9-Ball
Topic: The Push Out

This may seem a daft question to all you hardened 9-ball experts but I wanted a little clarification on this rule. I don't play 9ball very much so would appreciate your expert advice

According to the rules :-

5.6 PUSH OUT
The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows.

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Does this actually mean that if after the break you were completely snookered on the 1 ball for example you have to play the cue-ball to somewhere where the 1 is more visible?

When playing a push-out you can play the cue ball anywhere you want, you can leave a snooker, pot a ball (including the 9-ball which would be re-spotted). You do not have to hit a cushion or any ball on the table. Your opponent however can either play the shot from where you leave it or make you play the shot.

Andy

obviously if you leave the ball in a worse position you will get put back in so it's in your best interest to play to somewhere better carefully considering all options.

Sometimes i will play the ball to a postion that looks worse but in fact may be better ie if playing a non jumping snooker player why not leave it on a line for a pot but 6-8 inches behind a snookering ball?


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I love the clever push out strategy that you sometimes see, like pushing to an exactly straight shot, but leaving the cueball against the rail, so there's no screw-back option to get shape on the next ball.