Carom Shafts: Everything You Need to Know

Carom billiards is a cue sport discipline played on a pocketless table, where precision, strategy, and control are essential. There are multiple variations of carom, the most popular being:

3-Cushion Carom (Three-Cushion Billiards)

This is the most prestigious and challenging form of carom, played by professionals worldwide.

Objective: The cue ball must contact both object balls, but only after striking at least 3 cushions first.
Table: 10 ft or 3.10 m x 1.55 m (standard)
Skill Focus: Control, spin, precise cue ball trajectory

Best Shafts for 3-Cushion:

• Longoni Luna Nera – Carbon fiber shaft with extreme low deflection and stability

• Mezz IG3C – Japanese precision, wooden construction with optimal balance

• Longoni S20 / S30 – Laminated wooden shafts with enhanced feedback and spin

Libre Carom (Straight Rail / Cadre)

Also known as Libre or Straight Rail, this is a classic format often used to train beginners.

Objective: Make the cue ball hit both object balls in a single shot – no cushion requirement.
Variations: Cadre 47/2, Cadre 71/2 with restricted scoring zones
Skill Focus: Fine touch, position play, delicate cueing

Best Shafts for Libre:

• Longoni S2 Shaft – Excellent for precision and close control

• Longoni Pro S20 Shaft – Ideal for repeat shots and controlled positioning

• Mezz WX-Σ Carom – Wooden shaft with great feel, used in Cadre and Libre formats

1-Cushion Carom

Also known as Cushion Carom, this variation requires the cue ball to hit at least 1 cushion before striking the second object ball.

• Objective: Cue ball → Object ball 1 → At least 1 cushion → Object ball 2
• Skill Focus: Moderate cue ball control, intermediate strategy

Best Shafts for 1-Cushion:

• Longoni Niels Feijen S30 Shaft

• Mezz IG3C

• Longoni Luna Nera for advanced low-deflection performance