Official Rules
Back in 2011 we put together a unique set of rules and the rest is history.
The rules below are the official rules for our World Series which we hold each year giving away $10,008 to the Champs
KIWIPONG WORLD SERIES RULES 2025 Edition
Equipment
1.1 Cups: 20 x Official Kiwipong Clear cups
1.2 Table: 2.4m long x 60 cm wide x 70cm tall
1.3 Balls: 2 x 40mm official Kiwipong balls
1.4 Racks 2 x Official Kiwipong Racks
Players & Teams
2.1 Players must be over 18 years of age – ID will be checked at the venue
2.2 A team consists of two players
2.3 A Player can only play for one team
Beverage
3.1 All cups are to be filled with water
3.2 Each cup is filled with 100mls of water
Starting Game
4.1 The starting team is determined by a rock off
Cup formations & Re-racks
4.1 At the start of the game cups must be arranged in a diamond formation in our kiwipong racks – Racks being placed to the back edge of the table.
4.2 Each team can only call a re-rack twice during a game
4.3 The re-rack can only be called when you are the attacking team and before any team member has made shot
4.4 The re-rack can be made in any formation, the attacking team chooses the cup locations with in the racks.
4.5 Cups should always be racked within the official triangle with cups touching each other and the base of cups completely on the table
4.6 If during the course of the game a cup is knocked no longer touching another cup it cannot be moved and must remain where it is unless it is re-racked per rule 4.2
4.7 No shots are allowed to be made until a re-rack is complete and the opposition has moved all parts of their body back behind the edge of the table
Making & Blocking Shots
5.1 Each player in a team gets one shot per turn
5.2 When making shots a player is allowed to lean over the table so long as they are unsupported, this means that players are not allowed to touch the table with any part of their body or team mate
5.3 Opposition players’ hands are to remain behind the edge of the table until the shot leaves the players hand. This is a serious offence will be treated as un-sportsman like conduct and can be dealt with in accordance with rule 12.4
5.4 If an opposition player blocks a shot in front of the end of the table before the ball bounces this counts as though a cup has been made. The player making the shot nominates which cup
Bounced Shots
6.1 A bounce shot is when the ball bounces off the table and the rack only. Shots that hit a person, the rim of another cup or are deflected off a block are still only one cup – unless they bounced on the rack or the table first.
6.2 A bounced shot counts as two cups
6.3 The opposition gets to pick which cup is the second cup
6.4 Opposition players are allowed to block bounced shots as per rule 5.3
6.5 If a ball bounces 2 or more times well done but it is treated as a normal bounced shot
2 shots 2 cups
7.1 If both players in a team make separate cups, including if one or both of those shots are bounced shots, that team get both balls back, this can keep happening until one player misses a shot
2 shots 1 cup
8.1 If both players in a team make the same cup, including if one or both of those shots are bounced shots, that team get both balls back.
8.2 If two shots are on the full into 1 cup this equals 3 cups eliminated, the attacking team nominates the two extra cups
8.2 If one shot is a bounced shot then this means 4 cup have been made, if both shots are bounced shots 5 cups have been made, the attacking team nominate the cups
Guys Can Finger, Girls Can Blow
9.1 If a ball is thrown and is spinning around inside a cup before dropping into the beverage the opposition player can attempt to remove the ball
9.2 Guys are allowed to use their finger to try and flick the ball out
9.3 Girls are allowed to try and blow the ball out
9.4 If the removed ball has any liquid on it from the cup or if the cup falls over as a result of either of these actions the cup is considered to be made
9.5 In the event of a dispute – then the Ref will try their best to determine but this relies on honesty and if this can’t be resolved refer to 12.4
Cup Removal
10.1 Cups cannot be removed until both opposition shots have been taken
10.2 Made cups must be removed and then placed off the table and are no longer part of the game.
Winning
11.1 The first team to make all the opposition cups wins
11.2 There is no right of rebuttal
11.3 Cups are counted for point differential – Teams count how many cups are in front of them – for example the loosing team will have zero as their opposition will have eliminated and the winning team will have + number.
11.4 If you lose a game in a game where both teams have cups on the table – Loosing team still get 0. Not point differential other than Zero is given to loosing team.
11.5 In the event of a draw at the end of allocated time – teams will Rock off again with a Golden cup taking place – first team to hit a cup wins.
Penalties
12.1 Dropping a ball into your own cup counts as a shot. The must remove the cup from the game. The player does not get a second shot
12.2 Knocking your own cup over means you remove that cup from the game
12.3 If a player knocks the table and knocks more than 3 cups over their team loses automatically. If less than 3 cups are knocked over the offending team must remove the number of cups from there rack, whilst the other Team replaces there cups.
12.4 Unsportsmanlike conduct can result in expulsion from the tournament
12.5 The venue has a right to remove you from the event if you disregard their rules and or have any untoward behavior
Distractions
13.1 Distractions are allowed as long as no part of a player crosses the edge of the table before the other team throws. See rule 5.3
Referees
14.1 Our Referees are lovers of the Sport of Kiwipong and they are are HUMAN – Please remember a referee’s decision is final and be a good sport. Otherwise refer to 12.4
