Push Shot

[Nym]

I know what a push shot is. PLEASE don't explain that to me. I know that already. What I can't understand is why is it considered to be a foul shot. Thanks in advance. (Neil to win BTW).

[DeanH]

I think maybe it comes from (if you believe this) croquet where the player must strike the mallet onto their ball and not push their ball with the mallet.
If you were allowed to push, then you could push the cue ball around the table with the tip in contact with the cue ball all the time. This is not allowed, hence it being a foul.

[vmax]

You can create angles that aren't there when the cue ball is in contact with the object ball and the tip of the cue as you can make the object ball break away from the cue ball at a later time by withdrawing the tip when you want to. This is what happens with the squeeze plant, the balls are in contact longer because the cue ball prevents them from breaking apart immediately so different angles are possible.