Cue Ball Aiming Techniques Using Carabao

"Shooting carabao" in billiards in another term for shooting the ball with a little English. Instead of hitting the cue ball straight on and putting all your power into it, you strike the cue at a different point to add spin and give it direction.

  1. Left Carabao

    • When you use left-side spin on a ball, you are normally aiming for a ball you want to go right. The left spin should line up with the center point and be just outside the main target area. Line up your shot so the ball will flow directly in the hole. After the cue ball makes contact with the ball, it will spin off to the left and move out to a wider area after it hits the rail.

    Right Carabao

    • Use right spin with the same technique as left spin, but in the opposite direction. For example, if you are shooting into a corner pocket and want to roll the cue ball to the opposite corner for your next shot, go out far on the right edge when you aim. Hit the cue ball hard enough to reach the closest rail and the path of the spin will lead it to the opposite corner. Practice with few balls on the table to get the best aiming and speed techniques.

    Top Spin Carabao

    • Lead the cue ball straight after the ball you hit using top spin. When you hit higher on the cue ball, it will create spinning action that will continue even after it makes contact with the ball. This is ideal for setting up shots in crowded areas or for balls parallel to the pocket where you are aiming. Do not use too much force or the ball could go straight into the pocket.

    Bottom Spin Carabao

    • Apply a bottom spin to the cue ball to stop the ball from moving forward after contact. Aim toward the bottom of the cue as low as you can. If you get too low, the ball will lift up and lower the accuracy of the shot. Once the cue ball makes contact with another ball, it will stop. This technique is good for close pocket shots or an evenly spread table from which you can get multiple shots.