. Normally matches are the first to 7 points, but that can continue up to 13 in more serious fixtures.
First, the pallino is thrown by the team that wins the toss. Then, comes the display of subtle ball skills. Spin, blocking and even aerial throws (within certain limits) are showcased in the higher quality matches. Tactically, the initial placement of the pallino dictates the play and so there is a lot of pressure on the toss of the pallino.
In the traditional version of Bocce all throws are underarm, but tactically speaking there are three distinct types of throw. First, the puntata - a standard throw - where the ball is rolled along the ground, normally with the aim of being accurate. Second, we have the raffa where the ball is thrown in the air for up to half its toss. Thirdly, the volo is normally considered illegal in most traditional versions of Bocce. This is a throw where the ball may be in the air for over half the toss.
This last type of throw is acceptable in the bocce volo version of the game. In this version, players have a run-up and the ball is cast overhand (with your palm down). This is closer to the French pétanque, which is almost the same except a run-up is not permitted.
BY: WILLIAM HOLMES