Becoming A Better Bocce Baller
Bocce ball requires a special blend of skill and acceptance that things don’t always roll the way you expect them to in this world. But as I found while playing with the crew that calls themselves the “Bocce Boyz” on a Wednesday morning this summer, the camaraderie that comes with playing the game with a group of friends here in Incline Village can be truly life-changing.
Built in 2020 next to the Recreation Center at 980 Incline Way, the Incline Village Bocce Ball Park offers a great opportunity to get together with friends and family for a casual or competitive game of bocce.
On any given day you might find players from age 2 to 102 out enjoying the fresh air amidst the pines, playing on one of the four bocce courts made with a special material called “Bocce Mix” that was imported from Arizona.
On Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m., the average age creeps up, as many of the Bocce Boyz are in their late-70s, 80s and even 90s – but that doesn’t mean their games are tame. On the contrary, there is a huge amount of good-natured trash talking associated with playing bocce, as well as a lot of ball-themed nicknames.
I rolled up ready to take some photos and ask for some real-world playing tips from the Bocce Boyz who were at the courts that day, only to be immediately recruited into a game.
On the day I played with the group, Ken “Hair Balls” Hubbart was joined by Jim “Pickleballs” Fisher, Jim “Admiral Numballs” McConnell, “Bayou” Betsy McConnell, Sandy “Cheese Balls” Ballantine, Mike “Delivering them Balls” McCallum, and Wayne “Mothballs” Matott, the latter of whom lives in Reno and drives an hour each way just to play with this group of friends.
“It’s a game anybody can play, you just need to come down and try it,” said McCallum, who at age 77 considers himself a junior member of the Bocce Boyz. “Obviously, there’s no age limit, and it’s a good way to stay active and enjoy the company of other people.”
Getting the Bocce Ball Park built in Incline Village was important to the Bocce Boyz and other local players. According to Hubbart, they were traveling all the way to Truckee to play bocce before the local courts were built, as the only other bocce court in town before 2020 was the single court at Ski Beach.
When asked for playing tips, the most important thing is simply to “Show up”, according to Hubbart. “It’s an easy game… Get some people that you enjoy being with and just have fun.”
Many players bring their own bocce sets with them to the courts, but even that isn’t necessary. The Incline Village Recreation Center has bocce sets to rent.
The rules of bocce – which has been played in some form since the days of Julius Caesar, according to Hubbart – are fairly straightforward and can be found online with a simple search. But there isn’t anyone out there policing folks and making sure you are playing the “right way.”
On a court adjacent to the two taken up by the Bocce Boyz on the day I visited, the Gonzales family was playing their own game with a slightly smaller bocce set and different rules. But the commonalities of good-natured competition and family bonding were there nonetheless.
So while we list a few more tips to improve your game in the sidebar, getting better at bocce is really as simple as Wayne Matott’s advice to me that day:
“Find some people who want to be healthy, have some fun and make fun of each other, and just come play.”
Tips from the Bocce Boyz
1. Master the basics of grip and release
On the Bocce Mix courts, the smoothness of the surface means the ball will often roll further and with less friction than on looser surfaces. This amplifies the importance of a consistent grip and release. A relaxed underhand pendulum swing remains ideal. Focus on a very smooth release, letting the ball glide off your fingertips. Any jerkiness or inconsistent spin will be more noticeable on the Incline courts, potentially sending your ball off course. Practice drills where you aim for a specific distance repeatedly to dial in your power and release point.
2. Get to know the court surface
The Incline Village Bocce Mix courts offer a great playing surface that is neither too hard nor too soft. The fine, compacted nature of the court surface means the ball will generally roll true, with minimal deviation from its initial path, with some exceptions. This is a double-edged sword: good shots are rewarded with precision, but errant throws are also unforgiving.
One big advantage for players willing to pay attention is the fact that balls generally leave a track as they roll along, allowing an observant player to see deviations in the court surface and adjust future throws accordingly.
And keep in mind that weather can have a big impact on the court surface.
“Every week it’s different. If it’s rained, it will be a slow court to start with and as the sun comes down and dries it out, it becomes faster. So you have to take all those things into consideration as you’re rolling.” – Ken “Hair Balls” Hubbart
3. Strategic pallino placement
When it’s your turn to throw the pallino, consider the speed of the IVGID courts.
- Long and Fast: Bocce Mix lends itself well to longer pallino throws, as your bocce balls will have more room to roll out.
- Open Court Tactics: Since rolls are truer, you might prefer placing the pallino in more open areas, encouraging a game of precision where accurate lags are rewarded.
- Leverage the Sides: If the court has well-defined borders, consider placing the pallino closer to the sideboards. On Bocce Mix, a ball that hugs the board can be very difficult to beat.
This article, by Paul Raymore, originally appeared in the Fall 2025 IVGID Magazine. View more articles and information on the IVGID Magazine page. Learn more about our bocce courts, history and more on the Bocce Ball Park page.
