Three balls form an umbrella shape. Cue ball at center, two object balls on the long rail, separated by ~3 diamonds. Long-long-long carom. Frédéric Caudron's signature.
Umbrella Position — Setup
Cue ball at table center. First object ball on long rail at diamond 5. Second on long rail at diamond 8. Both near the rail.
Stroke and english
Half-tip below center, ½ tip running english, medium-firm. Half-ball contact on first ball.
When to use it
When 3 balls naturally form an umbrella spread. Reliable when other systems fail.
Common mistakes
Soft stroke → second ball missed. Too much english → over-curves. Full-ball on first → energy lost.
Success rate & practice
~70% pro success when set correctly. Caudron's base shot.
Pro players who use it
Frédéric Caudron uses this in nearly every match. Marco Zanetti and Dick Jaspers variations also classic.
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: