rain diverter question
 

hi i'm looking into getting a water butt, but my down pipe is out in the front garden. i don't particularly want my water butt shot with air gun pellets so wondered if i could loop an extended connector pipe up and over the back gate. Does anyone know if the rain diverter pipes need to be pointing straight down? i keep seeing them in pictures as being looped anyway. wondered if anyone else has tried something like this with success?
appreciate any help thanks