Welcome to Southern Tier Brewing Company and the
first public Stones course. Stones is a ball sport belonging
to the boules sport family. Similar to bocce, lawn bowling
or pétanque, it follows the basic gameplay in which
players from two teams take turns throwing their balls
(or stones) in an attempt to have them rest closest to
the smaller target ball. What makes Stones unique is
its playing surface, course obstacles, boundaries,
equipment, the way a winner is determined, and the
resulting strategy.
The following glossary of terms and
basic rules and gameplay on the back
of this card will help you get started.
For the complete rule book, scan this
or visit stonesthrowing.com/rules.html
GL OSSAR Y O F TE R M S
STONE The multi-sized balls used to play Stones.
(Players decide which Stone to throw during each ROUND.
Two of their four STONES are chosen.)
MARK The small yellow target ball.
BASE The initial throwing zone at the beginning of each
of the five STRETCHES.
STRETCH The five distinct areas of play.
LANDING The end point of each STRETCH. Each
LANDING must be played before the game continues to
the next STRETCH.
SPOT The small rubber disk used to mark the location of
each ROUND of throws.
ROUND The period in which all 8 STONES have been
thrown from the same SPOT and distances from the MARK
have been measured.
X Positioned outside the STRETCHES, this is a small island
area that is considered in bounds. Players can throw for
the X at any time. Points are doubled there.
www.stonesthrowing.com
BASIC RUL E S & G A ME PL AY
1) A STONES course consists of 5 STRETCHES of land,
each with a designated LANDING at the end.
2) Starting at the BASE of the first STRETCH, one player
throws the MARK in a forward direction anywhere within
the boundaries of that STRETCH.
3) This player throws a STONE in an attempt to get as close
to the MARK as possible. As long as it remains in bounds, the
STONE is considered established. If it does not remain in
bounds, this team throws until a STONE is established.
4) A player from the other team then throws a STONE in
an attempt to get closer.
5) At this point, the team whose STONE is farther from the
mark throws another in the attempt to get closer than the
opponent’s closest STONE. This continues until all STONES
are thrown.
6) Once all STONES are thrown, the ROUND is scored.
One point is awarded to the team closest to the MARK as
well as a point for all STONES closer than the opponent’s
closest STONE. (If all of one team’s STONES are closer than
the opponent’s closest, 6 points are awarded.)
7) A new round begins at this point with the other team,
dropping their SPOT and throwing the MARK, with one foot
touching the SPOT and the other foot set parallel with it or
behind it. This format continues through the game as
players move forward through all five STRETCHES.
Completing a STRETCH
While the MARK can be thrown as far as a player wants
within a STRETCH, no LANDING can be skipped. Once a
LANDING has been played. Players move to the BASE of
the next STRETCH to continue play.
Out of Bounds & Water
• If STONES are thrown or knocked out of bounds, they are
out of play and do not count.
• If the MARK is thrown or knocked out of bounds, the
round is cancelled and replayed.
• If a STONE is thrown into water, it is out of play and the
throwing team forfeits another STONE.
• If a STONE is knocked into water, it is out of play.
• If the MARK is thrown or is knocked into water, it is out of
bounds and the ROUND is cancelled.
The X
• Players can throw for the x at any time. All points are
doubled there. To score points on the X, the MARK and at
least one other STONE must be in bounds on the X at the
end of the round.
• If a round ends with the MARK on the X, the next thrower
throws from the X anywhere back into one of the stretches,
but it must be before the last LANDING that was played.
Winning the Game
The team that is winning when a round ends with the
MARK resting on the 5th LANDING, that team is the winner.
For the complete rulebook, visit our official website.
www.stonesthrowing.com/rules.html