Obviously, the first thing you will notice when approaching a carom game is the pocketless table. It does seem strange if you've experienced only pocket billiards, but like everything else you've learned so far, it's just a matter of familiarity, a little readjustment in your thinking, and a lot of practice.

Carom billiard tables are usually the same length and width as the American snooker table (5 feet by 10 feet), which is slightly larger than the average pool table and slightly smaller than the international snooker table. But you may also find carom tables in other sizes as well: 4 feet by 8 feet, 4fi by 9, and even 6 by 12. On the table surface there are spots in the center of the head string, center string, and foot string. There will also be two additional spots on either side of the head string, each one six inches away from the head spot.

A carom table is slightly larger than the average pool table and has no pockets.

The carom billiard ball is a little larger and heavier than the pocket billiard ball. A standard pool ball weighs 5fi to 6 ounces and measures 2∕ inches in diameter, while the carom ball weighs 7 to 7fi ounces with a diameter of about 2⅜ inches. There are only three balls on the table in pocketless pool: two cue balls and an extra ball (usually red). Two cue balls? Sounds strange, but one cue ball is yours and the other belongs to your opponent.

How do you know which cue ball is yours? One of the cue balls is white and marked with a black dot, while the other white ball is without a dot. You may also come across sets with a white ball without a dot and a yellow ball without a dot.

The cue ball with the black spot is often referred to as the “black ball,” while the other cue ball is simply called the “white ball” (it doesn't have a dot). Many sets of balls today eliminate the confusion of two white balls and instead have one white, one yellow, and one red.