Is a jump shot legal in snooker?
A · Advanced · Fouls and penalties · 1 of 7The cue may strike the cue ball only once and must not push it. A push stroke, where the tip stays on the ball as it moves or as it meets another ball, is a foul. So is a jump shot over an object ball, except in a few cases, and hitting two balls at once unless they are two reds.
How it works
- One strike: the cue ball must be struck once, not pushed; the tip may stay on it for a moment as it starts.
- Push stroke: the tip stays on the ball after it starts moving, or as it meets an object ball.
- Near-touching balls: a very fine contact on an almost-touching ball is not a push.
- Jump shot: the cue ball passes over any part of an object ball, with or without hitting it.
- Not a jump shot: the cue ball hits one ball first and then jumps another, or lands not beyond the ball it hit, or jumps a ball after legally hitting it and a cushion.
- Two balls at once: a foul unless they are two reds, or a free ball and a ball on.
- Feet: striking with both feet off the floor is a foul, which cannot apply to players in wheelchairs.
- Penalties: the value of the ball on for a jump shot or double hit; the higher of the ball on or the ball concerned for a push.
The glossary has the push stroke, the jump shot, the cue ball, the cue, the foul and the red balls.
Tricky cases
The white and a red are almost touching. Is any shot through them a push?
No. A very fine edge on the red is not a push stroke.
The white hits a red and then jumps over the pink. Foul?
No. Jumping another ball after first hitting an object ball is allowed.
A player stretches with one foot off the floor. Is that allowed?
Yes. Only both feet off the floor is a foul.
Red is on and the white hits two reds at the same moment. Foul?
No. Two reds may be hit together when red is on.
Why the rule exists
Snooker is meant to be won by angles, spin and pace along the cloth. Pushing the ball or jumping over obstacles would make snookers easy to escape and the game less of a test.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Push stroke | Foul | WPBSA Snooker 2.19, 3.11(b)(v) |
| Jump shot | Foul, value of the ball on | WPBSA Snooker 2.20, 3.11(a)(x) |
| Two balls at once | Foul unless two reds | WPBSA Snooker 3.6, 3.11(c) |
| Pool | Jump shots are often allowed | C |
From the rule book
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Official Rules of the Games of Snooker and English Billiards (May 2022 update), snooker part, Section 2 Rules 6, 19 and 20 and Section 3 Rules 6, 11 and 21(a). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the association's rule book, which covers snooker and English billiards together.