In snooker, push shots and double contacts are not allowed. This particular double contact was performed by Joe Perry in his recent 2024 Championship League match. The referee was unaware that a foul had been committed.

There is a very simple formula that all referees can use to identify a double contact: Quite simply, if (A) the distance the travels through the white is greater than (B) the distance between the two balls then it has to be a double contact. This is because the white will always slow down when it meets the object ball and this allows the cue to catch up for a second contact. (This all happens in a split second of course.)

Here, we see that (A) is obviously greater than (B). This is an obvious double contact. The second contact is also a push; cue contacts white exactly when white contacts the object ball. We know this because the object ball went in the hole. If it was not a push then the ball would not have gone in the hole. The timing would have been off.

*The 'very fine edge' loophole*

From the rule book: "Where the cue-ball and the object ball are almost touching, it shall not be deemed a push stroke if the cue-ball hits a very fine edge of the object ball.” Loophole: As there is no definition in the rule book for a 'very fine edge' the player can define it himself in any way that suits him. So, technically speaking, it is only a foul if the referee says it is (but in this case the referee doesn't seem to be even aware that anything is amiss).

This video is for educational purposes only.

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