The One Pocket "Wedge?"

Roy Vadas

Roy Vadas

Baby Seal Clubber
Silver Member
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
 
"wedge"

The wedge is when u shoot all the balls uptable and wedge them in a corner. If your opponent needs alot of balls then it will not be poosible for him to get them if they are bunched up in a corner. the wedge is mostly used when you have a lead in the game. Varener is a master at this.
 
Also, if I'm not mistaken, the wedge is usually put on the opponent's side of the table.
 
poolfan said:
The wedge is when u shoot all the balls uptable and wedge them in a corner. If your opponent needs alot of balls then it will not be poosible for him to get them if they are bunched up in a corner. the wedge is mostly used when you have a lead in the game. Varener is a master at this.
Click to expand...

Varner plays the wedge whether he is winning or losing. If you are ahead and do this, then you are willing to play for one ball at a time. I don't mind when someone does to me, because playing for one ball at a time is too my advantage. I normally wont play anyone who plays this style unless they bet it up. Games can last over an hour and I am unwilling to play for 20-30 a hour. Last week I played someone like this and I was betting 120 and he was betting 60.:thumbup:
 
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...

My advice is not to go to onepocket.org.
 
1p.org is awsome!

the wedge is ALWAYS played to the advantage of the better player! the better 1p player wants to play you 1 ball at a time so the lesser player gets frustrated and takes a flyer.

when you work out the %'s of the better player playing the lesser player 1 ball at a time it works out to be almost 5 to 1 on the $$$ or like the lesser guy giving the better guy 9 to 7....which if you are a betting man.....is an "ok" bet! :)


G. <<<<not a fan of the wedge.....unless it is cheddar or monterey jack!
 
I was playing Varner cheap $10/game 1 hole about 12-13 years ago and he "wedged" me during one of the games. Since he is the one Billy gives credit for the name and move "wedge" (Billy may have coined the phrase), I felt like I just saw a celebrity - I was so excited to be a part of that torture. Well worth the $10 :thumbup:.

Dave
 
Varner

I met Detroit Carla at Hard Times, Bellflower, and she said Varner invented The Wedge. I had seen Buddy doing it to James Walden as he beat Walden in 1P at the Tulsa Billiard Palace. He did play it on the opponent's side. When safeties forced a ball into Walden's upper corner, it became a spot shot in Buddy's pocket. This means Buddy has to leave the cueball bad for Walden's cross bank. That wedge was so bad that I had to leave. Buddy won the 1P and I was told Walden won the 9 ball. I think they were playing for 6K per set, and I was told that the pockets were soooo tough that they decided not to play a tie breaker set. Did anyone on here stay who saw the end? Apparently the Wedge worked on this occasion, and knowing Walden and the stakes, it wasn't because James got bored :)
 
Samiel said:
Also, if I'm not mistaken, the wedge is usually put on the opponent's side of the table.
Click to expand...

Over the years, seeing enough of these wedge games, I have come to the conclusion that this (above) statement is hogwash. It is all opinion, but it really depends on how the balls lay exactly (ie, there are infinite wedge layouts of course).

The three railer leaving the guy frozen somewhere in the wedge is a strong move -- and the speed is usually there to do this from a distance (ie a great advantage).

I think this question of which side deserves its own thread, but let's just say i think the right way to play this is don't take ANY risk to move the balls to a preferred side (whichever you think is better). That would be ill-advised because there is just not enough of an advantage there.
 
The Chinchilla said:
Over the years, seeing enough of these wedge games, I have come to the conclusion that this (above) statement is hogwash. It is all opinion, but it really depends on how the balls lay exactly (ie, there are infinite wedge layouts of course).

The three railer leaving the guy frozen somewhere in the wedge is a strong move -- and the speed is usually there to do this from a distance (ie a great advantage).

I think this question of which side deserves its own thread, but let's just say i think the right way to play this is don't take ANY risk to move the balls to a preferred side (whichever you think is better). That would be ill-advised because there is just not enough of an advantage there.
Click to expand...

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.
 
try a search

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
 
The Chinchilla said:
Over the years, seeing enough of these wedge games, I have come to the conclusion that this (above) statement is hogwash. It is all opinion, but it really depends on how the balls lay exactly (ie, there are infinite wedge layouts of course).

The three railer leaving the guy frozen somewhere in the wedge is a strong move -- and the speed is usually there to do this from a distance (ie a great advantage).

I think this question of which side deserves its own thread, but let's just say i think the right way to play this is don't take ANY risk to move the balls to a preferred side (whichever you think is better). That would be ill-advised because there is just not enough of an advantage there.
Click to expand...

The reason it is considered to better to place the balls on the opponents corner is that the shots are more difficult. There are no banks, two railers, just flyers. Not necessarily true. The DCC put a time limit of Varner a few years ago. When one match can take five hours, it throws the whole tournament off.
 
kybill9 said:
The reason it is considered to better to place the balls on the opponents corner is that the shots are more difficult. There are no banks, two railers, just flyers. Not necessarily true. The DCC put a time limit of Varner a few years ago. When one match can take five hours, it throws the whole tournament off.
Click to expand...

Bill,
Of course you could man up and ask Nick to play "8 and out or no count" and put up some real dough (I have seen him beat a young champion player handing out this spot...it was freakish...no wedges in that game).
 
Nick Varner's The Wedge Game

bbb said:
roy call accustats
http://www.accu-stats.com/contact.html
ask them for a varner 1p dvd where he uses the wedge
buy alot of popcorn
the match will take a while
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top