diff --git a/main.gd b/main.gd
index d84268e..1909668 100644
--- a/main.gd
+++ b/main.gd
@@ -108,16 +108,8 @@ func step(move: Vector2i):
 	elif ball != null:
 		hist.create_action("push")
 		hist.add_do_method(ball.do_push(move))
-		hist.add_do_method(func():
-			player.lpos = pos + move
-			player.lpos = pos
-			player.anim_progress = 0.5
-		)
-		hist.add_undo_method(func():
-			player.lpos = pos + move
-			player.lpos = pos
-			player.anim_progress = 0.5
-		)
+		hist.add_do_method(player.do_bump(move))
+		hist.add_undo_method(player.undo_bump(move))
 		hist.add_undo_method(ball.undo_push())
 		hist.commit_action()
 	else:
diff --git a/piece.gd b/piece.gd
index ee5149d..fca87cf 100644
--- a/piece.gd
+++ b/piece.gd
@@ -48,11 +48,15 @@ func do_step(board: Board):
 		return
 	var move := lvel.clampi(-1, 1)
 	var new_pos := lpos + move
+	# ball being collided *with* gets the remainder of the momentum
+	# EMERGENT COMPLEXITY!??!?
 	if board.solid_at(new_pos):
 		var ball_here := board.type_at(new_pos, Piece.Type.Ball)
 		if ball_here:
-			ball_here.do_push(lvel-move).call()
-			lvel = -move
+			do_bump(move).call()
+			var rem := lvel % 2
+			ball_here.do_push(lvel/2 + rem).call()
+			lvel = -lvel/2
 		else:
 			lpos = lpos
 			lvel -= move
@@ -89,6 +93,19 @@ func undo_push() -> Callable:
 		lvel = old_vel
 		anim_progress = 1
 
+# no logical effect, purely for aesthetics
+# (and communicating !!!! player yes)
+func do_bump(move: Vector2i) -> Callable:
+	var real_lpos := lpos
+	return func():
+		lpos += move
+		lpos = real_lpos
+		anim_progress = 0.5
+
+# TODO?: maybe fix? maybe the bump should be more complicated?
+func undo_bump(move: Vector2i) -> Callable:
+	return do_bump(move)
+
 static func ball(pos: Vector2i) -> Piece:
 	return BALL.instantiate().with_lpos(pos)