Published: 26 February 2013

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Straight Rail - Balkline - One-Cushion - Five Ball

The United States Billiard Association supports all forms of carom billiards here in the U.S. 

In this section you can learn more about some of these important and historic games, still played today at world class levels in many countries.

Before there was three cushion billiards there was an evolution of several different forms of carom games. Each has its own history and skills that make it fun and challenging. Many three-cushion players will tell you that mastery of the "small game" can lead to improvements in your three-cushion game.

Learn more in each section here:

Straight Rail - also known as free game is perhaps the simplest to understand, yet challanging to master. 

Balkline - played in four variations, balkline stepped up the skills of players who had mastered the free game.

One-Cushion - earlier known as cushion caroms was the modern pre-cursor to three cushion billiards.

Five Ball - A new and exciting game introduced in 2016 that enables young and old to play and have fun on a carom table.

Rules of Carom Games - For those who may not be familiar with the rules assiciated with these other variations we provide the official UMB rules and other related information.