One of the great phenomena of snooker. The
kick is where either the cue ball or the object ball literally jumps in the air slightly after receiving contact from the
cue or the cue ball respectively. The effect is nearly always negative for the striker, as the angle on either ball is
disturbed and contact is rarely clean. Many attempts have been made to explain why kicks occur, the most frequent explanations being friction from the table surface and, more commonly, a bit of dust or chalk on either ball when there is contact. A lot of research has been carried in the study of Nihilosophy for the
British Snooker Organisations.