Our Tips for How to Win at Flat Bocce

So you got your Flabocce kit - and you like to play. But now you want to win. Keep these tips in mind when playing to give yourself the edge. 

1. When you have control - play to your strengths. When you don’t - psych ‘em out. 

Flat Bocce isn’t just about throwing flabs and hoping for the best. To really nail it, you’ve got to know your best distances and use them to position the Jack (aka the white flab) in your favor. If you’re a master of short shots, keep the Jack close; if you’ve got an accurate shot from far away, place it further away to make your opponents work to get close.

If you are the challenger, your best offense outside of outshooting your opponent is trash talk. Nothing like being told you have no chance to add a little pressure to the frame. Remember the rules - no visual or physical interference with the shot - only audible - so make your trash talk require a dumpster. 

No matter where the Jack lands, having a variety of practiced distances will give you the upper hand. So practice! 

2. Don’t Just Aim for the Jack – Play the Nix! 

In Flat Bocce, being the closest to the Jack is the ticket to scoring points, but it doesn’t stop there. You can score additional points if you have two or three (or more!) flabs closer to the Jack than your opponent’s. To make the most of this, you’ll want to envision the nix when aiming your shots.

If an opponent has a flab positioned close to the Jack, you can knock it out of contention by landing your flab with any portion top of theirs—this “nixes” their flab, removing it from scoring range and leaving the door open for you to stack up points. 

Every flab in play is basically surrounded by a circle 21” wide. Land in any one of those and that flab is out of commission.

But be careful! Remember you can also nix your own. So if you have some well positioned flabs - don’t get greedy or you are sure to take some points off the board. 

3. Study the Surface, Feel the Wind, and React to the Flabs

Flat Bocce isn’t always a game of perfect conditions. Maybe the ground is rough, or the wind has a mind of its own. The trick? Pay attention to how the surface and the breeze might affect your flabs, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Flabs react differently depending on the conditions, so adapt your shots on the fly. A flat, smooth surface might mean more sliding, while sand or deep grass can a. On windy days, lower, faster throws might be the way to go. Keep your throws adaptable and your focus sharp, and you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever nature throws your way.

4. Never Give Up – Any Shot Can Win Instantly! 

Here’s where the thrill of Flat Bocce really kicks in. No matter how far behind you might be, you’re always just one shot away from an epic comeback. Land your flab directly atop the Jack, and congratulations—you’ve scored a Flabocce! This is an instant win and the ultimate buzzer-beater.

Down 17 points in the 6th frame? Well you have 4 shots to shut the whole thing down. No rebuttal. 

So keep your eye on the prize; you never know when you might pull off the game-winning throw.

Now Get Out There And WIN!

Get your bragging rights, make em’ drink, win the wager - and most importantly: have fun!