Before trampolines had safety nets and screens ruled our weekends, there was gutter ball.
A couple of lengths of guttering.
A tennis ball.
Some milk crates or chairs.
And a backyard full of kids arguing about whether that shot totally counted.
Gutter ball is one of those classic Kiwi backyard games that’s been quietly entertaining families for decades. It’s simple, competitive, and ridiculously addictive. If you’re feeling handy (or nostalgic), building your own gutter ball setup is a fun DIY project. And if you’d rather skip the build, we’ve got that covered too.
What Is Gutter Ball?
Gutter ball is an outdoor game where players roll a ball down angled gutter channels, aiming to land it into a scoring zone or bucket at the end. It’s all about touch, accuracy, and a bit of backyard creativity.
A typical gutter ball setup includes:
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2–3 gutter channels
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A ball (tennis balls are classic)
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A stand or support
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A scoring target or bucket
It’s simple, and that’s exactly why it works.
How to Make a Gutter Ball Game: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Decide How Many Gutters You Want
Most DIY gutter ball games use:
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2 gutters for simple head-to-head play
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3 gutters for extra challenge and scoring variety
More gutters = more chaos (in a good way).
Step 2: Source Your Guttering
This is where the nostalgia really kicks in.
You’ll want:
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Standard PVC guttering
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All pieces cut to the same length (around 1.5–2 metres works well)
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Smooth, undamaged sections so the ball rolls cleanly
Second-hand building supplies often work perfectly for this.
Step 3: Create a Support Frame
Your gutters need to sit at a slight angle so gravity does the work. Common DIY solutions include:
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Timber A-frames
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Milk crates or stools (very old-school)
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A simple wooden stand with cross braces
The key is stability — wobbly gutters lead to backyard disputes.
Step 4: Set Up the Scoring Zone
At the bottom of the gutters, you’ll need a target:
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Buckets
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Bins
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Boxes with cut-out holes
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Different point values for each gutter
This is where you can get creative and tailor it to kids or adults.
Step 5: Test Angles and Ball Speed
Before calling everyone over:
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Roll the ball down each gutter
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Adjust the height or angle if it’s too fast or slow
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Make sure all gutters behave consistently
This step saves arguments later.
Step 6: Lock in the Rules and Start Playing
Keep it simple:
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One roll per turn
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First to a set score wins
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Misses score zero
Or make it up as you go, that’s half the fun.
The DIY Route vs Gutter Boards That Are Ready to Go
Building a gutter ball game is a great throwback project, but it does come with some downsides:
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Finding matching gutters
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Storing bulky pieces
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Making sure everything stays stable
At Backyard Games, we offer purpose-built gutter boards that capture the same nostalgic fun, without the hassle. Our gutter boards are:
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Designed for consistent ball roll
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Easy to set up and pack away
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Durable enough for kids, adults, and events
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Perfect for backyards, parties, and festivals
You still get that classic Kiwi backyard feel, just without balancing gutters on milk crates.
Why Gutter Ball Is Peak Kiwi Backyard Fun
Gutter ball is:
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Easy for all ages
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Competitive without being serious
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Perfect for BBQs, birthdays, and summer afternoons
It also pairs brilliantly with other outdoor games like cornhole, giant tumbling towers, kubb, and giant connect 4, turning any backyard into a proper Kiwi games setup.
Final Thoughts
If you love a bit of DIY and nostalgia, building your own gutter ball game is a great way to relive those classic backyard moments. But if you’d rather skip the build and get straight to the fun, our gutter boards are ready to roll.
Either way, gutter ball proves one thing:
you don’t need fancy tech or complicated rules to have a good time — just a ball, a bit of competition, and a backyard full of people keen for one more go.
