The One Pocket "Wedge?"

Anybody try google...I just found this there:
Squeeze_tx700.jpg
 
Roy Vadas said:
Afternoon all.

I was just over on the One Pocket org site and was reading a reply by Billy Incardona. He referenced a game which he played where his opponent, being behind in ball count, starting setting up the "wedge." From the tone of the reply, the wedge isn't used to come from behind (it is more of a lead maneuver I guess.) Anyway, I have never heard the term and my search over there turned up fruitless. Can anyone give me an overview of the wedge or point me in the right direction for research?

I would have asked Billy I himself. However, that is Billy Incardona and I am...ummm, nobody <grin.>

Regards,
~Roy
Click to expand...

Billy is a very nice guy and one I think you can ask, if you can find him here. You wont find many in the world who know more about playing 1 pocket and how to win at the game.
 
Bohemian said:
FYI:

accu-stats does not currently have any video's or dvds that have the wedge description in them; and I emailed and called P.F. at accu-stats to see if he knew which one or more of Nick Varner's videos or dvds he had that contained a representation of the wedge game...

He did not recall and said he would get back to me, when he found some...

its been a while now and no response...

Additionally, I have seen no representations of Nick Varners wedge game in any 1 hole books to-date...

I for one would like some direct links and or specific dvd/video/book titles that have Nick Varner playing the wedge game...

If anybody can make some recommendations with specific details I would appreciate it...

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I talked to Nick about it a couple months ago at a seminar he gave at Hard Times in Sacramento. He does not know where or when the "Wedge" was attributed to the way he plays and denies he is looking to use it. In his words "The best move in one pocket is eight and out and that is what I am looking for".

The modern one pocket game is much more aggressive than it was years ago, even on the tighter tables we play on now. If you can't run balls you are getting beat, no matter how well you move.

The Wedge is pretty much non existent, then and now.
 
Roy Vadas said:
Afternoon all.

I was just over on the One Pocket org site and was reading a reply by Billy Incardona. He referenced a game which he played where his opponent, being behind in ball count, starting setting up the "wedge." From the tone of the reply, the wedge isn't used to come from behind (it is more of a lead maneuver I guess.) Anyway, I have never heard the term and my search over there turned up fruitless. Can anyone give me an overview of the wedge or point me in the right direction for research?

I would have asked Billy I himself. However, that is Billy Incardona and I am...ummm, nobody <grin.>

Regards,
~Roy
Click to expand...


OK, I know I've seen at least one wedge game on an Accu-Stats tape. The problem is that while I have quite a collection there were some tapes I borrowed for viewing and never owned.

I'm pretty sure it was Varner who liked to play a wedge game. So, taking a very quick look through my collection there is one tape that jumps out at me. It is Accu-Stats tape RIP-06, the 1994 Roanoke One Pocket Tournament, with Pete Fusco vs Nick Varner. Grady, Ligons, Hall, and Staton commentate.

The reason this is a prime suspect is four-fold: it's about the right time frame; it has Varner in it; it has Fusco in it -- another notorious pinch and squeeze man; and it goes for *two tapes* -- 178 minutes.

So thats probably it, but I won't guarantee it.

Lou Figueroa
 
Last edited:
lfigueroa said:
OK, I know I've seen at least one wedge game on an Accu-Stats tape. The problem is that while I have quite a collection there were some tapes I borrowed for viewing and never owned.

I'm pretty sure it was Varner who liked to play a wedge game. So, taking a very quick look through my collection there is one tape that jumps out at me. It is Accu-Stats tape RIP-06, the 1994 Roanoke One Pocket Tournament, with Pete Fusco vs Nick Varner. Grady, Ligons, Hall, and Staton commentate.

The reason this is a prime suspect is four-fold: it's about the right time frame; it has Varner in it; it has Fusco in it -- another notorious pinch and squeeze man; and it goes for *two tapes* -- 178 minutes.

So thats probably it, but I won't guarantee it.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Will give it a go, exactly what I was looking for...

most of the up-table games I have seen so far are pretty much herding everything in a big mess near one of the up-table corner pockets, without much in the way of symmetry...

many thanks.
 
The best example of the varner wedge is the accustats tape from the first or second legends of one pocket where the whole tape is one 100 minute game. Its Varner vs Hopkins and its a player review tape.

