Redemption is the rule that stops a game ending on a lucky final shot. When one team clears the last cup, the other team does not lose right away. They get a redemption turn to sink their remaining cups and force overtime. Here is how it works.
How redemption works
- Team A sinks Team B’s final cup. The game is not over yet.
- Team B gets the balls and shoots until they miss.
- If Team B clears every one of their remaining cups, the game is tied and goes to overtime.
- If Team B misses before clearing them all, Team A wins.
Overtime
If redemption ties the game, set up a short overtime: three cups per side in a triangle, same rules. Keep running three-cup overtimes until one team fails to answer the other’s clear.
Rebuttal, the same idea by another name
Some players call redemption the rebuttal. It means the same thing: the trailing team gets one last shot at the remaining cups before the loss counts. In doubles, both players usually shoot during the rebuttal until one misses.
Frequently asked questions
Do both players shoot in redemption?
Yes, in a 2v2 game both players on the trailing team shoot, and they keep going until one of them misses.
What if redemption clears all the cups?
The game is tied and you play overtime with three cups each until someone cannot answer.
