What Is a Pool Shark?

The dictionary of hard-core pool players can sound mystifying: Terms such as rack, cut, kitchen and scratch don't seem to have anything to do with pool. "Pool shark" is probably more familiar to the layman.

  1. Definition

    • A pool shark is someone who is extremely skilled at the game of pool. In pool halls, she takes everyone else's money; in bars, she keeps control of the table all night.

    Less Savory Version

    • By some definitions, a pool shark uses deceit to win, perhaps by pretending he can't play very well, so that his opponents let their guard down and in order to raise the stakes of a game played for money.

    Sharks in Pop Culture

    • Paul Newman portrayed Fast Eddie Felson, a pool shark, in the 1961 film "The Hustler." Eddie's skill got him in trouble, however: When he beat the local champ at a small dive bar, the man and his friends broke Eddie's thumbs, keeping him from playing for quite a while.

    Verb Form

    • Occasionally, observers of a game of pool can be heard to use "sharking" as a verb: "She's really sharking that guy!" This means that she is playing exceptionally well.

    How to Play a Pool Shark

    • If you are not a pool shark but you are playing one, the best advice is not to waste any shots you get to make. Many pool sharks "break and run," which is to sink at least one ball when they break and then pocket all of their balls without their opponents even getting to the table. Other than that, watch and learn.