41. Be a (fake) Pool Shark
class: closers | impressiveness: 3/5 | factors: wide variety, varying utility | requires: a pool table | watch full episode
Half the fun of this scam is watching your suckers try to pull it off. Because the obvious technique involves jumping the cue over another ball, expect to see a lot of balls flying off the table. And because each time they’ll be convinced that they got almost got it that time… expect them to stubbornly continue to attempt it.
The Hook: Line up three pool balls directly in front of a side pocket. About 6 inches back, place the 8-ball. Finally set up the cue ball behind the 8-ball and make the following claim: with only a single strike of the cue ball, you’ll be able to sink all three pool balls right into that side pocket, without anything touching the 8-ball.
Now let them go for it. With each attempt, insist that they almost had it that time. They’ll try jumping over the 8-ball, banking off the side rails, and occasionally, actually get close to pulling it off…
…but once they confess they can’t do it, prove them wrong.
The Sinker: Place the triangle around the 8-ball, lining one corner up with the first of the three balls in a row. Now with just a simple tap, the cue ball hits the triangle, the triangle sinks the three balls…all without anything touching the 8-ball.
