To help with the understanding of a 'PUSHSHOT' I asked this question several seasons ago, can YOU answer. If you think it is WRONG then let me know.

NOTE that WORLD RULES ALLOW push shots EXCEPT: When, during the playing of a shot, the tip of the cue strikes the Cue Ball twice and the referee is able to actually see each contact.

QUESTION:

If the white is a very short distance (eg 1-3mm) from black as shown, the pot into the bottom pocket is:

 

1. Easy?

2. Easy?, but ensure that the white doesn't follow through into the pocket.

3. Difficult?

4. Very difficult?

5. Virtually impossible?

Below for answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: The shot is virtually impossible without fouling, i.e. a push shot or double hit.

This can easily be seen by the white following the black down the table. If the same shot is taken with approximately 6" distance, then the white will stay and tend to 'bounce' off the black. Even with a very large amount of top-spin, the white will stun (whilst spinning), THEN follow. The ONLY safe shot in this position is to hit the black with a fine cut.

 

There are 2 common situations.

1. White touching ball own ball, the white MUST be aimed away, any other shot is a FOUL. The white need not hit any other ball. (when touching own ball!)

2. White close to own ball (up to ½"), the white must be aimed as a fine cut to guarantee a legal shot.

A good example happened only a few weeks ago in the following position. (see fig.1 )

The ball was NOT touching, and hit into the black as shown in figure 1, the shot was a foul. The white would follow the path shown towards 'X', i.e. tend to follow the cue.

The correct angle that white would take can be seen easier if the white was at least 6" away , as shown in figure 2, the white would hit (white hit normally) the cushion at point 'Y' tending towards the in-off (depending on strength, i.e. if the white is hit harder, the white will bounce off at a wider angle).

The over-riding factor in ALL decisions is that the referees decision IS final.