To be dead honest though, this particular tape was one of my favorites to put on when i was suffering from any insomnia. I dont think I ever made it through the entire 100 minutes although I did manage to see the whole thing in pieces.
 
uwate said:
The best example of the varner wedge is the accustats tape from the first or second legends of one pocket where the whole tape is one 100 minute game. Its Varner vs Hopkins and its a player review tape.

To be dead honest though, this particular tape was one of my favorites to put on when i was suffering from any insomnia. I dont think I ever made it through the entire 100 minutes although I did manage to see the whole thing in pieces.
Click to expand...


This might be a better bet than the tape I nominated. And the Varner v. Hopkins match up sounds right too.

Lou Figueroa
 
I'm pretty lucky. The first time I ever saw one pocket being played was at JOBs in Nashville, late at night/early in the morning after a tournament day (I believe the Camel Pro Tour was in town) in the early 90s. Nick Varner was playing another pro for $40 a game one pocket. It was just them and me in the big room where they had their big tables.

I sat there quietly for about two hours or so watching them. Nick won every game. I forget how many...but it had to be about 5. He wasn't wedging much at all that night. Nick looked at me once and just nodded, acknowledging my presence and perhaps approving that I was being as quiet as a church mouse.

I did see a match where Nick "wedged" Grady Mathews into Grady's bottom corner...and Nick was BANKING them w/ extreme english from Grady's lower corner into Nick's own pocket.
 
uwate said:
The best example of the varner wedge is the accustats tape from the first or second legends of one pocket where the whole tape is one 100 minute game. Its Varner vs Hopkins and its a player review tape.

To be dead honest though, this particular tape was one of my favorites to put on when i was suffering from any insomnia. I dont think I ever made it through the entire 100 minutes although I did manage to see the whole thing in pieces.
Click to expand...

Sadly, at least in accu-stats current online catalog they have zero hopkins-varner one-hole matches...

If anybody has the number for that volume I will give P.F. a call and see if he can dig it up for me.

I would also be interested in buying it if you or somebody else is willing to part with theirs. (VHS/DVD is fine)

thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
ShootingArts said:
Not to do accu-stats out of some coin but do a google type search and try youtube too. Search using Nick Varner, One Pocket, and I think Gabe Owens. I watched a long free video a year or two ago.

The wedge is maybe the cruelest thing you can do to a nine or ten ball player. The Chinese water torture is a walk in the park compared to being on the short end of a master working the wedge if you are impatient. Watching two great players working the wedge is endlessly fascinating if you understand what you are seeing. Made for TV and the general public it ain't!

Hu
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I cannot find any youtube video or other video of Nick Varner playing Gabe Owen one-hole...

Additionally, Accu-stats does not have one listed either...

If you have a link bookmarked or otherwise and or have a accu-stats catalog/item number; I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Googling Nick Varner One-Pocket Wedge Game or similar searches also is presently an exercise in futility...
 
brandoncook26 said:
Watch the US Open one pocket finals from this year between Gentile and Efren. A wedge game comes up and Cardone, Scott Frost, and Corey (commentators) have a pretty good discussion on it talking about why each one thinks one side is better than the other.
Click to expand...

Any idea who has this on DVD? I do not see anything for this years US Open One Pocket listed in accu-stats online catalog...

thanks in advance
.
 
I just had a thought.....1P has moved from super tight to super aggrerssive in the last 10 years....AND rotation games have moved from wide open, to more of a safe game!

am I the only one thinking like this?.....anyway....MERRY MERRY you all!!!!



G.
 
westcoast said:
I believe this is it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-jacyc0kBc
Click to expand...

Score one for TAR (The Action Report) ...

Thanks, that one (2011 US Open Onepocket - Efren Reyes - Chris Gentile (Part 1) ) ended up being Chris Gentile & Efren Reyes meeting for the first time in this years U.S. Open...

Which led me to the one where Scott Frost, Billy Incardona, and Corey Deuel are commentating and go into the "Wedge Game" as previously mentioned in this thread..

Corey Deuel - "Whats the Wedge Game" ? ...

The Freezer & Billy the Kid have different takes on when and what sides to play the Wedge Game on; both have their merits IMHO...

2011 US Open Onepocket Finals - Efren Reyes - Chris Gentile (Part 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6A1QCJTdBU
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top