So you fancy yourself as bit of a pool shark and want to make some money from hustling poor blokes who don’t know any better do you? Well my morally ambiguous friend, we’ve got the tips you need to hustle every last dollar out of your unsuspecting foe!
It’s worth noting right off the bat that you better actually know how to play pool. You can’t be trying to hustle someone if you can’t even pot simple shots. If the cue ball spends more time in the pocket than out when you play, then perhaps you need to brush up on your basic skills first. Once you can be confident you’re moderately skilled then it’s time to hustle!
How to hustle strangers
Notice that the title said strangers? Don’t hustle your friends. For one thing, they won’t be your friends for long if you rip them off. If that doesn’t bother you, then how about the fact that they probably know how good you are and your strengths and weaknesses so all the dirty, sneaky, underhand tricks that you would normally use against a target will be wasted since they actually know not to bet you.
Okay, so the hustling tips; let’s get to it.
- If you’re a real pro, you might want to consider buying a decent quality pool cue. The hustlers weapon of choice is a top notch cue which looks like the piece of crap house cue. Of course, the cue doesn’t make the man so if you’re terrible at pool it won’t matter how good your cue is. Many a hustler can whip opponents with a standard house cue. It’s always good to play a couple of ‘friendly’ games first to assess your mark to see whether they are hustle material. At this stage it’s essential to get them comfortable by missing easy shots.
- Occasionally you can pot a tough shot and play it up as if it were a fluke, letting your opponent win a few games. Often known as sandbagging, this age-old technique can be used to build up your opponents confidence so you can bleed him dry later
- Many hustlers pretend to be hammered or stupid to lull their target into a false sense of security. Then, when it’s least expected, they’ll run the table and make game-winning shots.
As you can see, the actual hustling is less about actual pool skills and more about picking the right target and staying in your mediocre pool player character. So what else do you need to know?
Advanced hustler skills
Playing with your weaker hand
It will take a lot of time and determination to learn to play pool with your weak hand, but it can be worth the pay off if you’re looking to take some serious cash.
Once you are comfortable playing with your weak hand, put the hustle in motion as usual. Play a few games for fun and lose them, then bring in the money and start running the table. When your opponent has had enough of you taking his money and goes to walk away, offer him a double or nothing if he can beat you while you play with your ‘weak‘ hand. Easy money.
Mastering the hustler shot
As a pool hustler, you don’t want to draw attention to the fact that you could take everyones money without even breaking a sweat. You need to make it appear like you’re getting lucky with your shots. One way to do this is to master the art of almost potting. This is where your shot leaves your ball just short of the pocket, blocking your opponent from potting a shot into it. This, coupled with your character reaction, will make it look like you’re just getting unlucky. Then you can blitz the table and clean up, you unscrupulous S.O.B!
So there you have it. A few hustling tips to rip of unknowing old men down at your local pub and make a bit of money. Of course, if you pick someone who is a really great pool player you’re still screwed. Hustling is all about the mark; it’s not cheating. Oh, and don’t try to hustle a hustler or you’re likely to get burned.
Leave a comment with some of your pool hustling tips and tricks so we can all brush our morals aside in the pursuit of a few easy bucks.
Images by the-o-ster
April 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Always been good at pool, I haven’t really earned any money off it though.
Good tips Ian!
April 12th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Im not very good at pool, but I always wondered how you ask someone to play for money without looking like a hustler. Any tips on that?
April 13th, 2008 at 12:38 am
My husband pissed me off royally at shooting pool. He is a VERY good player. Don’t piss momma off though, I went to the best player I knew in secret & had him teach me. He knows all the husbands moves. Out of the blue one night we were shopping & I asked him if he wanted a beer & stopped at this nasty dirty hole in the wall. Shitty tables & you could see the bends in the house sticks. Needless to say I whipped the dog poopy out of him over & over. SOOOOOOOOOO funny. I am an excellent shot now & he HATES to shoot with me anywhere. HEHEHE
April 13th, 2008 at 3:44 am
First rule of hustling “Make sure the person you are trying to hustle is not hustling you”
April 13th, 2008 at 7:57 am
These are tips that will get your ass seriously kicked if attempted. If you’re hustling drinks, that’s one thing, but if there is cash on the line (real money, not twos and fews) welcome to broken thumb city.
1. Never bring a cue. Ever. If you want to make money, use the house cues and get used to that fact. Any tyro can spot cues that don’t belong in the rack with the others and will measure you according to that fact.
2. Never play with the “weak hand” gambit unless you can clean people out with it and walk away with the cash in your pocket. When you finally (obviously) switch back to your dominant hand and try and grab the cash after your win, you’ll be lucky if you don’t pull back a bloody stump from that last reach. Believe me, if you’re hustling, you’re,more than likely, on their territory and they will have the numbers to ensure that money doesn’t leave the room.
3. Make sure they don’t know they’ve been hustled. See 1 and 2 above. Learn defensive pool, make your shots count, and keep a stupid smile on your face while you do it…
April 15th, 2008 at 1:56 am
Another tip for hustling is – DO NOT CONVINCE your opponent to play for cash or for big money (they will suspect that you are a hustler)… BUT PERSUAY him by letting have his confidence, let him win until the time comes for the money!
June 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
To Jeff: start by playing for nothing, just a friendly game, then go to drinks or paying for the pool time, but not for money right off the bat. You have to act as if you are a crappy player and that your opponent has a good chance of winning. When you play long enough with your opponent, you pay attention to what their strengths and weaknesses are. After drinks or pool time, ask if he would like to put money on the game, but justify why you are doing so, I would say, “I’ll play for money since I will be learning from you. The money we play for will be well spent”, you could even say that you are saving for pool merchandise, so this is my suggestion on how to eventually play for money.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I am a hustler and not shame to say so afew tips never hustle a person willing to be honest with you.
Never hustle cause you have friends around and you want to make ya self look kool.
Another tip almost all hustlers carry alittle friend with them so you could easly get yourself in a spot that will earn you afew shots you know what i mean.
Another tip a real hustler can tell another hustler when he sees one by far husting is a high risk thing thes tips on thios site will get you hurt and fast if was tried on me you would look down the end of a 357
December 4th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
This hustle is called losing the game but wining the bet.
I someone walks upto you and ask you if you want to play for afew bucks take the challenage let the person who ask break when your turn at the table make one or 2 balls and stop and look at the guy and tell him you bet him $50 bucks he wont get another shot the whole game.
If he takes your bet turn back around aim down on the 8 ball and sink it you may had lost the game but you won the bet and the gam is over when the 8 ball drops leaving him without another shot so you end up with more then what the game was being played for.
Be careful and know what your doing this hustle or any other hustle is never a risk free hustle any hustle has a risk some less risk some more risk if i was to rate the risk on this one i would not lie it has a right high risk.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
The quality of the info is what keeps me on this site, thanks!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Heres a trick that works, but requires you to be some what decent.
you dont have to pretend to be crapy for this game.
start off like the rest with a few games lose or be down to the 8.
Then when the next game comes up bet $ let him break and then take 4 balls off the table, let him shoot again( if he is good and can sink the rest of his balls then your screwed your banking on him missing) him taking the 4 balls of the table means less balls to be in your way making all your shots easier. apply some other of the previously stated tricks in and you can do this over a few times.
This is a good one when you wanna go double or nothing/