Quickly: what sport (other than fishing, perhaps) requires the players to tote a tape measure? Um….well, that would be the ancient sport of bocce (pronounced BOTCH-ee), of course, which uses a tape measure to determine which player's rolling or tossed ball is closest to the primary ball, or "pallino." Forms of bocce date back to 5200 B.C. when Egyptian soldiers played a similar game, and it has been enjoyed by many notable historical figures since, including George Washington. More recently, Italian immigrants have kept it alive in the U.S., where there are a reported 1 million players! Let's Play Bocce! teaches viewers the three primary rolling techniques: "punto" (similar to bowling) "volo" (a flying shot used to knock a rival's ball away from the pallino) and "raffa" (a fast rolling shot similar to the break in billiards). Also covered are tips for smoother and more accurate rolling (including fancy backspins and bowling-like hooks), and instructions on creating a regulation court in just about any backyard. Finally, a full game featuring two competing teams is shown, which will be helpful to those interested in learning the intricacies of the game. Recommended. [Note: other titles in the series, available at the same price, include Let's Play Badminton! and Let's Play Croquet!] Aud: H, P. (C. Block)
Let's Play Bocce!
(2003) 45 min. $22.95. American Production Services (tel: (803) 548-2290, web: <a href="http://www.apsvideo.com/">www.apsvideo.com</a>). PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 1-888147-68-7. May 5, 2003
Let's Play Bocce!
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