The Push Shot In Billards
Push shot and push-out though they sound similar are two very different things. The term push shot is a sort of foul made during the play. Push-out is one technique used during a game of billards.
A push shot requires a particular sort of stroke, which is performed in case the cue ball is frozen or stuck to the target ball. This stroke though necessary to be played, is a foul. Pool rules legally allow shooting with a normal stroke towards the target ball that the cue ball is frozen to, as long as other fouls are not committed. To perform a push shot, the cue stick tip is ever so slowly edged to the cue ball until barely touching it and immediately rushed for a shot.
Push shots are used generally in two situations - when the ball is close to one of the corner pockets and is frozen near a rail or, the cue ball and the target ball are frozen out straight from the rail. This shot is done straight towards the target ball, by placing the tip on the cue ball equator, maintaining quite a bit of side away from the pocket. A gentle ball-to-tip touch is made and the tip is shot forward allowing the target ball to slip out from the cue ball and into the nearest pocket.
Another situation arises with the cue ball on the foot spot, with the target ball frozen as if spotted and leaving both on the foot string. The target ball is left in the jaws so to speak of a foot pocket. The permissible way to pocket a hung ball is by pointing the cue stick half way between the target pocket and foot rail and shooting a regular center ball stroke. An illegal push shot can be done by elevating the cue stick butt to 45 degrees, then tackling the cue ball for an extreme follow, followed by shooting to a slow and gradual push shot. In this situation, the cue ball will practically pass the target ball, going on to the aim line instead of the double “angle” allowed for the legal shot.
To avoid confusion, it is important to remember that a push shot is generally used in a nine-ball game of billards. Players who shoot right after a break can perform a push out in order to better position a cue ball for further play. During a push out, there is no need for the cue ball to have any contact with the target ball or rail - however, all foul rules are still applicable. It is required for the player to announce an intention to play push out before making the shot. If not previously announced, the shot will be considered a normal shot. All pocketed shots on a push out do not count and must remain pocketed, except of course the 9-ball. After a legal push out, the player that comes in next is allowed to shoot from the same position or allowed to pass back the shot to the player who made the push out. When no rules are violated, the push out is not deemed a foul.
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