Cue ball circles the perimeter via three cushions — long rail, short rail, long rail — to reach the second object ball from the opposite side of the table. The most visually dramatic pattern in carom billiards, and the flagship demonstration shot for the Diamond System: when the direct route is blocked, going the long way around is often the cleaner, more reliable path.
Reference route
Reproducible table setup
A measurable starting point for this route family. The line is a practice reference, not a guaranteed scoring path.
Normalized ball coordinates
| x/L | y/W | |
|---|---|---|
| White cue ball | 0.194 | 0.211 |
| Yellow ball | 0.500 | 0.500 |
| Red ball | 0.810 | 0.211 |
Two controlled variations
- A · Change only side spin; keep the setup and pace.
- B · Change only pace; keep the setup and contact point.
Arrival tolerance target: ±50 mm
Practice protocol: 4 sets × 5 repetitions
Calculation record: Physics 3.0.0-beta · Solver 4.2.0
Physics V3 remains measurement-pending; verify the line on your own cloth and cushions.
Open this exact setup in 3ball →Around-the-Table — Setup
Cue ball at one corner of the table. First object ball near mid-table, off the direct line. Second object ball in the diagonally opposite corner, positioned so the cue ball has no clear straight path and must travel around the rails to reach it — the exact geometry that makes a direct route risky but an around-the-table route dependable.
Stroke and english
Medium-firm pace with about one tip of running english. Full follow-through is essential — decelerating mid-stroke is the most common way to kill this shot short. Aim roughly one diamond past your calculated first-cushion contact point to account for the extra distance travelled; a typical count runs starting diamond 2 to target diamond 6, giving a first-cushion contact near diamond 4 before the ball completes its loop.
When to use it
Use it whenever a direct shot is blocked by an intervening ball, or when the Diamond System math itself favours the long route — a three-rail path around the table sometimes produces a cleaner, more forgiving angle than a shorter, tighter direct line would. Professionals often choose it by preference even when a direct shot exists, since the extra rail contact adds a margin for error the direct route lacks.
Common mistakes
Insufficient pace is the most common failure — the cue ball loses momentum on the third cushion and dies just short of the object ball. Wrong english throws the rebound angle off by several degrees, which compounds across three cushions into a significant miss. Rushing the stroke instead of following through is the third classic error — this shot rewards a longer, smoother swing than most position play.
Practice notes
There is no universal hit rate for this position. Repeat it under the same table conditions and compare your own accuracy, route and speed consistency over time.
Pro players who use it
No player-specific usage claim is made without a position-level match sample. Treat this as a geometry and practice pattern, not as an attributed signature shot.
Practise this position
Open it directly in 3ball — adjust ball positions, stroke, and english to match your real-table setup.
Open in 3ball →Related positions: