Bozz - A dynamic spin on classic pool
Introducing Bozz
Bozz is an innovative game that transforms your pool table into a place of excitement and strategy. Combining a unique setup with a golf-inspired scoring system, Bozz adds a fresh twist to traditional gameplay. Whether you’re playing solo, with friends and family, or competing against others remotely, Bozz offers endless opportunities for fun and competition.
What to Expect
Bozz sharpens your strategic thinking and enhances your position-play skills. With short innings, the game stays fast-paced - your next turn is just a few minutes away. Much like golf, Bozz challenges you to navigate tricky situations - whether it’s escaping a tough position or laying up to help prevent a triple bogey. And yes, just like golf, a bit of good luck can save a hole, and a bit of bad luck can turn a birdie opportunity into a double bogey.
Why You’ll Love Bozz
Play on any pool table with standard equipment
Custom Rack: While not needed, a custom rack accelerates and adds enjoyment to the racking process
Virtual Tournaments: Compete live regardless of players’ locations
Accessible for All Skill Levels: Customize the rules to level the playing field and ensure every match is enjoyable
Choose from 7 Distinct Courses
Each course features cool artwork and unique challenges, crafted to add variety and excitement to your gameplay. A layout rendering of each hole is provided, and you can view scores from other players in your group, even remotely.
Bozz Gameplay
Setup
The first player identifies Par for the Hole and selects the appropriate number of balls - always one less than Par.
Racking
Each ball has a designated position in the rack (or on the template), as shown in the Layout diagram. The selected balls are placed in their assigned positions, with the position for the 1-ball centered over the foot spot.
Gameplay and Scoring
Players begin each Hole by shooting from the Kitchen.
Each stroke is counted until all balls are pocketed. 3 over Par (Triple Bogey) is the highest score on any Hole.
The first player completes the Hole, records their score, and passes to the next player.
The next player racks the balls in the same Layout, starts play from the Kitchen, and records their score upon completion.
After all players have completed the Hole, the player who shot the lowest score (referred to as having “honors”) racks the balls in the Layout shown for the next Hole, and takes the first turn.
Once all 9 Holes are completed by all players, scores are tallied and the player with the lowest score wins.
Special Rules
Scratches: Scratching the cue ball into a pocket is treated like hitting a golf ball into a water hazard. A one-stroke penalty is applied, and the cue ball is placed within 8 inches of the pocket it went into. Play then resumes.
Laying Up: Laying up is allowed and can often be the most strategic shot. The cue ball does not need to hit a ball or rail. There is no penalty for a table scratch.
Slop Counts: Similar to golf and 9-ball, unintentional pocketing is valid. There is no need to call your shots
Optional Modifications
Consider using one or more of these optional modifications to make the game more enjoyable and competitive for players of all skill levels.
1. Tee Box
The starting location, or “tee box,” can be determined in several ways:
Ball in Hand: The most common method is placing the cue ball anywhere within the Kitchen.
Random Placement: For a greater challenge, place or toss a small piece of cloth or paper randomly within the Kitchen. The cue ball must be played from that spot.
2. Bunkers or Sand Traps
To simulate a bunker or sand trap, place a standard sheet of paper anywhere on the table before the first shot of the hole. If the cue ball, or an object ball, stops on the paper, it is considered to be in the sand trap. The shot to play out of the sand trap must be a kick shot, combination shot, or bank shot.
3. Level the Playing Field
Adjustments can be made to create a competitive game for players with varying skill levels:
Stroke Concession: A more skilled player can concede one stroke per Hole (or any agreed-upon number of strokes per 9-Hole round).
Tee Box Placement: On the opening shot of each hole, a less skilled player is allowed to place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen, while the skilled player must tee off from a specific spot using the Random Placement method with the small piece of cloth or paper.
Ball Order: Less skilled players can play the balls in any order. After the opening shot, more skilled players must play the balls in numeric order from lowest to highest.
Mulligans: The use of Mulligans should be agreed upon before the game begins. Less skilled players can be allowed more Mulligans to keep the game competitive. To use a Mulligan, re-rack the Layout and start the hole over.
The Story Behind the Name Bozz
My brother-in-law Matt had Down Syndrome, and he was one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. No matter what challenges life threw at him, Matt always stayed positive and fully engaged with the world around him. We weren’t just brothers-in-law! We were partners in the Special Olympics and best friends.
When my child was born, Matt decided that “Uncle Matt” sounded too ordinary. He asked if he could choose a more exciting title. Thrilled by the idea, we urged him to pick whatever he wanted. After some thought, he chose “Uncle Bozzie.” From that moment on, he became Uncle Bozzie - or simply Bozz - to everyone in the family.
As you’ll see on the commemorative scorecard for The Bozz, he loved games of all kinds: basketball, poker, bowling, wrestling, golf, and pool, to name just a few. Whenever we played, we would adjust the rules and gameplay to ensure he could fully enjoy the experience. These modifications created a level playing field where we could compete fairly. And when Matt won, he earned every bit of the celebration that followed.
Matt had a special talent for pool, sinking long shots and executing impressive cut shots that often left me in awe. Over time, I created several unique pool games, but one stood out as his favorite. Drawing on his years of experience with Special Olympics golf, and his familiarity with its scoring system, I combined elements of pool and golf into a single game. The result was Bozz, a game that brought him endless joy.
I continue to play Bozz with friends and family. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to gather around the same table but, more often, we play from different corners of the world.
