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Carom Billiards Rules
The Goal
The goal is to hit your cue ball, so it contacts the other two balls (the "carom" or "cannon") to score points.
The Basics
- • The Equipment: The game uses three balls: one plain white cue ball, one yellow cue ball, and one red object ball.
- • Scoring: To score a point (a "carom"), your cue ball must touch both of the other balls in a single shot.
- • The Turn: If you successfully score, you keep your turn (inning). Your turn ends when you miss or commit a foul, passing control to your opponent.
The Setup
- • The Red Ball: Place it exactly on the Foot Spot (where the apex ball of a normal pool rack sits). This is always your primary target on the break.
- • The Opponent's Cue Ball (Yellow): Place it on the head string, aligned with the center spot.
- • Your Cue Ball (White): Place it on the head string, within 6 inches to the left or right of the opponent's yellow ball.
The Break
Hit the white ball into the red ball in a way that allows you to also hit the yellow ball with the cue ball, after hitting a cushion.
Continuing The Game
- • Shots after the break do not require the red ball to be hit first.
- • Your cue ball must make contact with at least one cushion (rail) either before or after hitting the first object ball, but before hitting the final object ball.
- • Each successful shot earns one point and allows you to continue your turn.
- • Your turn continues until you miss or foul.
Common Fouls
A foul ends your inning immediately, and any points scored in that shot do not count. After a foul is committed, the balls are played as they lay, unless the foul was for pocketing a ball or a ball leaving the table. In that case, the pocketed ball or ball that left the table is placed on the center spot on the table.
Common fouls include:
- • Hitting the wrong ball: Striking an opponent's cue ball instead of your own.
- • Touching the balls: Touching a ball with a cue, hand, bridge, hair, clothing, etc.
- • Push shots: Pushing the cue ball rather than striking it cleanly.
- • Double hits: The cue tip touching the cue ball more than once in a single stroke.
- • Balls leaving the table: Causing any of the balls to jump off the playing surface.
- • Pocketing a ball: If played on a standard pool table, pocketing any of the balls is a foul and loss of turn. The pocketed ball is placed on the center spot on the table.